Manchester Madness: Bronze age comic galore

Manchester. Rainy skies, cobbled streets, and a GPS that insists on calling the Mancunian Way a “fun little side road.” After three wrong turns and one questionable parking job, we finally arrived at the promised land. Well. If wet and cold was promising. More to the point, within, this miserable promised land, we found a house full of comic books.

This little terrace house was deceiving. Unassuming. Quiet. But the moment that you pass through the threshold, the world ignite with Marvel fire. Inside the hallway, lining either side of the walkway, were display cabinets. Inside which, were comics, figures, and cards galore. Every surface was tastefully decorated with nerd culture grails, from floor to ceiling. If it hadn't been extremely weird to start snapping pics, I'd be posting one here. Despite this wealth of treasure... this wasn't even the exciting part!

Our Mancunian pal explained to us, that although he was keeping his silver and golden age books, he was parting with everything 1975 or older. Oh no! Heaven forbid! We were going to have to purchase his trash! *cough*. Next, he lef us up two flights of stairs, and up into an attic space.

You know that sound in games when a legendary bit of loot drops, or a sacred artifact is unveiled in a film? That noise filled my mind as we pushed through the attic room door. Stacks. Stack, and stacks, and stacks. Floor to cieling boxes, each one alphabetically categorised within sub categories of age and condition. Holy Sh**.  These also weren't just your standard boxes of bent Death of Superman issues and water-damaged Spawn. Nope. What was contained within these white treasure chests, was a collection that had Bronze Age magic tucked neatly beside high-end Modern monsters. The sort of stash that makes seasoned collectors weep with joy and newbies wonder if they need a second mortgage.

And before you ask, yes. We bought the whole thing. Because at Fantasy Road, that’s what we do. We buy comics, and we buy comics UK wide.

The Bronze Age Highlights

Let’s start with the Bronze Age, because frankly, it deserves respect. Bronze Age comics (roughly 1969–1985) are that sweet spot between Silver Age charm and Modern Age flash. They’ve got the grit, the experimental storytelling, and let’s be honest, some of the most ridiculous outfits superheroes ever wore.

This Manchester haul had plenty, but a few issues leapt out at us like Wolverine in a bad mood:

Incredible Hulk #181 (1974)

First full appearance of Wolverine. You know the one. Bright yellow spandex, claws out, and a grumpy Canadian attitude that would change Marvel forever. Finding one in this collection felt like pulling a Charizard out of a booster pack, but with more hair and anger issues.

Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975)

Professor X got sick of the original team and decided to recruit a bunch of new faces. Enter Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and, of course, Wolverine. This issue is basically the Beatles’ Abbey Road of comics: iconic, influential, and worth a small fortune if kept in decent shape.

Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1974)

First appearance of the Punisher. Frank Castle’s debut still feels as hardcore today as it did then. And let me tell you, this copy was in lovely nick. No spine rolls, no crayon doodles. Just pure vigilante vengeance in near-mint form. 

Iron Fist #14 (1977)

First appearance of Sabretooth. Because nothing says “healthy rivalry” like a mutant psychopath who shows up just to ruin Wolverine’s day. This one was hiding in a short box like it had been waiting for us all along.

Tomb of Dracula #10 (1973)

Blade’s first appearance. Yes, Blade, the vampire hunter who made sunglasses indoors socially acceptable. With the MCU reboot looming, this book’s hotter than garlic bread at a vampire slayers’ meeting.

The Modern Keys

Now, onto the shiny stuff. High-end Modern books. Say what you want about foil covers and variant overload, but the Modern Age (let’s call it mid-90s to present) has given us some true bangers.

This Manchester collection had more Modern gold than a gangster in a grill shop.

Ultimate Fallout #4 (2011)

First appearance of Miles Morales. With Across the Spider-Verse turning him into a household name, this book’s value has been swinging upwards faster than Spidey on a sugar rush... As I'm sure Mr Huck, from our discord community server knows all too well, after winning a UF #4 9.6 CGC graded for just £20 the other day!

NYX #3 (2004)

First appearance of X-23, aka Laura Kinney. Remember when she stole the show in Logan? Yeah, this book’s been a hot ticket ever since.

Batman #655 (2006)

First Damian Wayne. Say what you like about Batman’s broody son, but this issue is a cornerstone for Modern DC collectors.

Something is Killing the Children #1 (2019)

Indie darlings matter too, and James Tynion’s monster-slaying masterpiece is one of the biggest hits of the 21st century so far. This book’s already climbing the charts, and the TV adaptation isn’t even out yet.

The Walking Dead #1 (2003)

Rick Grimes stumbling into the apocalypse for the first time. Copies of this are rarer than finding a clean toilet at a comic con. And yes, this Manchester stash had one.

Why Bronze & Modern Mixes Are So Juicy

Some people ask us, “Wouldn’t it be better if it was all Bronze?” Honestly, no. The beauty of this Manchester collection was the mix. Bronze Age keys are your stable investments. The blue-chip comics that never really go out of fashion. Modern keys, on the other hand, are your stocks-on-the-rise. They’re volatile, but when they hit, they really hit.

It’s like mixing whiskey and Red Bull. Dangerous? Yes. Rewarding? Also yes. Expensive after you wake up with one shoe in the freezer, no wallet, and no phone? Also yes.

So, How Much Is This Stuff Worth?

The million-pound question (not literally, unless you’ve got a CGC 9.9 Hulk #181). Here’s the thing: value depends on condition, rarity, and demand.

• Bronze Age comics like Hulk #181 and ASM #129 can easily hit thousands of pounds if they’re high grade.

• Moderns like Ultimate Fallout #4 or Walking Dead #1 are pushing four figures in the right grade.

• Mid-grade copies? Still tasty. Lower grade? Still sellable. There’s always a buyer.

If you’re sat on a collection like this and wondering if it’s worth anything, spoiler: it probably is. And we’re more than happy to help you sell comics online — safely, quickly, and without faffing about on auction sites.

Thinking of Selling Your Comics?

Maybe you’re in Manchester. Maybe you’re in Newcastle. Maybe you’re somewhere in Cornwall, or Wales, with more sheep than people. Doesn’t matter. If you want to Sell Comics UK, we’re your lot.

We don’t just buy comics either. If you’ve got a mountain of Funko Pops (yes, even the dreaded commons), we buy Funko Pops. Got Pokémon binders lying about? We buy Pokémon cards. Magic: The Gathering decks gathering dust? We buy Magic cards too.

Basically, if it’s geeky and clogging up your loft, we’re interested.

Why Sell Comics to Fantasy Road?

Let’s be brutally honest. Selling comics online can be a nightmare. You’ve got:

• Auction site headaches – 300 questions from “buyers” who then ghost you.

• Time wasters – “Would you take £5 for your Hulk #181?” No, Keith, go away.

• Shipping fears – Hoping Royal Mail doesn’t decide to fold your grail in half.

With us, it’s simple. You contact us, we make an offer, we collect (yes, even if you’re in Manchester on a rainy Tuesday), and you walk away with cash in your hand. Done.

Check out our comic book resources if you want tips on grading, values, and storage. Or if you’d rather watch us waffle about collections, our Fantasy Road videos are full of shiny distractions.

Lessons From the Manchester Collection

This haul taught us a few things:

1. Never underestimate Modern comics. They’re the future Bronze Age. Today’s “meh” title could be tomorrow’s Netflix hit.

2. Condition is king. Bag, board, store. Your loft’s dampness is not your friend.

3. Mixes are magical. Bronze + Modern = the collecting equivalent of salt and vinegar crisps.

4. Selling to us saves sanity. Seriously, we deal with the faff so you don’t have to.

Final Thoughts

Manchester gave us rain, road rage (If you're the eighty-year-old granny that tried to beat me to death with a cane in the Tesco's parking lot for cutting you off at a roundabout. Touche' madam, that whack hurt.), and a truly epic collection. Bronze Age beasts like Hulk #181 and ASM #129 sat happily beside Modern heavy-hitters like Ultimate Fallout #4 and Walking Dead #1. It was the kind of haul that reminds us why we love doing this. The thrill of discovery, the history in each box, and the promise of giving these comics new homes with collectors who’ll treasure them.

So if you’re sitting on a pile of comics, whether you’ve got Bronze Age legends, Modern megahits, or just boxes of stuff you can’t be bothered to sort... Get in touch. We’re always ready to buy your comics.