A rare $30,000 piece of comic book history just slipped through the fingers of a local collector here in our region. Amazing Fantasy No. 15, the iconic book that introduced Spider-Man to the comic world, has officially left one Barrie owner’s shelves.
Marc Sims, owner of Big B Comics on Essa Road, secured the collectable over a month ago. The comic, published in August 1962, marks the first-ever appearance of Spider-Man.
The comic captures the red, web-slinger swinging through the city, carrying a rescued man in one hand. “This dynamic, instantly recognizable pose has been homaged and re-created countless times by different artists, comics and publishers over the years,” shared CGC Comics, a certification service for a variety of pop culture collectibles.
While $30,000 might seem like a hefty price tag, Sims told CTV News that these high-stakes sales are nothing new in the comic world. There is quite the group of collectors right here in Simcoe County.
The iconic collectable explores young Peter Parker gaining remarkable abilities from a radioactive spider as he steps up and tries to become a hero.
In addition to the Barrie store, Sims also operates an online shop on eBay, where he garners buyers and collectors all over world wide Spidey web.
On Sunday, Sims shared a post on Facebook, letting the community know the book sold through his online shop for a whopping $30,858.75 Canadian.
While the 1962 comic didn’t last long at the Barrie location, it is a book that will continue to live on through the eyes of another special collector, or a few.
“My baby has found a new home. Gone too soon. Parting is such sweet sorrow. Until next time AF15. The 52 days we spent together were some of the happiest of my life,” shared Sims on his social media.
“This copy presents very well with zero marvel chipping and no significant pieces out, staining, or water damage. Just a really solid low grade copy overall,” wrote Sims.
“We sell comics in this price range all the time,” He said over a call with CTV last month. One of the biggest purchases Sims recalls was a Batman comic that sold for roughly $50,000 a few years back.
With Amazing Fantasy No. 15 now out of Big B Comic’s possession, local collectors will have to wait for the next big score—but if history has shown anything, it’s that Barrie is a serious player in the world of high-end comics.
