March 1, 2021
2014

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 2014 list you’re about to see is neither of those other types.
Instead, to briefly repeat the introduction I gave on the main 2010’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 2014, 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 2014, 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 2014.
Key Comic Books From 2014:
(Top 100 list based on census data as of January 19, 2021)Rank | CGC Count | Issue | Publisher/ Date |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 4,956 | Edge of Spider-Verse #2 | Marvel 11/14 |
|
1st appearance of the new Spider-Woman (Gwen Stacy). | ||||
2. | 4,941 | Amazing Spider-Man #4 | Marvel 9/14 |
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Cindy Moon becomes Silk. Black Cat & Morlun cameo. | ||||
3. | 4,272 | Outcast #1 | Image/Skybound 6/14 |
|
1st appearance of Kyle Barnes. | ||||
4. | 2,081 | Thor #1 | Marvel 12/14 |
|
Jane Foster becomes the new Thor. | ||||
5. | 2,079 | Amazing Spider-Man #1 | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Humberto Ramos cover & art | ||||
6. | 1,751 | Amazing Spider-Man 4 Ramos Variant Cover | Marvel 9/14 |
|
Cindy Moon becomes Silk. Black Cat & Morlun cameo. | ||||
7. | 1,304 | Death of Wolverine #1 | Marvel 11/14 |
|
Holofoil cover. | ||||
8. | 1,293 | Walking Dead #127 | Image/Skybound 5/14 |
|
1st appearance of Magna, Luke, Kelly, Connie, Yumiko, Annie, Siddiq & Bernie. “Outcast” preview by Kirkman & Azaceta. | ||||
9. | 1,173 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 Sketch Edition | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Perez art. Partial blank cover. | ||||
10. | 1,149 | All-New Marvel Now! Point One #1 | Marvel 3/14 |
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Salvador Larroca cover. 1st full appearance of the new Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan). | ||||
11. | 1,093 | Harley Quinn #1 | D.C. 2/14 |
|
Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti story. Chad Hardin art. Amanda Conner cover. | ||||
12. | 1,001 | Ms. Marvel #1 | Marvel 4/14 |
|
Kamala Khan becomes the new Ms. Marvel. | ||||
13. | 915 | Wytches #1 | Image 10/14 |
|
Scott Snyder story. Jock cover & art. | ||||
14. | 818 | Harley Quinn 1 Variant Cover | D.C. 2/14 |
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Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti story. Chad Hardin art. Adam Hughes cover. | ||||
15. | 754 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 Expert Comics Edition | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Perez art, Neal Adams cover | ||||
16. | 713 | Death of Wolverine #4 | Marvel 12/14 |
|
Holofoil cover. | ||||
17. | 633 | Harley Quinn 0 We Can Be Heroes Edition | D.C. 1/14 |
|
Add’tl art by Timm, Adlard, Hughes, Baltazar, Moore, Johnson, Keith, Cooke, Hardin & Roberts. Partial blank cover. | ||||
18. | 632 | Edge of Spider-Verse 2 Variant Edition | Marvel 11/14 |
|
1st appearance of the new Spider-Woman (Gwen Stacy). | ||||
19. | 628 | Superior Spider-Man 29 La Mole Comic Con Edition | Marvel 5/14 |
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Dan Slott & Christos Gage story. Giuseppe Camuncoli & John Dell art. J. Scott Campbell cover. | ||||
20. | 609 | Southern Bastards #1 | Image 4/14 |
|
Wraparound cover. | ||||
21. | 588 | Amazing Spider-Man 4 Campbell Variant Cover | Marvel 9/14 |
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Cindy Moon becomes Silk. Black Cat & Morlun cameo. Conquest Comics exclusive. | ||||
22. | 544 | Deadly Class #1 | Image 1/14 |
|
1st appearance of Marcus Lopez, Saya, Maria, Willie Lewis, Master Lin & the Kings Dominion School of the Deadly Arts | ||||
23. | 523 | Harley Quinn #0 | D.C. 1/14 |
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Add’tl art by Timm, Adlard, Hughes, Baltazar, Moore, Johnson, Keith, Cooke, Hardin & Roberts. | ||||
24. | 515 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 GameStop Fade Edition | Marvel 6/14 |
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Perez art, Greg Horn cover. Web of Spider-Man #32 cover homage. | ||||
25. | 496 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 Campbell Variant Cover | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Perez art, J. Scott Campbell cover | ||||
26. | 467 | Captain Marvel 17 Second Printing | Marvel 2/14 |
|
Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan) cover. Pre-dates All-New Marvel Now! Point One #1 (3/14) & Ms. Marvel #1 (4/14) | ||||
27. | 465 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 Young Variant Cover | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Perez art, Skottie Young cover. | ||||
28. | 463 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 Ross Variant Cover | Marvel 6/14 |
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Perez art, Alex Ross cover “75 Years of Marvel” variant cover. | ||||
29. | 462 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 Ross Sketch Cover | Marvel 6/14 |
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Perez art, Alex Ross cover “75 Years of Marvel” variant cover. | ||||
30. | 461 | Nailbiter #1 | Image 5/14 |
|
Joshua Williamson story. Mike Henderson cover & art. | ||||
31. | 460 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 Midtown Comics Edition | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Perez art, J. Scott Campbell cover | ||||
32. | 447 | Walking Dead #132 | Image/Skybound 10/14 |
|
1st appearance of Alpha in cameo on last page. | ||||
33. | 446 | Harley Quinn: Futures End #1 | D.C. 11/14 |
|
3-D lenticular cover. | ||||
34. | 433 | Amazing Spider-Man 4 Campbell Sketch Cover | Marvel 9/14 |
|
Cindy Moon becomes Silk. Black Cat & Morlun cameo. Conquest Comics exclusive. | ||||
35. | 410 | Captain Marvel #1 | Marvel 5/14 |
|
Kelly Sue DeConnick story. David Lopez cover & art. | ||||
36. | 405 | New Suicide Squad #1 | D.C. 9/14 |
|
Sean Ryan story. Jeremy Roberts cover & art. | ||||
37. | 402 | Outcast #2 | Image 7/14 |
|
Robert Kirkman story. Paul Azaceta cover & art. | ||||
38. | 398 | Amazing Spider-Man 4 Campbell Negative Edition | Marvel 9/14 |
|
Cindy Moon becomes Silk. Black Cat & Morlun cameo. Conquest Comics exclusive. | ||||
39. | 393 | Death of Wolverine #2 | Marvel 11/14 |
|
Holofoil cover. | ||||
40. | 385 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 C.O.B.R.A. Edition | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Perez art, John Romita cover | ||||
41. | 374 | Captain Marvel #17 | Marvel 1/14 |
|
2nd appearance of Kamala Khan in cameo on last page. Last issue. | ||||
42. | 373 | Harley Quinn 7 Lucia Variant Cover | D.C. 8/14 |
|
“DC Bombshells” variant cover. | ||||
43. | 371 | Superior Spider-Man 31 Midtown Comics Edition | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Dan Slott & Christos Gage story. Giuseppe Camuncoli & Will Sliney art. J. Scott Campbell cover. | ||||
44. | 366 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 Ramos Variant Cover | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Humberto Ramos cover & art | ||||
45. | 366 | Walking Dead 1 Emerald City Comicon Edition | Image 3/14 |
|
Emerald City Comicon 2014 exclusive. | ||||
46. | 347 | Edge of Spider-Verse #5 | Marvel 12/14 |
|
1st appearance of SP//dr & Peni Parker. | ||||
47. | 340 | Death of Wolverine 1 Desert Wind Comics Edition | Marvel 11/14 |
|
Charles Soule story. Steve McNiven art. Herb Trimpe cover. | ||||
48. | 332 | Death of Wolverine #3 | Marvel 11/14 |
|
Holofoil cover. | ||||
49. | 323 | Walking Dead 1 Amazing Arizona Comic Con Edition | Image/Skybound 1/14 |
|
Amazing Arizona Comic Con 2014 exclusive Reprints Walking Dead #1 | ||||
50. | 322 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 GameStop Edition | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Perez art, Greg Horn cover. Web of Spider-Man #32 cover homage. | ||||
51. | 318 | Deadpool vs. X-Force 1 Variant Edition | Marvel 9/14 |
|
Duane Swierczynski story. Pepe Larraz art. J. Scott Campbell cover. | ||||
52. | 314 | Harley Quinn Invades Comic-Con 1 Sketch Edition | D.C. 9/14 |
|
Partial blank cover. | ||||
53. | 309 | Batman 29 Sketch Edition | D.C. 5/14 |
|
Partial blank cover. | ||||
54. | 303 | All-New Ghost Rider #1 | Marvel 5/14 |
|
1st appearance of the new Ghost Rider (Roberto “Robbie” Reyes). | ||||
55. | 299 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 Jesse James Celestial Comics E | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Perez art, John Romita cover Sketch cover. | ||||
56. | 293 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 Variant Edition | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Perez art, Marcos Martin cover. | ||||
57. | 293 | Walking Dead 129 Convention Edition | Image/Skybound 7/14 |
|
San Diego Comic-Con exclusive. Cover forms a single image with Manifest Destiny #8 Convention Edition. | ||||
58. | 290 | Spread #1 | Image 7/14 |
|
Justin Jordan story. Kyle Strahm cover & art. | ||||
59. | 290 | Amazing Spider-Man 1.1 Midtown Comics Edition | Marvel 7/14 |
|
Clash appearance. Chameleon cameo. | ||||
60. | 286 | Batman #25 | D.C. 1/14 |
|
Black embossed cover.![]() | ||||
61. | 284 | Batman Eternal #1 | D.C. 6/14 |
|
Scott Snyder & James Tynion IV story. Jason Fabok cover & art. | ||||
62. | 283 | Amazing Spider-Man 2 Midtown Comics Edition | Marvel 7/14 |
|
Electro, Black Cat, Johnny Storm & Avengers appearance. | ||||
63. | 283 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 Ramos Sketch Cover | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Humberto Ramos cover & art | ||||
64. | 262 | Wytches 1 Convention Edition | Image 10/14 |
|
Scott Snyder story. Jock art. Dustin Nguyen cover. | ||||
65. | 258 | Captain America #25 | Marvel 12/14 |
|
Sam Wilson becomes the new Captain America. | ||||
66. | 255 | Origin II #1 | Marvel 2/14 |
|
Acetate cover. | ||||
67. | 253 | Avengers 1 Stan Lee Edition | Marvel 2014 |
|
Reprints Avengers #1 (9/63) | ||||
68. | 252 | Walking Dead 2014 Special Anniversary Edition 1 Black Friday Edition | Image 4/14 |
|
Black Friday “Mystery Box” exclusive. | ||||
69. | 251 | Deadpool 34 3-D Variant Cover | Marvel 11/14 |
|
Sabretooth & Alpha Flight appearance. Luke Cage & Iron Fist cameo. 3-D lenticular cover. | ||||
70. | 235 | Death of Wolverine 1 Quesada Sketch Cover | Marvel 11/14 |
|
Charles Soule story. Steve McNiven art. Joe Quesada cover. | ||||
71. | 233 | Walking Dead 1 Emerald City Comicon Sketch Edition | Image/Skybound 3/14 |
|
Emerald City Comicon 2014 exclusive. Sketch cover. | ||||
72. | 226 | Walking Dead 1 Amazing Arizona Comic Con Sket | Image/Skybound 1/14 |
|
Amazing Arizona Comic Con 2014 exclusive Reprints Walking Dead #1 | ||||
73. | 223 | Walking Dead #130 | Image/Skybound 8/14 |
|
1st appearance of the Whisperers. | ||||
74. | 220 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 Mhan Variant Cover | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Perez art, Pop Mhan cover | ||||
75. | 217 | Deadpool #27 | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Hawthorne, Hepburn, Timms, Lee, McCrea, Medina, Henrichon, Soy, Crystal, Dazo & Barberi art. Wraparound cover. | ||||
76. | 210 | Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man #1 | Marvel 7/14 |
|
Brian Michael Bendis story. David Marquez cover & art. | ||||
77. | 209 | Death of Wolverine 1 GameStop Edition | Marvel 11/14 |
|
Charles Soule story. Steve McNiven art. Greg Horn cover. | ||||
78. | 209 | Outcast #3 | Image 8/14 |
|
Robert Kirkman story. Paul Azaceta cover & art. | ||||
79. | 206 | Birthright #1 | Image/Skybound 10/14 |
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1st appearance of the Rhodes family (Aaron, Wendy, Brennan & Mikey), Rook, Rya, Ansari, Shavo & | ||||
80. | 200 | Walking Dead 132 Loot Crate Edition | Image/Skybound 10/14 |
|
1st appearance of Alpha in cameo on last page. | ||||
81. | 200 | Superior Spider-Man 31 Campbell Variant Cover | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Dan Slott & Christos Gage story. Giuseppe Camuncoli & Will Sliney art. J. Scott Campbell cover. | ||||
82. | 199 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 M&M Comics Edition | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Perez art, Terry & Rachel Dodson cover | ||||
83. | 198 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 Opena Variant Cover | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Perez art, Jerome Ope?a cover | ||||
84. | 196 | Bitch Planet #1 | Image 12/14 |
|
Kelly Sue DeConnick story. Valentine De Landro cover & art. | ||||
85. | 195 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 Midtown Comics Sketch Edition | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Perez art, J. Scott Campbell cover | ||||
86. | 194 | Mighty Avengers 3 Larroca Variant Cover | Marvel 1/14 |
|
“Eminem” variant cover. | ||||
87. | 193 | Amazing Spider-Man 2 Midtown Comics Sketch Edition | Marvel 7/14 |
|
Electro, Black Cat, Johnny Storm & Avengers appearance. | ||||
88. | 191 | Death of Wolverine 1 Young Variant Cover | Marvel 11/14 |
|
Charles Soule story. Steve McNiven art. Skottie Young cover. | ||||
89. | 189 | Amazing Spider-Man 8 Stan Lee Sketch Edition | Marvel 12/14 |
|
Ms. Marvel, Silk, Clash, Ringer & Doctor Minerva appearance. Stan Lee Collectibles exclusive. | ||||
90. | 187 | Rocket Raccoon 1 Castellani Variant Cover | Marvel 9/14 |
|
“Lego” variant cover. | ||||
91. | 187 | Batman: Futures End #1 | D.C. 11/14 |
|
3-D lenticular cover. | ||||
92. | 187 | Low #1 | Image 8/14 |
|
Rick Remender story. Greg Tocchini cover & art. | ||||
93. | 186 | Detective Comics #27 | D.C. 3/14 |
|
Art by Hitch, Adams, Bertram, March, Francavilla, Fabok, Murphy, Gleason, Jock, Jones, Nolan & Allred. | ||||
94. | 185 | Walking Dead 1 Escape Edition | Image 4/14 |
|
Reprints Walking Dead #1 | ||||
95. | 184 | New Suicide Squad: Futures End #1 | D.C. 11/14 |
|
3-D lenticular cover. | ||||
96. | 184 | Superior Spider-Man 22 Variant Edition | Marvel 1/14 |
|
Dan Slott & Christos Gage story. Humberto Ramos & Victor Olazaba art. J. Scott Campbell cover. | ||||
97. | 182 | Detective Comics 27 Lee Variant Cover | D.C. 3/14 |
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Art by Hitch, Adams, Bertram, March, Francavilla, Fabok, Murphy, Gleason, Jock, Jones, Nolan & Allred. | ||||
98. | 182 | Wytches 1 Midtown Comics Edition | Image 10/14 |
|
Scott Snyder story. Jock art. Sean Murphy cover. | ||||
99. | 181 | Amazing Spider-Man 1 McGuinness Variant Cover | Marvel 6/14 |
|
Perez art, Ed McGuinness cover | ||||
100. | 181 | Death of Wolverine 1 Deadpool Variant Cover | Marvel 11/14 |
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Charles Soule story. Steve McNiven art. Pasqual Ferry cover. | ||||
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