Police on Tsuut'ina First Nation west of Calgary are trying to track down the rightful owner of a stolen comic book collection that was recovered at the start of this year.

Tsuut'ina Nation Police executed a search warrant on a suspicious vehicle on the First Nation on Jan. 9, 2019, Cpl. Jon Prystayko said.

They say they found drugs, guns and a backpack with 33 comic books inside.

Prystayko said the find was sort of out of left field.

"It's 33 Marvel comics, all of different series, and they're all of very good to excellent condition," he said. "You can tell somebody really went to a great deal of effort to keep these in good shape."

The bag full of comics has now been released on a forfeiture order and police are trying to track down its original owner.

Prystayko said he collected hockey cards as a kid, so he knows how important a collection like this can be to someone.

"I'm feeling like it's a child or young person's property and we'd really like to find that person now," Prystayko said.

Cpl. Jon Prystayko of Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service said he hopes the comics can be returned to their rightful owner. (Julie Debeljak/CBC)

Police are also asking local comic book shops to spread the word.

Kelly Dowd, owner of Calgary's Redd Skull Comics, said people do occasionally come in with lists of comic titles that have been stolen so the store can keep an eye out.

Dowd said the stolen comics aren't special editions or rare items, and are likely worth about $5-10 per issue.

"They're good reads … they're worth something to somebody," he said.

The 33 comics are all Marvel titles in cellophane sleeves, and the comics were inside a grey shoulder bag with a green lining, and a letter "Y" logo.

For more information, or to claim the items, contact Tsuut'ina Nation Police at 403-251-9660.