1977 Star Wars #1 Comic Book
Invest Now-
$12,000
Initial Offering Marketing Cap -
$1
Initial Offering Share Price -
#STARWARS1
Ticker -
07/2020
Initial Offering Date
When 20th Century Fox approached Stan Lee in 1977 to produce a comic adaptation of its upcoming epic space-opera, he was understandably hesitant. However, Lee’s decision to create a Star Wars comic book ultimately paid off: the film became an overnight sensation and sales of the comic book series saved Marvel from financial ruin. Rally’s #STARWARS1 is a rare 35-cent variant copy of Star Wars #1 graded VF/NM 9.0 by CGC. Marvel produced only ~1,500 copies of the more expensive 35-cent variant to use in test markets and this #STARWARS1 is one of the top 50 graded examples in existence.
“… [I]t is inarguable that the success of the Star Wars comics was a significant factor in Marvel’s survival…”
— Jim Shooter, Former Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief
#STARWARS1 Timeline
-
Future filmmaker George Lucas is born and raised in Modesto, California.
May 1944
-
Lucas, a comic and sci-fi fan, visits Disneyland on its opening week and is inspired by the park’s imagination and scope.
Jul. 1955
-
A poor student but avid racing enthusiast in high school, Lucas turns his Italian minicar into a hotrod but wrecks it during an underground race.
Jun. 1962
-
Too injured to race again, Lucas studies film at the University of Southern California and founds American Zoetrope with Francis Ford Coppola.
Jan. 1967
-
Lucas cuts one of the greatest business deals in history with 20th Century Fox, foregoing his director’s fee for Star Wars in exchange for licensing and merchandising rights.
Jan. 1973
-
Riding the unprecedented success of his film American Graffiti, Lucas forms Industrial Light and Magic to create the effects for his upcoming space opera.
May 1975
-
To promote Star Wars ahead of its release date, Lucasfilms persuades Marvel Comics to do a movie tie-in comic, which Marvel publishes on the condition it will pay no royalties unless sales exceed 100,000 copies.
Jan. 1977
-
Marvel decides to test the waters with a 5-cent price increase, publishing ~1,500 copies with the 35-cent newsstand variant price in a handful of test market cities. #STARWARS1 is printed as part of this issue.
Apr. 1977
-
During the first weekend of its release, Star Wars is shown on only 43 screens due to the initial lack of theater owner interest. Lucas reportedly forgets the premiere until seeing the crowds surrounding LA’s Chinese Theatre.
May 1977
-
As Star Wars mania sweeps the planet, Marvel Comics is “literally saved...from folding in upon itself” thanks to the popularity of the comic series, which serves as early works within the Star Wars “Expanded Universe.”
Dec. 1977
-
Lucas sells the rights to Star Wars for $4.05 billion to Disney, which produces a new trilogy and Disney+ series.
Oct. 2012
-
After years of ownership by Dark Horse Comics, Star Wars returns to Marvel Comics with a new series and a million direct sales of its first issue.
Jan. 2015
-
A 35-cent price variant copy of Star Wars #1 graded CGC 9.4 sells for $27,111 at ComicConnect.
Aug. 2018
-
The total value of the Star Wars franchise is estimated at over $65 billion, making it the fifth most valuable media franchise of all time.
Nov. 2019
-
Rally enters into an agreement to acquire #STARWARS1 and offer it on the Rally platform.
May 2020
#STARWARS1 Details
Marvel’s Star Wars #1 35-cent variant price copies have seen a price appreciation of ~370% since 2005 (with a CAGR of ~10%) and a ~110% appreciation since 2014.
Invest NowFinancials | |
---|---|
Price Per Share | $1.00 |
Number of Shares | 12,000 |
Market Cap. | $12,000 |
Storage Location | Rally |
Asset Specifications | |
---|---|
Title | Star Wars #1 |
Writer | Roy Thomas |
Cover Artist | Howard Chaykin |
Penciller | Howard Chaykin, Tom Palmer |
Inker | Howard Chaykin, Tom Palmer |
Letterer | Howard Chaykin, Tom Palmer |
Editor | Roy Thomas |
Publisher | Marvel |
Store Date | June 30, 1977 |
Variant | 35 Cent Price |
Rarity | 1 of 24 (CGC VF/NM 9.0) |
Authentication | Comics Guaranty Company (CGC) |
Grade | CGC VF/NM 9.0 |