March 1, 2021
2009
[ Note: four years prior, a newsstand rarity estimate of 2% exists for Marvel. If you are not already in-the-know about the difference between newsstand and direct edition comics see the following: Comic Book Newsstand Editions: Understanding The Difference ]
There are two main ways I’ve seen online lists of key comic books presented by year: (1) personalized lists based upon judgment calls of what is “key” (thereby omitting any comic books the particular writer doesn’t happen to consider key — or doesn’t know about), and (2) lists based upon high sales price data (also a flawed method because high prices can just as easily be caused by a non-key book happening to grade a 10 at CGC)
The top 100 key comic books from 2009 list you’re about to see is neither of those other types.
Instead, to briefly repeat the introduction I gave on the main 2000’s page, the list I’m about to present is essentially “crowd-sourced”… by the crowd of collectors sending comics to CGC. All I’ve done here is to rank the universe of comic books published in 2009, according to how many copies of each issue have passed through CGC’s doors to date (as of 1/19/2021) to reveal the comic books with the highest census counts — that’s it!
This exercise should “tease out” a very interesting list of important and/or key comic books from 2009, but this will not necessarily be an all-encompassing list (if very few copies were created for a given key, for example, that restricted supply could keep the count of CGC submissions low even though the comic is very important — this exercise will unfortunately see such comics sort themselves off of the bottom through no fault of their own). So essentially, you should think of this list as just one more tool in your tool-belt of researching key comic books from 2009.
Key Comic Books From 2009:
(Top 100 list based on census data as of January 19, 2021)| Rank | CGC Count | Issue | Publisher/ Date |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 2,026 | The Marvels Project 1 Sketch Cover | Marvel 10/09 |
|
| Partial blank cover. 70th anniversary “frame” cover. | ||||
| 2. | 1,709 | Amazing Spider-Man 583 Variant Edition | Marvel 3/09 |
|
| President Barack Obama cover & back-up story. | ||||
| 3. | 1,633 | Amazing Spider-Man #607 | Marvel 11/09 |
|
Black Cat & Diablo appearance. Ana Kravinov cameo on last page. Rare CGC-recognized $3.99 cover price newsstand variant is confirmed to exist | ||||
| 4. | 1,228 | Amazing Spider-Man #606 | Marvel 11/09 |
|
| Black Cat, Diablo & Madame Web appearance. Rare CGC-recognized $3.99 cover price newsstand variant is confirmed to exist | ||||
| 5. | 1,224 | Amazing Spider-Man #601 | Marvel 10/09 |
|
| Jessica Jones appearance & New Avengers cameo in backup story. Rare CGC-recognized $3.99 cover price newsstand variant is confirmed to exist | ||||
| 6. | 985 | Chew #1 | Image 6/09 |
|
| 1st full appearance of Tony Chu & Agent Mason Savoy. “Taster’s Choice” part 1 | ||||
| 7. | 937 | Gotham City Sirens #1 | D.C. 8/09 |
|
| Paul Dini story. Guillem March cover & art. | ||||
| 8. | 926 | Walking Dead #61 | Image 5/09 |
|
| 1st appearance of Father Gabriel Stokes. “Death” of Billy & Ben. 5 page “Chew” preview by John Layman & Rob Guillory. | ||||
| 9. | 690 | Amazing Spider-Man 583 Second Printing | Marvel 3/09 |
|
| President Barack Obama cover & back-up story. | ||||
| 10. | 583 | Dark Avengers 1 Sketch Cover | Marvel 3/09 |
|
| 1st appearance of the “Dark Avengers”. Norman Osborn becomes the Iron Patriot. Partial blank cover. | ||||
| 11. | 569 | Amazing Spider-Man #600 | Marvel 9/09 |
|
| J. Jonah Jameson Sr. marries Aunt May. Fantastic Four & Doctor Octopus app. Rare CGC-recognized $6.99 cover price newsstand variant is confirmed to exist | ||||
| 12. | 529 | Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel #1 | Marvel 1/09 |
|
| 1st appearance of the Blue Marvel (Adam Brashear) & Anti-Man (Conner Sims) | ||||
| 13. | 482 | Uncanny X-Men 510 Variant Edition | Marvel 7/09 |
|
| Matt Fraction story. Greg Land & Jay Leisten art. J. Scott Campbell cover. | ||||
| 14. | 454 | Amazing Spider-Man #583 | Marvel 3/09 |
|
| President Barack Obama back-up story. | ||||
| 15. | 439 | Detective Comics #850 | D.C. 1/09 |
|
| Paul Dini story. Dustin Nguyen cover & art. | ||||
| 16. | 435 | Batman and Robin #1 | D.C. 8/09 |
|
| Grant Morrison story. Frank Quitely cover & art. | ||||
| 17. | 421 | Spider-Man Noir #1 | Marvel 2/09 |
|
| 1st appearance of Spider-Man Noir. | ||||
| 18. | 409 | Amazing Spider-Man 583 Third Printing | Marvel 3/09 |
|
| President Barack Obama cover & back-up story. | ||||
| 19. | 363 | Power Girl #1 | D.C. 7/09 |
|
| 2 different covers exist, 1 by Adam Hughes & 1 by Amanda Conner. | ||||
| 20. | 339 | Chew #2 | Image 7/09 |
|
| “Taster’s Choice” part 2 | ||||
| 21. | 336 | Walking Dead #63 | Image 7/09 |
|
| Flipbook with Chew #1 by John Layman & Rob Guillory. | ||||
| 22. | 315 | Amazing Spider-Man 606 Atomic Comics/Golden Apple Edition | Marvel 11/09 |
|
| Black Cat, Diablo & Madame Web appearance. Partial sketch cover. | ||||
| 23. | 273 | Amazing Spider-Man 606 Variant Edition | Marvel 11/09 |
|
| Black Cat, Diablo & Madame Web appearance. Partial sketch cover. Rare CGC-recognized cover price newsstand variant is confirmed to exist for the regular cover version of this issue number | ||||
| 24. | 250 | Power Girl #2 | D.C. 8/09 |
|
| Two different covers exist, one by Amanda Conner & one by Adam Hughes. Justice Society of America appearance. | ||||
| 25. | 250 | Image United 1 Sketch Cover | Image 11/09 |
|
| Jim Lee cover. 6 page “Haunt” preview by Kirkman, Capullo, Ottley & McFarlane. | ||||
| 26. | 248 | Amazing Spider-Man 583 Fourth Printing | Marvel 3/09 |
|
| President Barack Obama cover & back-up story. | ||||
| 27. | 239 | Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 1 Pittsburgh Comicon Edition | Marvel 10/09 |
|
| Wraparound sketch cover. Johnny Storm, Kingpin & Mysterio appearance. | ||||
| 28. | 236 | Dark Avengers #1 | Marvel 3/09 |
|
| 1st appearance of the “Dark Avengers”. Norman Osborn becomes the Iron Patriot. New Avengers #1 (1/05) cover homage. | ||||
| 29. | 228 | Chew #3 | Image 8/09 |
|
| “Taster’s Choice” part 3 1st appearance of Amelia Mintz. | ||||
| 30. | 226 | Batman and Robin 1 Variant Cover | D.C. 8/09 |
|
| Grant Morrison story. Frank Quitely art. J.G. Jones cover. | ||||
| 31. | 223 | Spider-Man Noir 1 Variant Cover | Marvel 2/09 |
|
| 1st appearance of Spider-Man Noir. Sketch cover. | ||||
| 32. | 216 | Batman and Robin 1 Sketch Cover | D.C. 8/09 |
|
| Grant Morrison story. Frank Quitely cover & art. | ||||
| 33. | 208 | Black Panther #1 | Marvel 4/09 |
|
| Sub-Mariner & Doctor Doom appearance. “Black Panther Saga” backup by John Rhett Thomas. | ||||
| 34. | 208 | Hulk #16 | Marvel 12/09 |
|
| X-Force, Punisher, Thundra, Doc Sampson & Deadpool appearance. | ||||
| 35. | 208 | Wolverine Weapon X 1 Sketch Cover | Marvel 6/09 |
|
| Jason Aaron story. Ron Garney & Jason Keith art. Adam Kubert cover. | ||||
| 36. | 203 | Amazing Spider-Man 600 Quesada Variant Cover | Marvel 9/09 |
|
| Joe Quesada wraparound cover. J. Jonah Jameson Sr. marries Aunt May. Fantastic Four & Doctor Octopus app. | ||||
| 37. | 202 | Amazing Spider-Man 583 Fifth Printing | Marvel 3/09 |
|
| President Barack Obama cover & back-up story. | ||||
| 38. | 201 | Blackest Night 1 Sketch Cover | D.C. 9/09 |
|
| “Death” of Hawkman & Hawkgirl. | ||||
| 39. | 200 | Hulk #15 | Marvel 11/09 |
|
| 1st appearance of Red She-Hulk. X-Force, Elektra, Punisher, Deadpool, Crimson Dynamo & Thundra appearance. | ||||
| 40. | 197 | Amazing Spider-Man 600 Romita Variant Cover | Marvel 9/09 |
|
| John Romita cover. Fantastic Four & Doctor Octopus app. J. Jonah Jameson Sr. marries Aunt May. | ||||
| 41. | 196 | Chew 1 Limited Edition | Image 8/09 |
|
| Larry’s Wonderful World of Comics exclusive. Sketch cover. “Taster’s Choice” part 1 | ||||
| 42. | 196 | Final Crisis #6 | D.C. 1/09 |
|
| Two different covers exist, one by J.G. Jones & one by Carlos Pacheco. | ||||
| 43. | 195 | Flash: Rebirth #1 | D.C. 6/09 |
|
| Geoff Johns story. Ethan Van Sciver cover & art. | ||||
| 44. | 195 | Black Panther #5 | Marvel 8/09 |
|
| Shuri becomes the new Black Panther. Morlun & Death appearance. | ||||
| 45. | 194 | Haunt #1 | Image 10/09 |
|
| Robert Kirkman story. Greg Capullo & Ryan Ottley art. Todd McFarlane cover & art. | ||||
| 46. | 190 | Walking Dead #66 | Image 10/09 |
|
| “Death” of Dale. | ||||
| 47. | 190 | The Untamed: A Sinner’s Prayer 1 Limited Edition | Stranger 2009 |
|
| 1st appearance of Niobe Ayutami. | ||||
| 48. | 183 | Sweet Tooth #1 | D.C./Vertigo 11/09 |
|
| Jeff Lemire story, cover & art. | ||||
| 49. | 181 | Batman #686 | D.C. 4/09 |
|
| 2 different covers exist, 1 by Andy Kubert & 1 by Alex Ross. “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader” part 1 | ||||
| 50. | 180 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Color Special 1 Error Edition | Mirage Studios 11/09 |
|
| Manufactured with hatch pattern printed on interior page margins. Reprints TMNT #1 in color. | ||||
| 51. | 178 | Walking Dead #68 | Image 12/09 |
|
| 1st full appearance of Aaron. | ||||
| 52. | 177 | Walking Dead #67 | Image 11/09 |
|
| 1st appearance of Aaron in cameo on last page. | ||||
| 53. | 175 | Captain America #600 | Marvel 8/09 |
|
| 2 different covers exist, 1 by Alex Ross & 1 by Steve Epting. | ||||
| 54. | 171 | Hulk 16 McGuinness Variant Cover | Marvel 12/09 |
|
| X-Force, Punisher, Thundra, Doc Sampson & Deadpool appearance. Deadpool cover. | ||||
| 55. | 167 | Walking Dead #59 | Image 3/09 |
|
| Robert Kirkman story. Charlie Adlard cover & art. | ||||
| 56. | 159 | Amazing Spider-Man #602 | Marvel 10/09 |
|
| 1st appearance of the new Slyde. Chameleon appearance. Rare CGC-recognized $3.99 cover price newsstand variant is confirmed to exist | ||||
| 57. | 158 | The Untamed: A Sinner’s Prayer #1 | Stranger 2009 |
|
| 1st appearance of Niobe Ayutami. | ||||
| 58. | 155 | Savage Dragon 145 WonderCon Edition | Image 2/09 |
|
| President Barack Obama vs. Osama Bin Laden “vintage comic” cover. President Barack Obama appearance. | ||||
| 59. | 150 | Reborn 1 Sketch Cover | Marvel 9/09 |
|
| Captain America (Bucky Barnes), Vision, Black Widow, Sharon Carter, Arnim Zola, Falcon, Hank Pym & Norman Osborn app. | ||||
| 60. | 145 | Walking Dead #60 | Image 4/09 |
|
| Robert Kirkman story. Charlie Adlard cover & art. | ||||
| 61. | 141 | Ultimatum 1 Finch Variant Cover | Marvel 1/09 |
|
| Jeph Loeb story. David Finch & Danny Miki cover & art. | ||||
| 62. | 140 | Gotham City Sirens 1 Variant Cover | D.C. 8/09 |
|
| Paul Dini story. Guillem March art. J.G. Jones cover. | ||||
| 63. | 139 | Wolverine Weapon X 1 Hero Initiative Edition | Marvel 6/09 |
|
| Jason Aaron story. Ron Garney art. | ||||
| 64. | 139 | Walking Dead #65 | Image 9/09 |
|
| Robert Kirkman story. Charlie Adlard cover & art. | ||||
| 65. | 138 | Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1 | Marvel 10/09 |
|
| Johnny Storm, Kingpin & Mysterio appearance. Wraparound cover. | ||||
| 66. | 136 | Walking Dead #58 | Image 2/09 |
|
| Return of Morgan. Back cover pin-up by Cliff Rathburn. | ||||
| 67. | 133 | Haunt: Preview #nn | Image 7/09 |
|
| Black & white cover & interior. | ||||
| 68. | 132 | Detective Comics #854 | D.C. 8/09 |
|
| Batwoman appearance. Question backup story by Greg Rucka & Cully Hamner. | ||||
| 69. | 131 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1 Free Comic Book Day Edition | Mirage Studios 5/09 |
|
| 25th Anniversary special. Free Comic Book Day 2009 exclusive. Wraparound cover. | ||||
| 70. | 130 | Amazing Spider-Man 592 Variant Edition | Marvel 6/09 |
|
| 1st appearance of the new Vulture in cameo. “Wolverine Art Appreciation” cover. | ||||
| 71. | 129 | Amazing Spider-Man 600 Dynamic Forces Edition | Marvel 9/09 |
|
| J. Jonah Jameson Sr. marries Aunt May. Fantastic Four, New Avengers, Daredevil & Doctor Octopus app. “Virgin” cover. | ||||
| 72. | 126 | Cowboy Ninja Viking #1 | Image 10/09 |
|
| A.J. Lieberman story. Riley Rossmo cover & art. | ||||
| 73. | 125 | Chew #5 | Image 11/09 |
|
| Tony Chu loses right ear. “Taster’s Choice” part 5 | ||||
| 74. | 124 | Blackest Night Ashcan 0 Retailer Incentive Edition | D.C. 6/09 |
|
| Promotional issue. Sketch cover & interior. | ||||
| 75. | 124 | Uncanny X-Men #509 | Marvel 6/09 |
|
| Matt Fraction story. Greg Land & Jay Leisten art. Greg Land cover. Rare CGC-recognized $3.99 cover price newsstand variant is confirmed to exist | ||||
| 76. | 124 | X-Men: Sword of the Braddocks #1 | Marvel 5/09 |
|
| Backup story by Adam Warren & Rick Mays. | ||||
| 77. | 124 | Walking Dead #57 | Image 1/09 |
|
| Anniversary issue. | ||||
| 78. | 121 | Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #1 | Marvel 9/09 |
|
| 1st appearance of Doctor Betty Swanson. Ka-Zar & Zabu app. Headpool cameo on last page. Savage Tales #1 cover homage. | ||||
| 79. | 121 | Black Panther 1 Variant Edition | Marvel 4/09 |
|
| Sub-Mariner & Doctor Doom appearance. “Black Panther Saga” backup by John Rhett Thomas. Wraparound cover. | ||||
| 80. | 120 | Dark Avengers 1 Midtown Comics Edition | Marvel 3/09 |
|
| 1st appearance of the “Dark Avengers”. Norman Osborn becomes the Iron Patriot. New York Comic Con 2009 exclusive. | ||||
| 81. | 120 | Gotham City Sirens #5 | D.C. 12/09 |
|
| Joker revealed as Gaggy. | ||||
| 82. | 117 | Hulk 14 McGuinness Variant Cover | Marvel 10/09 |
|
| X-Force, Punisher, Crimson Dynamo, Thundra, Elektra & Deadpool appearance. Deadpool cover. | ||||
| 83. | 117 | Dark Avengers 1 Variant Edition | Marvel 3/09 |
|
| 1st appearance of the “Dark Avengers”. Norman Osborn becomes the Iron Patriot. | ||||
| 84. | 116 | Batman 686 Sketch Cover | D.C. 4/09 |
|
| “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader” part 1 | ||||
| 85. | 114 | Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 1 Sketch Cover | Marvel 10/09 |
|
| Johnny Storm, Kingpin & Mysterio appearance. Wraparound cover. | ||||
| 86. | 114 | Hulk 9 Sketch Cover | Marvel 2/09 |
|
| Wraparound cover. Christmas cover. | ||||
| 87. | 114 | Walking Dead #62 | Image 6/09 |
|
| Robert Kirkman story. Charlie Adlard cover & art. | ||||
| 88. | 113 | Walking Dead #64 | Image 8/09 |
|
| Flipbook with Viking #1 by Ivan Brandon & Nic Klein. | ||||
| 89. | 113 | Invincible Iron Man 10 Variant Edition | Marvel 4/09 |
|
| Iron Patriot appearance. Injury-to-eye cover. Rare CGC-recognized cover price newsstand variant is confirmed to exist for the regular cover version of this issue number | ||||
| 90. | 111 | Chew #4 | Image 9/09 |
|
| “Taster’s Choice” part 4 | ||||
| 91. | 109 | Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 1 Foil Edition | Marvel 10/09 |
|
| Johnny Storm, Kingpin & Mysterio appearance. Silver foil cover. | ||||
| 92. | 107 | Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth 1 Variant Edition | Marvel 9/09 |
|
| 1st appearance of Doctor Betty Swanson. Ka-Zar & Zabu appearance. Headpool cameo on last page. | ||||
| 93. | 106 | Haunt 1 Gold Foil Edition | Image 10/09 |
|
| Embossed gold foil logo. | ||||
| 94. | 106 | Reborn 1 Cassaday Variant Cover | Marvel 9/09 |
|
| Captain America (Bucky Barnes), Vision, Black Widow, Sharon Carter, Arnim Zola, Falcon, Hank Pym & Norman Osborn app. | ||||
| 95. | 102 | Amazing Spider-Man 608 Variant Cover | Marvel 12/09 |
|
| Raptor & Screwball appearance. Kaine cameo on last page. | ||||
| 96. | 101 | Dark Avengers 1 New York Comic Con Edition | Marvel 3/09 |
|
| 1st appearance of the “Dark Avengers”. Norman Osborn becomes the Iron Patriot. Partial sketch cover. | ||||
| 97. | 100 | Chew 1 Second Printing | Image 7/09 |
|
| 1st full appearance of Tony Chu & Agent Mason Savoy. “Taster’s Choice” part 1. Green Logo. | ||||
| 98. | 99 | Amazing Spider-Man 603 Variant Edition | Marvel 10/09 |
|
| Chameleon appearance. 70th Anniversary “frame” cover. Rare CGC-recognized cover price newsstand variant is confirmed to exist for the regular cover version of this issue number | ||||
| 99. | 99 | Amazing Spider-Man 602 Variant Edition | Marvel 10/09 |
|
| 1st appearance of the new Slyde. Chameleon appearance. 70th Anniversary “frame” cover. Rare CGC-recognized cover price newsstand variant is confirmed to exist for the regular cover version of this issue number | ||||
| 100. | 97 | Blackest Night #1 | D.C. 9/09 |
|
| “Death” of Hawkman & Hawkgirl. | ||||
| « 2008 | 2010 » | |||
Rare Comics 