What are Major and Minor Keys?
As most comic geeks know, comics have varying levels of importance. There are those that are the holy grail to collectors and hold much significance to the industry, as well as lesser, but still pivotal comics that feature important or "key" events. The League of Comic Geeks utilizes a number of was to classify and communicate these key details.
First, comics can have a number of "Key Events", such as:
- Character First Appearance: A character's first appearance, cameo or full, in comics.
- Character Death: A character meeting their demise, if impactful within the issue and not undone shortly after.
- Team First Appearance: The first ever assembling of a team, regardless of the members. For example, The Justice League of America first appears in The Brave and the Bold #28.
- Iconic Costume Appearance: The first ever usage of a beloved costume. For example, Spider-Man's black suit reveal in Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars #8.
- Iconic Cover Artwork: Comic covers featuring artwork that has become iconic. For example, Hulk #340, ASM #300, Spider-Man #1, Web of Spider-Man #32, ASM #316, Action Comics #643, and more.
- Other Key Events may be added through discussions with the community if they appear to be relevant. For example, the First Appearance of a race such as the Skrulls.
These Key Events play a major role in our overall classification categories, Major and Minor, which exist to give you a single data-point for your collecting needs describing the comic's level of importance.
Major Keys are the undisputable most important comics. The first appearance of Hulk, Spider-Man, Deadpool, Walking Dead #1, etc. They universally have a market value greater than $50 USD (Raw) given they are the most sought after. If you have to question whether or not something is a Major Key, it's unlikely to be a Major Key.
Minor Keys are comics that have key events and significance and do not fit into the Major classification. A comic can have Key Events, but still lack the significance to be a Minor Key. The first appearance of Beezus the Dog from Earth 48 may be a fun comic and loved by many, but it's by no means a "Key" comic. This is to ensure that every character first appearance is classified as such. For example, a creator-owned comic has first appearances from characters, but are they noteworthy? Perhaps not.
Minor Keys are comics that have key events and significance and do not fit into the Major classification. A comic can have Key Events, but still lack the significance to be a Minor Key. The first appearance of Beezus the Dog from Earth 48 may be a fun comic and loved by many, but it's by no means a "Key" comic. This is to ensure that every character first appearance is classified as such. For example, a creator-owned comic has first appearances from characters, but are they noteworthy? Perhaps not.