The secondary comic market regularly ebbs and flows as book sales go through moderate changes, and occasionally see big jumps (or falls) in value. Overstreet Access tracks these changes through diligent research into the market and via assessment of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide marketing reports. Those changes are routinely updated on OverstreetAccess.com’s Recent Value Changes page, which can be viewed with a membership to the website.

Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert introduced DC Comics readers to Jay Garrick, the first Flash, in Flash Comics #1 (January 1940). The hero would use his superspeed to rapidly track down criminals and diffuse dangerous situations in a way that his fellow superheroes could not. That character would pave the way for other speedsters like Barry Allen, whose first appearance is considered the starting point of the Silver Age at DC.

Lauded among the most important books of the Golden Age, the key also saw the debut of Hawkman, the reincarnated warrior armed with Nth metal that gives him superstrength and the ability to fly among other powers. Another is Shiera Sanders, the reincarnation of Egyptian princess Chay-Ara who would become Hawkgirl, armed with similar abilities as Hawkman. The two were quickly revealed to be a couple whose love lasts through their reincarnations.

These key factors have kept Flash Comics #1 on The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide’s list of top Golden Age books, and the book continues to climb in value. Overstreet Pricing Editor Yolanda Ramirez recently updated the books value on OverstreetAccess.com with the 9.2/Near Mint- grade now valued at $450,000. This is a 12.5% increase from the last valuation, bumping it up by $50,000.

While the Guide uses 9.2 as the top value in the book, Overstreet Access now lists comic values at the 9.4 and higher level. This study of higher grades reflects dramatic differences in what collectors can expect to see in those values. Flash Comics #1 in 9.4/Near Mint is priced at $900,000, while a 9.8 is $3.6 million.

The Recent Value Changes page on OverstreetAccess.com can be found by clicking on the “Search Titles” tab in the Quick Navigation bar on the home page, then click the green “Recent Value Changes” button on the “Titles” page. Collectors need to have a membership to view the comic values.