After a long run of Captain America Comics and related titles, the patriotic hero took a temporary break from comics. He was a staple during the Golden Age. Cap fought the Axis power during World War II, and represented America’s hope to protect the nation and its allies. But Cap’s war-related stories were less popularity during the 1950s. The political climate was changing and Americans had differing opinions about the Korean War. That meant that some comic readers weren’t interested in seeing Cap fighting in that war.

A few years later, Captain America made his return to comics in Avengers #4 (March 1964). His first Silver Age appearance began when Sub-Mariner found an Eskimo tribe that was worshiping a man frozen in ice. Sub-Mariner throws the frozen man into the ocean where the Avengers find him. Once they thaw him out, the team realizes it is Captain America (who in this continuity had disappeared before the end of World War II). When the Avengers are attacked, Cap helps Rick Jones save them and joins the team.

When Avengers #4 hit newsstands, it had a cover price of 12¢. Six years later when Robert M. Overstreet published The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #1, he priced a Near Mint copy at $2.75. Since then, it has taken several jumps in value. It was up to $75 in 1980’s the Guide #10, and ten years later it rose to $325 in the Guide #20.

Cap’s Silver Age debut more than quadrupled in price to $1,500 in 2000’s Guide #30. It jumped to $4,200 after another ten years in the Guide #40. For the Guide’s milestone 50th edition in 2020, the book doubled to $8,500. In 2026’s the Guide #55, a Near Mint copy of Avengers #4 was priced at $13,000.