BY MATT TUCK
IG@matt.tuck.writer
FB@ The Comic Blog
There’s a new Superman in town, and his name is Bizarro. The classic backwards Man of Steel has entered the land of live action, and it should spell profits for all you Bizarro Superman collectors out there.
Up is down. Left is right. Welcome to Bizarro World, where everything is literally the opposite of DC’s Earth-One. Originally played for laughs, the strange world produced its greatest (or should I say worst, at least in Bizarro speak) anti-hero, Bizarro Superman, and he has just been introduced on Superman & Lois. As we get set to see the fan-favorite character’s war with the Man of Steel, let’s take a closer look at four Bizarro keys for your collections.
SUPERBOY #68
Although not nearly as famous, the first time readers were introduced to a Bizarro character, it wasn’t Bizarro Superman. Instead, Superboy encountered Bizarro Superboy in the pages of 1958’s Superboy #68. The character was only around for a cup of coffee before he died by the end of the issue. Still, it makes for a prime collectible for Bizarro fans as this was the beginning of what would become one of DC’s most famous alternate-world, misunderstood characters.
Last month, a graded 5.0 broke its previous record after January 16 saw one bring $1,189. The more telling price is for the lowest grade sold this year, the 2.5. That one brought $550 on January 2, which is only $35 from the record high.
ACTION COMICS #254
Will the real Bizarro please stand up (or sit down)? A year after Bizarro Superboy came and went, the DC editors decided to resurrect the idea. Only this time, Bizarro would get an upgrade and be moved to the main Action Comics title as an alternate, backwards Superman. While it is not the first time readers saw a Bizarro character, this has become the main target for collectors because it is the debut of the iconic Bizarro Superman. Now that he has made his live-action debut, it should give Action Comics #254 a much-deserved push in FMV.
Surprisingly, there has only been one graded copy sold in 2022. On January 6, a 4.5 sold for a record $380. The graded AC #254s may not be on the move, but a raw copy did sell for $121 on February 3.
ACTION COMICS #263
The weird and wacky Bizarro World was revealed in 1960’s Action Comics #263. With the introduction of Bizarro Superman, it stands to reason that the Man of Steel will venture across dimensions and find himself trapped in Bizarro’s home. This could be interesting for Superman & Lois to explore, and it would only make sense for Bizarro World to be part of the festivities. After all, this is the home of Bizarro celebrities and other comic book characters, and you can believe the showrunners would enjoy running with those sight gags.
Again, we’re not seeing many graded sales, but that’s not a bad thing as prices are still low. The last time one traded hands online, a 6.0 sole for the low price of $139 in May. If you opt for a raw copy, those tend to sell for less than $50.
SUPERMAN #140
Since Bizarro Superman has made it to live action, it makes me wonder what other characters from Bizarro World we could see next. Considering Superman & Lois’ ties to the CW’s Arrowverse, the next logical step would be Bizarro Supergirl.
As her name suggests, this is the strange version of Kara Zor-El who is infused with the power of blue Kryptonite. It would seem appropriate for this character to make an appearance in either Superman & Lois, Supergirl, or possibly a crossover between both shows. If she does come to live action, that could preface the arrival of the Bizarro Family as well. Best of all, the prices are relatively cheap. In August, a graded 9.0 brought $550. Lower graded raw copies typically sell for $40 or less, so adding one to your collection should be easy on your budget.
THE GROUND’S THE LIMIT
If Bizarro Superman catches on with mainstream audiences, it’s not out of the question that we could see him make a triumphant return in the comics. For that matter, he would star in his own series or be part of a team of anti-heroes. It will be worth your time to keep your ear to the ground in case there are rumblings of bigger plans for the anti-Superman.
Matt Tuck is the author of the novel, Lost Bones of the Dead. He is a professional writer, avid comic collector, former teacher, and the Blogger Supreme. You can follow him on his Facebook page, The Comic Blog, or on Instagram at matt.tuck.writer.
