CGC Featured Comic of the Month: Ultimate Spider-Man #1 - FCBD Edition

Click images to enlarge.

Name: Ultimate Spider-Man #1: Free Comic Book Day Edition

Comic publisher: Marvel Comics

Date: May 2002

Variants: Ultimate Spider-Man #1 was first published in September 2000. A Dynamic Forces variant was published in October 2000 and a white cover variant was released in November 2000. The comic was reprinted for various special editions, including Checkers (2001), Free Comic Book Day (2002), K-B Toys (2002), Payless Shoes (2002), Target (2002), JCPenney (2002) and Wizard ACE (2005).

What makes it special? Ultimate Spider-Man #1 was the first comic in the new Marvel Ultimate Universe, and introduced readers to a new, younger Peter Parker. The Free Comic Book Day Edition was released in 2002 as part of the very first FCBD, to coincide with the release of the first wide-release Spider-Man movie.

Why is it interesting now? May is the annual celebration of Free Comic Book Day, and for 2024, there’s an all-new Ultimate Spider-Man series published by Marvel Comics. Among the free comics to be released this year is Spider-Man/Ultimate Universe #1, reintroducing readers to the Ultimate Universe, and debuting the all-new Ultimate Green Goblin!

Did you know? CGC is the Presenting Sponsor of FCBD 2024, with special promotions and a limited-edition FCBD custom label. Check out your local participating comic book shop for more information!

Total graded by CGC: As of April 19, 2024, there are 464 examples of Ultimate Spider-Man #1: Free Comic Book Day Edition in the CGC Census.

CGC highest graded: There are 326 recorded examples graded CGC 9.8.

Sales highlights: A CGC 9.6 Signature Series, signed by artist Mark Bagley, was sold for $265 on eBay in September 2022.

CGC Comics Registry Champion: CGC Comics Registry user SpiderJunkie’s set SpiderJunkie's USM includes a CGC 9.8 copy of Ultimate Spider-Man #1: Free Comic Book Day Edition, along with most other issues and variants from this series in stunning high grades. These impressive grades helped SpiderJunkie’s set win the ultimate prize of Best in Set Type Award from 2015-2023.

Previous Featured Comics of the Month:

• April 2024: Sensational She-Hulk #1
• March 2024: New Mutants #98
• February 2024: Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21
• January 2024: Avengers #1
• December 2023: Batman Adventures Holiday Special #1
• November 2023: Comic Cavalcade #18
• October 2023: Batman: The Long Halloween #1
• September 2023: Disney’s Darkwing Duck #1
• August 2023: Mystery Men Comics #1
• July 2023: Captain America #100
• June 2023: Amazing Spider-Man #149
• May 2023: Action Comics #252

Follow @CGCComics on Instagram to vote for next month's Featured Comic!

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. The newest division of CGC, CGC Home Video, provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of home media.