Hake’s Auctions closed their final premier auction of 2025 on November 18-19, seeing a total of $2.3 million in sales. A large selection of 1,592 lots of pop culture and Americana collectibles crossed the auction block, including a full comic section that featured one of Marvel’s most important keys.

X-Men #1 CGC 9.2 with the first appearances of Professor X, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Iceman, Beast, and Angel, plus their longstanding nemesis, Magneto, sold for $131,334. Through the X-Men, creators Jack Kirby and Stan Lee introduced the concept of mutation, opening the door for limitless character designs and power sets. Their original roster of seven characters has grown to include a multitude of mutants who star in ongoing titles, event series, and many offshoots.

The Marvel keys continued with Amazing Spider-Man #1 CGC 6.5 hammering for $16,520. One of the most important Spider-Man books, it features the first appearances of J. Jonah James and The Chameleon, the first Fantastic Four crossover, and the origin of Spider-Man retold. The book boasts a stacked creative team with a story by Stan Lee, cover by Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, and interior art by Ditko.

Amazing Fantasy #15 CGC 1.8 with the first appearance of Spider-Man went for $14,587. The book contains the debuts of Aunt May and Uncle Ben, with a story by Stan Lee, cover by Jack Kirby, and art by Steve Ditko.

Some books were offered in multiple grades, including an X-Men #1 CGC 5.5 that sold for $12,157 and Amazing Spider-Man #1 CGC 3.0 that reached $8,917.

An Incredible Hulk #181 CGC 9.4 (first full appearance of Wolverine) with a cover by Herb Trimpe and John Romita went for $9,605. Planet Comics #15 CGC 7.5 (beginning of Mars, God of War in Planet Comics) sold for $9,507 and Amazing Spider-Man #6 CGC 9.2 (Lizard’s debut) hit $8,118.

The original comic and related art sections included the Cowboy Bebop “The Real Folk Blues: Part 2” Spike Spiegel production animation cel that cleared $12,547. The 12-field cel shows Spike in the final episode of the series which saw a wounded Spike confronted by armed members of the Red Dragon Syndicate after his final battle with Vicious. He points his finger at them and says the series’ final line, “Bang” before he collapses. The cel is from the climactic end sequence just before Spike extends his finger.

Luis Domínguez’s Ghosts #82 cover also bested its $10,000 estimate when it sold for $12,136. It features the horror art Domínguez was known for during the Bronze Age. The thrilling scene shows a pair of frightened acrobats terrified by the skeletal ghost that has joined their high-rise performance.

The top results from Session I (historical/political) and Session 2 (pop culture) can be viewed on Hake’s website.