Marvel Comics’ Epic KISS Collaboration: A 1977 Blast from the Past

HERITAGE AUCTIONS ALERT - Marvel Comics Super Special #1, KISS!

For fans of 1970s and 1980s rock, heavy metal and hair bands, or those maybe dipping toes into the world of comic collecting, the summer of 1977 marked a significant moment when Marvel Comics and rock ‘n’ roll collided in spectacular fashion. This better-than-peanut-butter-meets-chocolate event led to the release of Marvel Comics Super Special No. 1, a comic that brought together the iconic band KISS and some of Marvel’s most beloved superheroes in a way that was as outrageous as the decade itself.

Having just read the awesome write-up by The Intelligent Collector's staff writer, Robert Wilonsky, I first wanted to share it with more people if possible, while also adding some thoughts I had about where the music & comic industries COULD be headed!

THE BOOK

Characters included Spider-Man, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and duh, the members of KISS, and this magazine-sized issue was priced at $1.50. With a print run nearing a million copies, Marvel Comics Super Special No. 1 was a hit, apparently holding the title of Marvel’s best-selling comic until Todd McFarlane’s Spider-Man No. 1 in 1990. Today, there are less than 1200 CGC graded copies, with the one-year average for a 9.8 grade averaging over $4,000!! (GoCollect)

The cover POPS, with KISS members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss depicted in all their glory by artist Alan Weiss, with colors by Gray Morrow. The promise of 40 pages of full-color comics, rumored to be “printed in real KISS blood” (though this was more myth than reality...like Ozzy biting off a real bat's head?), sent KISS fans (aka 'The KISS Army') storming newsstands.

The comic’s storyline was as wild as you’d expect, with KISS battling who else, but Doctor Doom, a nemesis typically reserved for Marvel’s superheroes. It was an odd mix that somehow made perfect sense in the wild, anything-goes atmosphere of the 1970s. Weiss summed it up perfectly, stating, “KISS is ridiculous, but that was part of the mythology: They were already comic book characters.”

THE AUCTION

Now, decades later, Marvel Comics Super Special No. 1 remains a coveted collectible. From September 12-15, Heritage Auctions will feature the world’s finest copy of this issue, graded a near-perfect 9.9 by the Certified Guaranty Company. Even lower-grade copies of this comic fetch hundreds of dollars when they’re available, a testament to its lasting impact and rarity.

KISS, with their outrageous costumes and over-the-top performances, fit perfectly into Marvel’s world. Despite Marvel’s initial reluctance, the book moved ahead, resulting in a comic that resonated with fans of both Marvel and KISS, capturing the spirit of an era when rock and comics were both pushing the boundaries of entertainment.

For new collectors and fans of 70s and 80s hair bands, Marvel Comics Super Special No. 1 is a piece of rock and comic history worth exploring. It’s a reminder of a time when the worlds of music and comics collided in the most spectacular way, creating a collectible that still rocks hard today.  Definitely worth watching how this auction ends up!!!

NOSTALGIA BECKONS THE FUTURE

It’s also interesting on the timing, as just recently (June 2024), legendary Heavy Metal band METALLICA rocked the digital stage in Fortnite, delivering an electrifying concert that brought together hundreds of thousands of fans / gamers in an immersive virtual experience. This event, held within Fortnite's expansive digital universe, featured a stunning blend of live music and interactive elements, allowing fans to enjoy the iconic band in a way that transcends traditional concerts. Although not one of Fortnite’s most successful in-game events to date, it did draw 220,000 Twitch & 150,000 YouTube viewers.

Of course, writing this as a ‘smaller than expected’ audience seems nuts, considering Taylor Swift’s ERAS tour in Edinburgh, Scotland was measured at a record-breaking 220,000 attendees over 3-days.

BUT DID YOU KNOW, KISS was 1st US band to go virtual & become digital avatars?

Yup - that's right fans! As the band left the stage at the conclusion of their final show of The End of the Road" farewell tour at MSG in New York, their DIGITAL AVATARS were revealed launching into 'God Gave Rock & Roll to You."

AND GET THIS - The avatars were created by George Lucas’ special-effects company, Industrial Light & Magic, in partnership with Pophouse Entertainment Group, the latter of which was co-founded by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus!

Now, for we digital comic collectors, these virtual concerts are setting the stage of future entertainment & fandoms within digital environments. The success of Metallica's concert demonstrates the growing appeal of virtual experiences, and the continued admiration of heavy metal, hair & nostalgic rock bands where fans can engage their favorite artists and brands in more personalized, interactive ways.

This trend isn't just limited to gaming platforms, but is expected to extend into other, newer digital platforms like the VeVeVerse, where VeVe has commented on their focus towards the music genre for future application releases. They've even started this process with a March 2024 release of artist RON ENGLISH'S "Delusionville" album set, playable on an interactive, digital collectible Jukebox!

As the technology builds, we can anticipate more opportunities for digital comic enthusiasts to participate in similar virtual events.  Imagine attending exclusive comic-themed concerts, artist signings, or interactive storylines within a metaverse environment. Damn, I’d definitely attend an updated DEADPOOL “Like A Prayer” concert or listen to an animated Stan Lee seminar on how he came up with his characters.

Such events could elevate the value of digital collectibles, making them not just items to own but experiences to share. KISS' choice to enable their concert experiences to become evergreen, while Metallica's concert in Fortnite success are powerful indicators of the potential that digital spaces hold for transforming how we consume and interact with entertainment, paving the way for a richer, more connected collector experience in the VeVeVerse and beyond.

Yeah...I played a lot of GUITAR HERO on my Nintendo Wii, and the Metallica concert did remind me of it quite a bit, but that was the nostalgic connection we all enjoy as collectors. Yes, I still have the plastic guitar boxed up under the stairs, ready for use should the need arise for a rock star Halloween Costume LOL, or maybe for some future 'air guitar' work in a virtual concert!

So if that’s a POSSIBLE scenario of where audio collecting could go, just imagine how freaking cool it’s going to be for whoever wins that KISS comic book physical auction.

BRAGGING RIGHTS ENABLED!!!!

Thanks for Reading!