Archie Comics That are Worth Collecting and Valuable

Archie Comics stands as one of the most successful companies in the comic book industry, publishing stories that appeal to mainstream audiences. A host of iconic characters call the fictional town of Riverdale home, including Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica, Reggie, Kevin Keller, Josie and the Pussycats, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

These beloved characters have become household names thanks to their presence in not only comic books but also animation, television, movies, and even music. Archie Comics have been translated into numerous languages and have sold billions of copies worldwide, making their stories a global phenomenon.

Why Were Archie Comics So Popular?

Finding a comic book that appeals to a wide audience can be a challenge. Most comic books either target adults with mature themes or cater to younger readers with content that many adults find too simplistic. Archie Comics strikes a unique balance by creating stories that are fun for children while also offering intellectual humor and engaging themes that appeal to adults.

Archie Comics also stood out for their episodic storytelling. In earlier issues, each comic featured a self-contained story, but in recent years, the series has shifted to ongoing narratives that continue from one issue to the next. This format allows for more engaging plots and keeps readers invested. For example, story arcs like “the lipstick incident” encourage readers to pick up the next issue to see how the drama unfolds. Archie Comics have consistently been fun to read, with fresh and exciting twists that captivate readers of all ages.

The Value of Classic Archie Comics

If you’re lucky enough to own a first edition of Archie, and it’s in excellent condition, it could be worth a significant amount of money. Unfortunately, very few comics from earlier decades remain in pristine condition. Comic books were created to be read and enjoyed, and many were mishandled—tossed on the floor, stuffed under beds, or otherwise damaged by young readers.

A comic book’s value depends on two factors: rarity and condition. Because so few early Archie Comics have survived in mint condition, they are incredibly rare and highly prized by collectors. For those looking to invest, keeping comics in excellent shape is key to preserving their worth.

Archie Comics #1 (1942):

After the popularity of Archie in Pep Comics, MLJ Magazines rebranded themselves as Archie Publications in 1942 and released the first issue of a new comic book series titled Archie Comics. Including tales centered on Archie Andrews, Veronica Lodge, and Jughead Jones. Archie Comics #1 is the inaugural installment of this renowned and long-running comic book series.

Because of Archie’s everlasting appeal, he was granted his very own television series, which, as you are probably aware, was a substantial financial hit. If it were ever put up for sale, an Archie #1 in CGC 9.6 condition that was in excellent shape could get anywhere from $300,000 to $400,000. In 2011, a comic book that did not include a superhero was sold for a price that was greater than $167,000 for the first time.

Pep Comics #22 (1941):

The first appearance of Betty Cooper and Jughead was in MLJ Magazines’ Pep Comics #22, which came out in December 1941. Archie boasts to Betty that he can do anything he wants. Archie “Chick” Andrews tries to impress Betty Cooper by walking on a fence while blindfolded. Still, he falls and damages a picture of her father and a vase of her mother. To make one for the harm he’s caused, Johnny helps Betty run a taffy stand at a fair.

Nobody knows how much a mint copy of Pep Comics #22 is worth in mint condition. The highest-ever CGC 8.0 copy sold for $252,100 at auction in September 2017. About halfway through the issue, a six-page story called “Introducing Archie” emerged, detailing how everyone’s favorite comic book kid got his start. Betty and Jughead, two more well-known characters, joined in on the fun. In terrible condition, a book can still be purchased for $10,000.

Archie Comics #2:

This issue features the first appearance of Riverdale High School as well as Veronica’s first voyage on her own. The second collection of “The Best of Archie” collects the stories that have become the most well-known and well-liked throughout Archie Comics’ existence seventy years. This book contains behind-the-scenes narratives written by the people responsible for making these stories.

The price reflects the scarcity of this comic book from the Golden Age, which was published in the United States. In 2012, the highest possible grade was a VF 8.0, which sold for $31,070. There is not a great deal of information available due to the fact that the market is so limited (just 29 copies were sold). For instance, the price of VG 4.0 at auction in 2013 was $8,600. One year later, the price went down to $3,500, which is the same amount now.

Archie comic #6:

This is the first of only five Archie pinups to appear in this issue; the others are shown elsewhere. The Riverdale gang is currently being held hostage by Cheryl Blossom’s father. The consequences of Reggie’s actions have at last caught up with him. This issue was sold in 2018 for FN+ 6.5, fetching $3,585 total. In 2009, eleven years earlier, a VF 8.0 graded higher than it had been purchased for $2,868 less.

If you had kept that higher grade for this Golden Age book, you would have made a lot of money, but we don’t have any information about how well it sold, so we can’t tell you how much you would have made. Bets with a high degree of uncertainty have been made in the earlier parts of this series. In contrast, the 4.5 VG+ rating for #6 did not change despite the increase in price from $1,775 to $2,040.

A new beginning:

Since Archie first appeared in a comic book in 1941, a wide variety of Archie Comics can be purchased. They had both come to the conclusion that it was time for a fresh start when the year 2016 began. As a direct consequence of this, they started relaunching other series as soon as they completed the relaunch of the Archie comics.

Because of this, a person does not need to have read ten years’ worth of Archie comics in order to understand what is going on (not that there really is much continuity anyway). Obtain the most recent work published in trade paperback format here, and start reading immediately.