One man's trash is another man's treasure, or so they say. In some cases, one man's nostalgia is his fortune. It is astounding how seemingly banal items that one might have collected for pennies would go on to be worth several hundred thousand dollars. Time truly is the greatest appreciator of all.

And nothing has stood the test of time quite like Marvel Comics. Established in 1931 as Timely Comics, Marvel Comics truly emerged in 1961 to become a name now eponymous for great heroes and even greater tales. Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Mr. Fantastic are just a few of many Marvel heroes who have entered the pantheon of great heroes alongside Odysseus, Gilgamesh, and Beowulf.

Today we will be looking at a list of seemingly ordinary items. But like the heroes which grace the pages of a comic book, there is more than meets the eye to these items. Some of them belong to a small number that exist, others mark the debut of a hero we have welcomed into our collective culture. All of them, however, hold an important significance not just to comic book lovers but to all of us who love a story.

Without further ado, here are 15 Marvel collectibles which are now worth a fortune and another 15 which should have been left in the discard pile.

30 Worth A Fortune: Marvel Comics #1 ($330,000)

If we are going to start talking about Marvel then we have to start from the beginning. That beginning is the inaugural issue of Marvel Comics. You can expect the first edition of any popular comic series to fetch a pretty penny, but imagine the monetary and sentimental value that this particular issue retains.

Marvel Comics #1 is the launching point for the stories that have entered into our collective mythology of the modern era.

This 1939 debut issue introduces the world to still relevant characters including the Human Torch and Namor the Sub-mariner. It's no surprise that a mint condition issue of Marvel Comics #1 can fetch a price as high as $330,000 USD. From humble beginnings came our generation's greatest heroes.

29 Just Embarrassing: Bonebreaker Action Figure

You would be totally forgiven if you have forgotten about Bonebreaker, or did not know who he was. Possessing the perplexing super-power of being half-man, half-tank, Bonebreaker's whole existence just leads to so many questions. How does he go to the bathroom? Why is his torso as big as a tank? Was his father a human and mother a tank?

Thankfully, this is a character that is unlikely to show up in any X-Men movies anytime soon so really we do not need to think too much about him. Unless your friend has this action figure in his collection, then we just have to ask; why?

28 Worth A Fortune: 2013 San Diego Comic-Con Spider-Man Minifigure

If you were one of the 300 or so lucky raffle winners at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con to win this little Spider-Man Lego mini-figure, then I hope you hung on to it. Any limited release item, particularly found at these comic expos, can end up being worth quite a lot.

This particular figure is in the ballpark of being worth $2000, notably for its exquisite look and attention to every little detail.

You'd be hard pressed to find another Spider-Man mini-figure that looks this good. Take note of the finely painted blue mesh on Spidey's suit and you will see why this figure is so sought after.

27 Embarrassing: Wolfsbane Furry Action Figure

And back to the topic of silly action figures, we have Wolfsbane. Of course, this could be Wolfsbane or it could be the action figure equivalent of dropping a lollipop on a bed of cat hair. All kidding aside, Wolfsbane is actually a pretty neat, somewhat obscure X-Men character. Being able to transform into a werewolf is pretty handy as far as powers go, it's just too bad it has to look this stupid in this case. Our furry friend here would even make the most diehard X-Men fans look silly having this on their bookshelf.

26 Worth A Fortune: Original Kresge Packaged Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man may not look so amazing in his vintage, Kresge packaged form but you can't doubt his appeal has only grown over time. You may not like Tobey Maguire's outing as Spider-Man but it set the stage for the comic book movie craze we live in today.  Spider-Man's immense popularity is reflected in the fact that this particular figure has sold in auction for a whopping $1,431. If you have one of these lying around in the attic, your spidey senses should be telling you to go make some cash.

25 Embarrassing: Astral Doctor Strange

Even the Sorcerer Supreme himself would not see the magic in having something like this in his collection. The whole point of this figure is to capture Dr. Strange's likeness as he transcends the corporeal, physical plane of existence via his astral projection. It's a really cool idea on paper but it doesn't really translate well to an action figure, a physical object. They might as well have just left the box empty for added realism. Points for trying I suppose.

24 Worth A Fortune: Original Kresge Captain

Spider-Man isn't the only classic Marvel hero fetching a price on the action figure market. Everyone's favorite patriot is a dream item for any collector.

Now you can stand for value by paying around $1000 to have him in your collection.

The first edition of this first Avenger was released in 1973 and his popularity has only grown over time. Fun fact: the original 1973 figure was missing his white sleeves and red gloves to save some money during production!

23 Embarrassing: Invisible Woman

Just when you thought we were done talking about how bad of an idea invisible action figures are, here we go again. At least Doctor Strange's astral figure did not look like a double jointed contortionist's act gone wrong like poor Sue Storm looks like here. Not to mention her really bizarre looking proportions that would make even a Barbie doll look healthy. I'm hoping that, someday, people realize that invisible action figures never look as cool as you might think they do.

22 Worth A Fortune: Avengers #1

In September of 1963, Earth's mightiest heroes, The Avengers, assembled for the first time and the rest is history. We know The Avengers now as the most lucrative film franchise to exist, but before that The Avengers #1 was groundbreaking for bringing together all of these great heroes onto the same page.

It is no surprise to anyone that this monumental issue, in mint condition, sold at auction for an incredible $274,850.

Watching Ant-Man, The Wasp, Thor, Hulk and Iron Man collide head-on with Loki would've been too much awesomeness to contain into a single issue. It's no hyperbole to say The Avengers has given us some of the greatest heroes of our time.

21 Embarrassing: Aunt "May"

Wow, I didn't know Gary Busey had an action figure! Oh, wait that's not Gary Busey! That's Peter Parker's own Aunt May! At least it is supposed to be Aunt May. Along the production line, there must have been someone to look at this and think to themselves "close enough". Aunt May is supposed to be a warm, maternal figure for our young Spider-Man. This figure, however, does not exactly scream maternal. The only thing this figure scream is uncomfortable stares and shifty smiles thanks to the Gary Busey face.

20 Worth A Fortune: Tony Stark Metallic Freddy Funko

Now, I love collecting Funko Pop figures as much as every other nerd does but at some point, this turns into an addiction. Considering this rare Tony Stark Metallic Freddy Funko vinyl figure exclusive to the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con can go for a cool $3500, it makes me wonder who is actually buying these. It also makes me wonder how many people have had to pawn off their TV's or their mother's antique furniture in order to add this to their Funko collection.

19 Embarrassing: Marvel Sleeping Wearable Sleeping Bag

Just imagine how cool you would be going about your daily life wearing a full-size Marvel sleeping bag. Stuck in a lunch lineup? Trigger your inner Hulk and start throwing a tantrum while yelling "SMASH SMASH SMASH". Getting beat up by bullies? Throw on your lame Spider-Man onesie for the real Peter Parker Experience.

Or, you could dress up in normal people clothes and not wear something that will instantly make you dork of the year at your workplace.

18 Worth A Fortune: Spider-Man Metallic Funko Pop

Woo! Yet another limited edition San Diego Comic-Con Funko Pop that is here to relieve you that cashing weighing down your wallet. So shiny, so chrome. Funko Pop dolls are incredible because they don't actually do anything. They don't have movable limbs, they don't really have any action and they don't even bobble!

This lovely metallic Spider-Man figure is only going to run you about $800 if you can find someone willing to sell it to you for that "cheap". Not too shabby considering some of the other items on this list...

17 Embarrassing: Thor Dumbbell And Alarm Clock

How many of you have thought to yourself "I want to go to the gym more but I just don't have the time"? Well here is your perfect alarm clock! Released to promote the first Thor movie, this dumbbell shaped alarm clock actually requires bicep curls for it to turn off. All in a great attempt to get geeks as jacked as the god of thunder himself, except that it has a tendency to roll off your night table. They truly put the "dumb" into dumbbell with this one.

16 Worth A Fortune: Amazing Fantasy #15

Featuring the comic book debut of Stan Lee's favorite creation, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, Amazing Fantasy #15 is a fiery-hot collector's item. As mentioned before, the debut issue of any character goes for a lucrative price, and that price is even more lucrative when said character is the face of Marvel.

Amazing Fantasy #15 sold for a truly amazing $454,100 at auction, not too bad for a nerdy orphan from Queens.

With Spidey finally getting to join the Avengers on screen, and gamers getting the incredible Spider-Man game on PS4, we owe a lot to Amazing Fantasy #15.

15 Embarrassing: Beach Spider-Man

Another thing we owe to Amazing Fantasy #15 is this confusing mess of a Spider-Man action figure. I guess superheroes need vacations too but is the mask really that necessary for a day at the beach? I mean not only is that going to give little Peter Parker some really awkward tan lines but its also inevitable that sand is going to get stuck absolutely everywhere in there. It's as if Spider-Man left the Avengers and went to go join Baywatch instead.

14 Worth A Fortune: Stan Lee Action Figure

And now to wash out the bad taste of that beach Spider-Man figure with an action figure that is truly excelsior! That's right, Stan "The Man" Lee the man responsible for endless late nights reading comic books and watching superhero movies himself immortalized in action figure form. As the Greek gods live forever both through their stories and countless marble tributes, so too does Stan Lee.

Only 1000 of these limited edition figures have been created, so if you want to get your hands on one you will have to be prepared to pay for it.

But who would not want to own a rare collectible item commemorating one of the greatest storytellers of our time?

13 Embarrassing: The Punisher and His "Power Pistol"

We are living through a resurgence of The Punisher lately with Jon Bernthal playing Frank Castle with grit and a proper stiff upper lip. So it's unfortunate that we have to remember The Punisher's unfortunate history as a figure. The gimmick behind the Shape Shifting Punisher Power Pistol was that it could transform into a little toy pistol by putting Castle into a...compromising position. Kids love having two toys in one, but I don't think parents liked their kids playing with a little man with various protruding hardware.

12 Worth A Fortune: Marvel Legends Silver Luke Cage

The Punisher isn't the only Marvel hero to come back to life on our Netflix queue. Of course, the difference here is that Luke Cage doesn't fold himself like origami. This, In fact, this Marvel Legends Silver Shirt Luke Cage is actually worth quite a bit of money. Around $2000, in the box, to be exact. Considering the original retail price was $7.99, it's safe to say this would have been a great investment. Sure this particular figure has 34 points of articulation but unfortunately, none of them involve any hidden weapons like The Punisher's did.

11 Embarrassment: Banshee

There is no limit to the cool factor of the X-men roster. Wolverine, Magneto, Gambit, and Juggernaut are just a few of these timeless characters that are forever etched into our collective conscious. And then there is Banshee. Known for his superior powers of being able to scream at a very, very high pitch, Banshee isn't exactly the James Dean of the X-men universe. Sure this action figure might seem lame with its horribly yellow cape but it redeems itself by having an actual built-in whistle that you can blow into! Nope, nevermind it is just lame.