A First Edition Spider-Man Comic Went For Thousands On Pawn Stars

For an impressive 12 years and 18 seasons, "Pawn Stars" has been entertaining audiences with an appetite for antiques and drama. The beloved History Channel series follows all the barters and trades at the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, located in Las Vegas, which is owned and operated by Rick Harrison and his family. "Pawn Stars" is loved by audiences who are not only interested in seeing the sometimes shocking value of some fascinating items but also want to enjoy some good old-fashioned reality TV drama.

Many classic collectible items make their way into the shop, with owners hoping their years of holding onto something will result in a notable payday. Comic books, of course, are among some of the most popular collectibles, with their potential resale value skyrocketing as a result of the booming success of the superhero genre in mainstream film. In one Season 5 episode, one seller lucky enough to have a first-edition "Spider-Man" comic learns just how fortunate he is to be holding on to a piece of Marvel history.

In this Season 5 episode, seller Jeff brings in a first-edition Spider-Man comic, originally published in 1963. This issue of "The Amazing Spider-Man" was the web-slinger's second comic appearance ever, after making his debut in 1962's "Amazing Fantasy" #15, and it was written by the iconic Stan Lee himself. Having received it as a gift from a more comic-knowledgeable brother-in-law on his wedding, Jeff is hopeful the comic will result in a high payday.

"Pawn Stars" appraiser Corey Harrison calls in Johnny, the show's resident toy expert, who officially grades the book, and gives it a very impressive valuation of $6,000 to $7,000. While mint condition comics can sell for over $1 million, this particular issue's minor wear and tear is enough to dramatically reduce its valuation.

Jeff requests $5,500 for the comic, but Corey, always aggressive with his bartering, responds quickly with, "No way, no how," offering $3,000. After some haggling, the two men agree on a price of $4,000, and the seller walks away happy. We imagine the "Spider-Man" fans who end up purchasing the comic will feel the same way.