Comic Market Watch 2020: Apocalypse Edition

*Originally published on Medium Dec 30 2020*

PLEASE NOTE THIS ARTICLE WAS STARTED JUST AS THE PANDEMIC WAS BEGINNING. COMIC WATCH 2019 WHICH WAS AVAILABLE ON OUR CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE WEBSITE COVERED THE ORIGINAL PHASE 4 ANNOUNCEMENT IN 2019 AT SDCC.

Well it happened again folks. Your loyal comic sleuths were forced to abandon ship yet again and search for a new home. Don’t ask me what happened. Currently we are in a temporary limbo while the webmasters decide what to do. I mean who really needs a website now a days? With social media and great sites like Medium one is already exposed and connected. Right?

So enough about the past let’s focus on our future…that we might not have cause apparantly all hell is breaking loose out there. Me and the bro are quite familiar with social distancing as for the first 18 dog years of our lives we were subjected to a life hidden from the eyes of society. I mean can you believe our luck? We finally get to go out and mingle and sniff a little tail and boom! Possible world ending pandemic. Again! But are we lucky today. Let me tell you back when that 1918 flu pandemic hit I was just a pup and dawg it was no joke. There wasn’t any cable or internet or iphones and you were pretty much waking up just to make sure you weren’t dead.

Today it’s a different story with the plethora of entertainment choices to help make the day go by. If there was ever a time for a global pandemic, it is now with the comforts of modern technology and regulation that even Upton Sinclair would be proud of. Can you imagine if this happened in the 80’s and 90’s before internet and the abundance of video game entertainment? We’d have wore out our only VHS copy of Die Hard and beaten Mario Brothers for the millionth time. But now you have dozens of streaming services, a multitude of tech choices, and the ability to function, work and operate normally all from the comforts of home. We all thought the automation of the world was still a ways away but this pandemic has jump started it and thrust us forward without reading the manual. It’s interesting how before all this, people could go out and many chose not to by staying in and now that we have to stay indoors it seems dull and repetitive and to some repressive.

Luckily for introverts like myself there is a thirst for extra curricular activities that I am always trying to quench. Creatives were made and built for this pandemic cause after watching every single streaming app eventually you’re going to reach out to artists to get your fix.

I don’t know if Hollywood has a future but I gotta imagine money still talks because aliens haven’t landed just yet. Even though productions stopped that didn’t mean the deals stopped as well. There was lots of encouraging signs that the entertainment world was still going on as studios moved to digital platforms and releases while theaters were shuttered and avoided. There are many reasons to be hopeful that we will be able to continue film production on a studio scale.

It’s interesting how the best thing to come out the pandemic has been without a doubt the NBA Bubble. If you hadn’t heard what The Bubble was, the NBA was weeks away from beginning their annual playoff run when a player tested positive for COVID and a cancelled game turned into a cancelled season which turned into a cancelled country. Remember we still weren’t taking COVID seriously at the time and when Rudy Gobert tested positive it became national news after his ill self-advised let me touch everything as a joke move. Seeing a major sports organization like the NBA come to a complete halt brought everything into perspective and the reaction to the pandemic become serious. And then all hell broke loose.

From there it was was empty shelves, panic buys and price gouges to mass protests against police brutality to mask mandates to dumb protests against those mask mandates to reopening early for haircuts to mass super spreading events to over 1 million cases and now about 3000 deaths a day. But hey at least Hollywood and the entertainment industry and sports are back in high gear and barely missing a beat. Cause you know that’s what is most important right?

Seasoned Floridians are familiar with this. Not only are we ground zero for who gives a crap about COVID but we see this every time during hurricane season. Although I will admit the most recent major storms I have found a more veteran attitude toward hurricanes you will still see the occasional panic stricken first timer run amok. And that is basically what we had here on a nationwide scale. Lots of people panic buying and cleaning out supermarkets cause we’ve watched way too much Walking Dead. I remember during the early COVID time Outbreak being in the Netflix top 10 and Contagion being watched by everyone. There was a fear in the air along with morbid curiosity and disdain as corrupt politicians began protecting their assets and dividing the people.

Fast forward and months of quarantining and social distancing have begun to wear on many who can’t seem to be bothered anymore by a little thing like COVID. The general attitude of not caring is spreading faster than the virus as people lose their jobs, their homes, their lives and are running on fumes. All many of us can do is still focus on the things that make us happy and distract us from the terror of an invisible threat both viral and man made.

Thankfully two of those things are comics and film- film encompassing both features and television. Comic Books like their counterpart books have been a savior for the loner and self isolated for years so to finally get a fews weeks of government approved alone time, introverts were far from being phased by an quarantine. We know we can curl up with a few good issues and watch the hours melt away distracted from the collapsing world. Let’s be real a lot of us just looked out the window and realized it was December.

Comics and film will survive this pandemic. Artists and writers already tend to work remotely and can be publish digitally with print services being done off site. Distributors and publishers all came to a halt but after time we were forced to find a way to adjust and get presses operating again. Comics are being printed again, sold in shops and optioned by major studios.

One would think the back-issue market would have experienced some slow down but in actuality it seemed to have benefited from the chaos. There weren’t new comics to print and there was a lot of time to kill so people turned to old issues that have stockpiled to help pass the time. Collectors and buyers took advantage of the one measly stimulus (oh excuse me, two now) and used some of it to buy a key issue that they have been eyeballing. The average nobody might see this as a waste of money but back in April if you bought yourself any of keys I’m about to cover by now you have easily doubled if not tripled your investment. You probably could’ve bought a VG/F She-Hulk #1 for $30 and now you can sell it for $90 and that is just now.

After people started running out of money and the first stimulus went dry, collections became fair game at undervalued prices. People needed money and many were forced to give up their key comics they said they would never sell and many of which were sold well below the original purchase price. Eating the loss became second to actually eating and I even found myself parting with my own young in one hand and scooping up treasures that were being given up.

THE COMIC WATCH CONTINUES

AGAIN PLEASE NOTE THIS ARTICLE WAS STARTED BEFORE THE LATEST DISNEY/MARVEL ANNOUNCEMENT

We have to imagine all movies and films currently slated are still currently slated. They are just postponed a bit. Could be weeks, could be months but more than likely folks I hate to say it will be a year or two. It takes at least 2 years to produce a Marvel film and that is typically just counting from time pre-production begins and as we’ve learned over the years, pre-production is just when the studio opens the doors. Before that writers and producers are taking years perfecting their concept before it can even be brought to life in a screenplay.

As I explained before introverts and creatives thrive during these times. During the 1800s after a volcanic eruption sent dust over Europe which lead to famine and pandemics, many famous dark works such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein were spawned because of the overall gloominess of their surroundings and apocalyptic visions of the times.

Fast forward to our current apocalypse and we are facing something very similar. Maybe not as dark but uncertainty plagues every mind so I fully expect many creatives to feel the need to express their frustration and anxieties in the form of new works. There is no doubt that writers are writing and artists are arting. There might be a year or so where we get little or no new entertainment as the industry tries to catch up and adapt, but eventually there is going to be a tidal wave of unbelievable new works that will change and affect society. Count on it.

Going back to comics, the films that we are all hoping and waiting for will undoubtedly change somehow. Whether a new characters is added or old one taken out we can be sure many or the original ideas we had about phase 4 will change slightly. (AGAIN PLEASE NOTE THIS WAS WRITTEN BEFORE THE DEATH OF CHADWICK BOSEMAN)

I’m sure the main stories and films are still intact but I’m sure this time has allowed writers and directors to expand more on the material as well as create more supporting projects (WRITTEN BEFORE SPIDER-MAN WENT NUCLEAR). Don’t tell me that during all this no one has written an X-men or Fantastic Four pilot for shits and giggles (WRITTEN BEFORE THE F4 ANNOUNCEMENT). Because of this we can expect our comic targets to widen which is both a good and bad thing.

I’ve learned a lot in the last 8 years since I started collecting again. One of which is you’re gonna win some but youre gonna lose more on some meaning there are gonna more comic buys that turn out to be busts than those that turn out to be successes. What you’re hoping to do is make sure your successes are so big that they make up for the losses. You buy 5 comics and loose money on 4 but the 1 you made money on increased by like +200% so you still come out ahead. That’s totally plausible and that’s pretty much the game when comics are being released at 4.99 and then the same day shoot up to +$100.

Over time I also realized that collecting is an adult game. A kid can try as hard as he or she can to collect but unless they have rich parents or a job to pay for their habit they can’t compete with the adults and rich comic enthusiasts. I could never get the ones I wanted cause they were always out of my price range and there was always something I needed more than a comic book. Back then I looked at $50 for a comic as super expensive and now it’s pretty much the opening bid for some of these new key comics. Eventually I gave up comics as I got older and became interested in weed, music, and women and the memory of comic conventions faded until I met others who liked Anime which led to going back to conventions which rekindled my interest in Marvel which at the same time had teamed up with Sony and Fox to release the first Spider-Man film and the first X-men film. But even then I wouldn’t have imagined to be collecting again like I am now cause there just wasn’t any room for comics. Fast forward to 2012, I’m a little bit older, a little bit wiser, single with a job, and an apartment rental when after watching Avengers I realized I should be collecting again.

And even then I was too late. I should’ve moved on comics when Iron Man came out but my focus was elsewhere. It took seeing Avengers and being absolutely blown away to not only realize the error of my way but that all the films i loved earlier were not as good as I had once thought.

Over time I noticed that the quality of the film has a huge effect on the comic market. Right now the two go hand in hand and as much as comic purists don’t want to admit it, without Hollywood specifically Marvel batting over 1000, we would not be seeing the explosion of content based on comics and graphic novels and who knows where the comic industry would be.

And even now comics are still out of my price range. How the heck can any kid have a chance at these comics unless they literally have a 9–5? Back then you’d get $5 from Mom or Dad and you could buy up to 5 comics. Now it’s not even 1 because you still need to cover tax. Back then you could trade one of those 5 comics for a whole box whereas today you cant even afford that comic you need to trade for a box. Comic collecting is always born in the pre-order and I’ve never been into that. Buy now you have to be informed with apps like Key Collector Comics or sites like ComicsPriceGuide. You have to have your eye on other auction sites 24/7 and every single website with available keys and comic buying has to be open in your web browser. You have to do everything you can online cause the times of going to search for comics and digging through crates could be at an end, and that was before the pandemic.

AMASSING A NEW LIST

There was already a lot to update and digest before the world came to a stop and it’s both amazing and a bit insane and kind of reckless maybe that Marvel and Disney decided to expand Phase 4 and announce it as things in the world couldn’t get any darker. Maybe it was the plan all along and the surge toward streaming accelerated things, either way it’s our benefit as we will be seeing Disney+ take a huge leap forward in the coming years. Obviously news of a COVID vaccine has given Disney confidence that fans will be back in their theater seats sooner rather than later and as one of those fans I can san with growing confidence and happiness that I might never go to a theater again. The comforts of home are too strong and money too precious of a factor when the experience you are paying for gets more and more generic. I imagine many are like me are will be fine waiting the time it takes for films to appear on streaming services but because cinema is a part of Americana there will always be many who go out to the theater experience.

Again it doesn’t really matter in the end because it’s more for everyone. Theaters are suffering now but they will be back. Changed forever but they will be back. And streaming will only roll on and get stronger and stronger as major studios build loyal audiences and create lasting content. This is the Second Modern Renaissance (third if you count the Industrial Revolution, fourth if you count the Birth of the Internet, fifth if you count the 80’s and 90’s). Entertainers were out of work but they adjusted to the new world. You can’t stop creatives and if people can’t work together in person they can work digitally or on their own. Animation is surging, as well as writing and more importantly in regards to this long ass article, comics are booming. And in the last week the market has gone bat shit crazy.

WandaVision

The first entry into Phase 4 was supposed to be Black Widow but Marvel/Disney seem hell bent on releasing it in theaters and getting their box office records so they’ve pushed back the release date and are focused on releasing their Disney+ slate while the world gets back on track.

Besides the obvious first appearance of the characters (Scarlet Witch first appears in X-Men #4 (1964) and Vision first appears in Avengers #57 (1968) which you wouldve/shouldve gotten when they were first introduced in Age of Ultron) there really isn’t much moving in regards to Scarlet Witch and Vision. Their first team up comic which was a limited series is not calling much attention but there’s still a lot that is not known about the series. Everyone is curious as to what weirdness lies behind the trailers and who knows maybe some of those stories will tie into the series or better yet exposure of the characters will get people to buy the series because they want everything related to them and they can’t afford the first appearances which are now top shelf keys (X-men #4 goes for $700+ for mid grade and up and Avengers #57 goes for $200+ mid grade).

First Vision and Scarlet Witch Team Up

Scoop the limited series on the cheap and hang on to them just in case when it comes to this show focus on the first appearances and if the show introduces new villains and characters that will tie into Doctor Strange’s film.

If you find those Silver Age issues are priced out of your reach you can focus on Bronze Age issues related to the show. Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16 first appearance of Monica Rambeau is quickly rising as she has already appeared in the trailer. You would think with the character appearing in multiple properties including Doctor Strange & Captain Marvel besides WandaVision that this comic would’ve exploded by now but it hasn’t and that’s a good thing for low budget collectors looking to get a nice MCU key. My guess is Teyonah Parris who plays Monica Rambeau is going to be a big hit and this book will make a huge leap once more WandaVision/Doctor Strange/ Captain Marvel news and footage breaks.

FALCON & THE WINTER SOLDIER

The new Falcon America takes center stage as the action packed trailer of F&WS rocked the internet. The show looks to bring Sam Wilson and Bucky up against Zemo once again and you can bet that the show will bring in a lot of new villians that have yet to be introduced. We are all wondering just how deep Marvel will reach in their character box and I think a good litmus test will be this show. You could’ve gotten first appearance of Falcon (Captain America #117 [1969]) affordably in mid to low grade earlier this year but now with the trailer rekindled hype prices are jumping well over $200 for low grade. Target Captain America #25 (2014) instead as it is the first appearance of Sam Wilson under the name Captain America which is a $15 comic right now.

15?!

Don’t even think about getting Bucky’s first appearance unless you got dough to throw down as he first appeared in the Golden Age classic Captain America Comics #1 (1940) which is like a $100k comic. Try to get the first appearance of Bucky as Winter Soldier instead which goes for about $100 in VF/NM and was strangely ignored during and after Captain America: Winter Soldier. You could also go after Captain America #168 first appearance of Helmut Zemo which is a also a very affordable comic in any grade at the moment and was mostly overlooked as well.

New characters to be introduced in the show are Flag-Smasher who first appeared in Captain America #312 (1985) and is rumored to be the show’s main antagonist and US Agent, aka John Walker (dubbed the evil Captain America), who first appears in Captain America #323 and then as US Agent in #354, will more than likely be the show’s anti-hero.

First appearance of Flag-Smasher

I would caution anyone overpaying for these low tier villain comics. We are in Phase 4 and if you’ve been collecting since Phase 1 you should know by now which comics tend to stay and which tend to fade and so far villains don’t seem to fair as well as hero or anti-hero first appearances. Crossbones, Ultron, Zemo, Whiplash, Baron Strucker, Klaw, all these side villains that aren’t Loki or Thanos or someone the average fan is familiar with, have not fared well as the market matures. They get hot real fast and drop even faster. Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter suffered from the same thing. They had great small villains but since it wasn’t Dr. Doom nobody cared. In the MCU villains lose and many don’t seem to come back and if they do it isn’t for years and in those years, the comics fade.

There are two kinds of collectors: those that collect for themselves and those that collect to resell whether it be in a month or years from now. All of us want all the keys but let’s be real you don’t want to be dropping change on comics that you lose money on. Be weary of all these villains that pop up in the streaming shows and purchase their first appearances with caution. Always buy low and sell high and keep only if the actor casted generates a lot of buzz or hits a home run with the show. So far that hasn’t really happened outside of Loki who now has his own show.

LOKI

Many of us loyal Loki lovers and have been waiting for Tom Hiddleston to get some more spotlight and even when his show was announced you really didn’t know what to expect considering he was dead after Infinity War. Things became clearer when it was announced the the past version of Loki featured in Endgame is who we would be following and from then a whole bunch of crazy scenarios opened up. We could/will be looking at an alternate MCU where Loki wreaks havoc and does more damage than our heroes already did with their time heist.

You’re not gonna get your hands on Loki’s first appearance unless you are willing to throw down $1000 for a low grade copy of Journey into Mystery #85 (1962). The show’s trailer has revealed very little other than the show’d dark nature and hints that the TVA, or the Time Variance Authority, at some point captures Loki and sets to bring the timeline in order. Outside of Hydra and SHIELD, organization first appearances don’t really bring in much attention so I’m not gonna even bother. What’s curious about this is what characters are gonna be pulled through this knot and one that seems to be overlooked is She-Hulk as she had her own run in with the TVA. Might we see her introduction through Loki’s series? Only time will tell…

What we do know is that there is a lot of talk leaning toward Loki’s kid version making an appearance and Thor #617 has been seeing a slow but steady uptick. Unlike other villain comics that seem to fade Loki has been here since Phase 1 and it seems like Marvel wants to keep Hiddleston around for the the next major phase. Don’t be surprised if this Loki finds a way into the MCU main line.

First Appearance of Kid Loki

SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS

Marvel’s first Martial Arts Asian extravaganza has already finished production and is well into post as more of the cast is revealed. Not much has been moving besides Marvel Special Edition #15 (1973), Shang Chi’s first appearance but we can expect villains and characters connected to now get a bump. Tales of Suspense #50 (1959) saw a huge jump when Iron Man 3 was released but after cries of white washing and honestly people not comprehending that the real villain was Aldrich Killian whose 2005 first appearance and death in Iron Man #4 barely even registers on the collectors market, Marvel has sort of ret-conned the original Mandarin and replaced him with Tony Leung’s version. I expect ToS #50 to slowly gain traction once more focus is put on Master of Kung Fu. For now grab ToS #50 in raw form and get it pressed and cleaned before being graded by either CGC or CBCS.

First appearance of the Mandarin

Master of Kung Fu comics provide a spot where lower tier D list heroes and characters could flourish. Jack of Hearts, Cat and White Tiger might be a characters to keep in mind for a future appearance but for now focus on the other named villian Razor Fist who first appears in Master of Kung Fu #29 (1975). But remember buy low cause chances are this villian won’t last beyond the first film and as soon as villians buy it so do their first appearances.

First Appearance of Razor-Fist

BLACK WIDOW

Previously covered in a now extinct never to be seen again article we mentioned Avengers #43 (1963) and #196 were the keys to focus on as Tales of Suspense #52 (1959) first appearance of Black Widow is going to be out of the average collectors price range even in low grade form. You should’ve jumped on that comic after Iron Man 2 so instead I’m going to again point out the villain issue everyone is talking about. I am crossing my fingers that Taskmaster turns out to be a recurring antagonist in the MCU but you can’t really be sure these days. The price for a VG-FN+ has hovered around the $50 mark as the delays keep pushing back the film and people put it in the back of their minds.

We are going to have to see if the right move was to still wait around for theaters to reopen but as a consumer I can tell you even if theaters do come back I have very little interest in going back. I still want to support Marvel films but I don’t fully trust people being responsible and clean and I don’t want to sit in a theater with a mask and gloves and covered head to toe. Vaccines won’t be widespread for months maybe even years as people just won’t have access to it and some may avoid it entirely because of stupidity and fear. Half of the country is just not in a responsible state of mind and the other half of country is desperately trying to sweep back all the garbage that was unearthed this year so they can get back to controlling everyone and everything. Theaters in my mind were part of that control. Big time directors who complain may have good reasons about preservation of a craft but I look around and don’t see anyone still playing beta tapes and only weird EDM producers with bad haircuts are the only ones still releasing on CD, vinyl or cassette. It is time to move toward a future where we don’t have to wait in a line with major content available for us when we want it. Home theaters are finally affordable and now that people want to take advantage we can’t cause studios want us to come out and risk COVID a summer release can try and gross a billion dollars. I don’t think so. HBO/WB seem to have noticed this and I applaud them for being proactive and taking initiative as well as the plunge to see what happens. I just wish their slate meets expectations because everything DC has done let’s be real has been a disappointment. Even Wonder Woman their best film arguably could have done better but because they have this terrible track record many stayed in and passed on the film. Now that more people are home if they can get you watching one film on their streaming service then they can get you watching another and as long as you keep streaming and paying that monthly fee profits should go up. Young creators shouldn’t worry about having their picture on “The big screen” as older gen directors are still coping with the change and many will not want to adapt but in the end they will cause they’ll see others be successful who just want eyes on their projects regardless if it’s on the big or small screen.

In any case, I’d stick with scooping up Taskmasters on the cheap cause either way it’s a sellable comic. We just have to see if it fades or may even give us our next Loki type villian we can rally around.

First full appearance of Taskmaster

Another comic that is of high interest is Inhumans #5 (1999) which is the first appearance of Yelena Belova who everyone is speculating will be taking over the Black Widow mantle. To be honest I’m not so sure I’d take the risk on this without seeing Black Widow first. Hard to imagine if that film does well why wouldn’t they make a sequel with Scarlett Johansson regardless if it’s in the past. That would mean the focus is still on Johansson cause I’m pretty sure she ain’t getting killed off in the film. ScarJo may get the occasional hate because she gets cast for roles but she is still a fan favorite that gets box office pull. If you see this comic on the cheap scoop it cause not many copies of this issue are available and most buy it nows are over $100 for mid grade raw.

First appearance of Yelena Belova

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness & The 3rd Sony/MCU Spider-Man Film

With Tony Stark no longer the centerpiece of the MCU Marvel will need to look elsewhere for their leading man to rally around. Originally my guess it was going to be Chadwick Boseman but after his untimely death Marvel seems to be up in air as far as who to make the centerpiece of the next phases. Doctor Strange has always served as the mentor and overseer of the Marvel Universe so it makes sense for him to become the eye of the next storm.

Originally in our previous now disappeared and never to be seen again article we mentioned how the Multiverse of Madness would be featuring both the Scarlet Witch and Monica Rambeau’s Captain Marvel. With the announcement of Blade and it coming after the Doctor Strange sequel I was convinced that the script would be focusing on a particular Doctor Strange storyline called The Montesi Formula, where the Master of the Mystic Arts meets the Master of the Undead in Dracula. The story features not only Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch but also Monica Rambeau as well as Blade. It is right there in our faces. All the big players from the first half of phase four with Marvel set to bring Marvel Monsters to the screen and give us our first MCU horror film. Proof of this may be so with blogs talking casting rumors for Werewolf by Night who may make his (or her) appearance in Moon Knight (more on that later).

Dr. Strange vs Dracula

But all that might have changed when DS 1 director Scott Derrickson stepped down and Sam Raimi stepped in. Known for directing the first Sony incarnation of Spider-Man as well as his Evil Dead series, Sam Raimi is a profound director celebrated and respected by fans and the industry. Soon after his hiring for Strange we started hearing for more details on Spider-Man 3 which is still being directed by Jon Watts and written by Homecoming & Far From Home scribes Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers. For a long time some fans have wanted to bring back Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield in some capacity as another character . After Spider-Man 2, Sony-made Spider-Man films were a swing and a miss for seven years until they teamed up with Marvel Studios to bring Spider-Man to the MCU. Then the success of Into the Spider-verse motivated Sony to bring that story to life and what started as an internet fandom and meme is now set to become the next Spider-Man 3 and possible catalyst for Doctor Strange MoM and whatever comes to the MCU in the next phase. Doctor Strange can still be the centerpiece of this phase’s events with several properties leading directly back to his sequel as Marvel bets big that Strange can take them in a new darker direction since Rami is capable of managing a horror element with the desire to retcon Spider-Man 3 being just as strong as Sony’s desire to connect their universe with the MCU makes the deal very tempting for them. Sony can make twice the money if they can get people to go out and buy the first five Spider-Man movies to get ready for the next film so they see no harm in pushing forward.

Everyone wants everyone to be in the MCU. Meaning before fans understood that Marvel didn’t own X-Men everyone wanted Hugh Jackman to show up in Avengers, Robert Downey Jr. in X-men and Tobey Maguire doing anything but dancing. Some fans were clamouring to mix the franchises and because Marvel was able to get back their properties fans don’t have to worry about Fox continuing to butcher X-Men. Spider-Man’s future is different. Sony approached Marvel after dealing with a hack and email scandal and Marvel was in the middle of Civil War and Sony jumped at the chance to right the ship. One has to wonder if they had waited and not included Spidey in Civil War could Marvel have pressured Sony to actually sell Spider-Man back to them [Disney]? Now the almighty Marvel Studios seems to be at the whim of Sony when it comes to the web slinger as a threat to pull from the agreement and derail future MCU Spider-Mans has forced Marvel to let Sony have their way with the property.

News are now dominated with casting announcements of both Maguire and Garfield and what started as a foray is now a full scale onslaught as Marvel’s first horror film may now be the pool to play in for Spider-Man and his new universe Sony is determined to establish collides with the MCU. Something tells me Marvel will continue to say all the right things in regards to Sony and hope for the best but they’ve gotta be nervous with them taking more of a creative charge of Spider-Man 3 and now having a bigger influence on Doctor Strange and vice versa now that Benedict Cumberbatch is set to appear in the third Spider-Man film. Funny thing is that they are filming in London which makes me really think Dracula is at play here. Tomb of Dracula #1 (1972) first appearance of Dracula is still floating around $100 for a VG but there may be another key Dracula appearance to focus on.

Spidey vs Batty

After a little digging I was reminded of encounter between Spider-Man and Dracula in Giant-Size Spider Man #1. A brief shoulder bump billed as the encounter of the century, this classic 1974 Bronze Age issue was published after Dracula’s introduction in ToD #1 but it was this fake tussle that brought the Lord of Vampires into the Marvel Universe. He goes on to fight Doctor Strange and then eventually the X-men and in this particular story a flu like virus has spread and is on the verge of killing elderly Aunt May (sound familiar) and Spidey races to the location of the vaccine that is on its way but won’t make it in time. Unbeknownst to Peter, Dracula has his eyes on destroying the vaccine as well as it poses a threat to vampires.Could Sony be eyeing to introduce COVID into the MCU as well?

It remains to be seen if our plights will becomes theirs but how Sony plans on bringing their Spiderverse to life will be both nerve wracking and interesting to see. The more we reexamine and re-read back issues we tend to get a better understanding of what Marvel Studios may be planning with Strange and the properties they control. I have complete faith that Marvel goes through their complete catalog and knows each issue front and back where it has always felt as if Sony just has the most popular issues and they’ve exhausted them now so they are just trying to “wing it and make it up as they go”.

I don’t think Dracula will make an appearance in any Spider-Man films as any vampire elements are going to be some sort of influence from Morbius with Jared Leto now in talks to appear in the third Spider-Fan film (I guess there was room for more villains). Sony is determined to shove Leto down our throats even as his star power is at its weakest it has ever been. Leto may have won an Oscar but right now he doesn’t seem to very popular among comic fans as they hold the Suicide Squad against him. People who see the cracks in Sony, Fox before the buyout, & WB all pulled a Tony Stark eye roll at word of his casting. I want to hope Morbius will be a better platform for Leto who typically thrives with dark characters but comic fans tend to not forget and forgive, and Sony tends to drop the ball when left to their own accord.

Because of this hold on to your Amazing Spider-Man #101 (1963). Sell it if you need the money cause it is really hot right now but I made that mistake earlier and caution those thinking about it. I needed the money and knew I could get a quick sale. I sold a PGX 6.0 that I purchased for $100 for $275 a year ago in 2019.

That comic can now easily go for $500 with a CGC re-slab. It was the third worse comic move I’ve done since letting go of an Uncanny X-Men #101 first Phoenix for a 9.0 CGC Uncanny X-Men #142 ( I don’t know what I was thinking) and selling my 7.0 Marvel Spotlight #2 for $80 cause I hadn’t heard Werewolf by Night was being cast. Keep the #101 cause at some in our lifetime, Sony will sell the Spider-Man rights to Disney/Marvel.

What Sony was when I was kid compared to what it is today is not even close. I still have my Viao that I used in college to produce my first short film in storage but it’s nothing more than a relic as most of their products ultimately suffer from some sort of defect. The Nex camera overheats. The PS3 dies. The PS4 disc reader stops working. The MDR’s fall apart after a year. They went from producing top electronics in a wide variety to just focusing on only films and gaming and that led to the quality suffering. Sure they still make great cameras, I myself shot my short film on that very overheating Sony Nex camera, but with tech getting smaller, more powerful, reliable and already in the hands of the people in the form of Iphones and Androids, the market space is getting smaller and smaller for Sony to operate. Now Sony looks to venture into the automotive market and I’m just like “Be you bro. Do what you gotta do. But just leave Spidey here with us, ok?”.

There will ultimately be a greater value for Spider-Man back in the hands of Marvel and what sells now for $500 could sell for $1500 if Marvel had total control. Getting Silver and Bronze Age comics in nice condition is getting harder and harder every year, as it’s not like after the 90’s where comic collecting disappeared and went under for a minute and if you had the money and were smart about it you could’ve built a heavy collection before the 2000’s when comics and Anime started having a bigger influence on mainstream media again. Film and Television have been linked to comics in such a way this past decade that there won’t be going back for while especially as studios realize comics can be more than just about superheroes.

Before we know more focus on trying your hardest to get the first appearance of America Chavez as well which is also disintegrating auctions with a near $200 price tag for raw VF. Xochitl Gomez was cast as Chavez and set to appear in MoM. A Hard to Find (HTF), Low Print Run (LPR), and scarce ownership make Vengeance #1 a must find for collectors and her casting announcement and inclusion in Doctor Strange you can bet the comic will continue to go up.

But will it stay up?

Comic fans are a finicky bunch so you can be sure a huge drop will follow if the character is just relegated to a brief appearance and a few lines. If America Chavez has a breakout and lands a spot in a recurring role on a Disney+ show then you can bet the comic will sustain. Clues that Marvel really wants to bring her to spotlight can be found in a new solo series set to debut in March 2021. Usually that means that a solo show may soon follow.

So far we don’t know who the real villain of either Strange 2 or SMIII will be but you can bet that will be revealed sooner rather than later. A recent Inverse article written by Eric Francisco as well as several other blog sites pointed to Morlun being the possible main antagonist for Spider-Man III, as the multiverse Spider hunting psychic vampire has some ties to the Spider-Verse storyline Sony is trying to bleed. Morlun first appears in the second volume of Amazing Spider-Man #30 (1999) and is a good buy to scoop as high grades are floating around $20 and the 2001 comic series appears to be a HTF. But be sure not to get it confused with the Collected Edition which combines issues #30–#32 and sport the same cover if not for the Collected Edition label. A desperate buyer could easily confuse the two.

With Morlun having no ties to Doctor Strange and Leto’s recent casting I would guess that Sony may use elements from the Morlun storyline but swapping it for Morbius. Doctor Strange as previously mentioned is well known for his battle against the bloodsucking undead and is known for having an epic battle against Morbius in Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #10 (1988) and you’re talking about a film that already has Alfred Molina and Jamie Foxx as villians and now Leto so to add another vampire looking dark guy doesn’t make much sense. With Sony having Venom to push, the solo Morbius film, and there still may be a chance Jake Gyllenhaal’s character resurfaces along with Michael Keaton also now entering talks, it seems pretty obvious Sony is determined to bring their own bastard son of the Sinister Six to the screen.

The Eternals

Touted by GodFeige as Marvel Studios most ambitious film yet the classic Jack “The King” Kirby Bronze Age series was well covered in our previous 2019 Comic Watch. To say such a thing about a film is a major wow considering what we just experienced with Endgame and Infinity War and one has to wonder if Marvel is creating an Inhumans scenario. But a star studded cast that is bolstering a hefty budget The Producer Supreme does not play or mince words when it comes to his works. Expect this series to be a big hit and I can see it becoming the rival film to Dune whenever that decides to hit the screen.

Nothing’s changed, we still have our eyes on Eternals #1 (1976) which sports the first appearance of the Eternals but we have decided to take on another challenge. I recently came across a copy of Eternals that was signed by Jack Kirby and I have a feeling there more of these first page signatures out there that go unnoticed. Lots of collectors purchase comics and never even read them or bother to inspect them and I think of few of these are still out there being circulated. Raw signature comics ungraded and unverified by CGC or CBCS tend to go undervalued because of trust issues but now that CBCS offers a signature verification service that gives purpose to the search. Remember to check you older bronze age issues especially that interior first page cause a lot of artists and writers back then didn’t sign on the covers to not mess them up. Nowadays people like the sig on the cover as it gives it a stylish look when slabbed.

A recent copy listed for sale on eBay
From my personal collection

If you find Eternals #1 has slipped out of your hands you can collect a number of other Eternals comics as they had plenty of first appearances throughout the series. Issue #2 is the first appearance of the Celestials, Issue #5 the first appearance of Thena played by Angelina Jolie. If she is a breakout character and isn’t killed off maybe we might see this comic take a bigger leap than Eternals 1. My suggestion is to collect the whole series if you can. At only 19 issues you can claim a complete collection and still get the Bronze Age issues in higher grades at affordable pricing.

Captain Marvel 2/Ms. Marvel

The anticipated sequel to the 2019 film is already being packed with characters and I have a few theories (and wishes) when it comes to this film but also this series. 2019 also saw Disney finally collect another stone with the purchase of Fox and their full catalog of properties. As we all know this means that X-Men has finally been returned to Marvel Studios control and we can be sure to start getting characters from that universe at some point.

Directed by Nia DaCosta, who is shining bright with her Candyman remake waiting in the wings, Marvel has officially announced that Brie Larson is returning (no brainer) but that she is being joined by Teyonah Parris who is playing Monica Rambeau and Ms. Marvel’s newly cast Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan who first appears named in All-New Marvel NOW! Point One #1 (2014), a comic that since it’s release was commanding a $100+ price. Raw VF+ Buy It Nows are all $200+ with no sign if it slowing down. Because of the significance of Khan being the first Muslim character to have their own title from it’s publication the book was hard to get and high priced. If you didn’t pre-order chances are you paid near $100 for it. Sad when you think about the kid that wants to read the comic and can’t find it anywhere or afford it so he or she has to download it online and then I think about kids in the past who couldn’t afford it and find it anywhere and didn’t have the internet to download it from.

No other cast members have been announced but I imagine as the other properties start to trickle out we might see more crossovers. But for now let’s focus on a particular villainess they may begin setting up for.

While everyone is trying to figure out when and how Marvel will introduce the X-Men into the MCU I’ve been eyeballing Captain Marvel as the series to properly introduce two major X-Men characters. Mystique, who makes her first appearance in Ms. Marvel #16 and then her much more coveted full appearance in #18, and Rogue who first appears in Avengers Annual #10 (1981). These are big time comics to get as they are not cheap in high grade but still affordable for a major character that if you remember correctly became the centerpiece of the Fox X-Men universe when Jean Grey and Wolverine were taking a backseat. Mystique & Rogue are responsible for a major incident in concern to Captain Marvel and one has to wonder how Marvel will be setting that up.

There is no doubt that Marvel wants to give us a proper Rogue storyline that showcases her relationship with Mystique and how she ultimately becomes one of the strongest characters in the Marvel Universe and one of the greatest X-Men. I don’t particularly see Captain Marvel seeing her demise in a sequel but I can see it being an introduction to our new Mystique and her power stealing daughter Rogue. My hope to get an X-Men animated series/X-Men Evolution storyline where we see an unhinged out of control Rogue who is eventually taken in a by a school for people like her. It be a great springboard so we’ll see.

Scoop everything involving the Captain Marvel/ Mystique / Rogue connection while it’s still affordable and then wait for further announcements. If it’s not Mystique whatever villain chosen is gonna briefly gain traction before losing it as we gotta guess the villain will be killed off to set up for the Captain Marvel trilogy. Think Iron Man 2, Winter Soldier, Thor 2, GotG 2. Those films were popcorn munchers and none of the comics tied to them have retained their value. But if it is Mystique, that is a character that will tie into another major universe. Remember X-men, Avengers, Fantastic Four, and Spider-Man are all members of the MCU but each of those as well as every other character for that matter has their own universe that has been/is being built. Plan ahead to get ahead.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

After a much celebrated sequel, Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas and Michelle Phifer all return for the third installment of Ant-man and the Wasp. This film series has turned out to be a happy favorite of many as the eclectic cast and humor always makes it a fun watch. Not much is known except who will be the villain and surprisingly it is Kang the Conqueror played by Jonathan Majors who was the breakout lead in HBO’s Lovecraft Country. Kang is a huge villain in the overall MCU so one has to wonder if he will be used as just an Ant-Man & Wasp villain or will he also wreak havoc in other properties? The comic is one of the most valuable in the Avengers Silver Age collection and now that word has spread of his appearance in the MCU prices have skyrocketed.

Most recent sold on eBay
High grade raws selling for over $700…in September…in Canada.

One of the few first appearance villain gems that you want to have in your collection, Avengers #8 was one of the first big keys I scored when I was in the midst of restarting my collection. Back in 2015 I paid an insane $37 for a low grade and it is still in my box and will probably receive a good pressing and cleaning before being sent to CGC for slabbing next year because his is the kind of comic that you have to send them to be slabbed. As much as I love CBCS for their great slabs and fast service, CGC is still the standard and their slabs can easily command an extra 20% per comic sometimes even more. Though I will have to wait an entire year for my comic to be returned, a low grade key can become a mid grade with pressing and cleaning and the slabbing will seal the deal with a $500+ price tag. I know people want to hate on slabs but when aliens land and discover our rotting desolated planet they will find an Amazing Fantasy #15 slapped and preserved in the rubble and that will be our history and legacy while your raw comics become dust.

Yes I am bragging.

Another few issues to add to your collection involve Cassie Lang who is being replaced in the new film with Kathryn Newton. The recasting signals a bigger role for the character and it seems Marvel may want someone else to put the spotlight on. Emma Fuhrmann seemed nice but let’s be real she barely spoke in Endgame with the scene with Rudd, the scene at the end during the celebration and the funeral scene. Not saying she might not have been capable but Marvel definitely is saying something.

Cassie’s first appearance was in Marvel Premiere #47 (1972) which is a major key at this point as it is the first time Scott Lang becomes Ant-Man and should have been in your collection since Phase 2. Though the storylines for both Langs have a somewhat dark ending I can’t imagine that we’d be going there just yet. Rudd has grown to be a fan favorite and with the recasting of Cassie we could be seeing an Ant-Man, Wasp and Stature first family team up of the MCU. Stature eventually seeks out Kate Bishop to join the Young Avengers so we may even see a guest appearance by Kathryn Newton on Hawkeye or in a later season of. If that happens then it’s a sure bet that Young Avengers is on and that Young Avengers #1 will undoubtedly make a huge leap.

Score Young Avengers #6 (2005) the first appearance of Cassie Lang as Stature and while you’re at it scoop Astonishing Ant-Man #6 (2015) which is when Cassie switches to the Stinger persona. Stature is supposedly going to be the mask she will dawn has Newton used Stature as a hashtag in an Instagram post about the casting.

There’s more to this comic than just Stature’s first appearance…

She-Hulk

She-Hulk is one of the shows that I have a particular interest in. Not because I’m a fan of She-Hulk or Tatiana Maslany of Orphan Black fame who will be playing her. I’m more interested in the zaniness that apparently is going to coming out of the series. Billed as a comedy I’m starting to think we might get a Marvel Night Court which would be fantastic. GodFeige assures that we won’t know who to expect will show up episode to episode which leads me to cross my fingers and hope that we might get the resurrection of Daredevil through this series.The two years are up and Disney is now free to use Daredevil and the rest of the former Netflix Marvel in any of their properties. Many fans are hoping Disney/Marvel Studios will keep Charlie Cox and the rest of the Defenders cast and fold them into the post Stark MCU with bigger budgets and better writing.

She-Hulk #1 still remains the comic to get in relation to the series with more cast members still being announced. Focus on getting a decent copy of She-Hulk before raw VF’s hit $200.

Slabbed 9.4 still under $300
HG raws and VF Slabbed going side by side. Soon HG raws will break away.

Also don’t forget to re-read the Loki section to brush up on a possible TVA connection between both his show and She-Hulk and maybe even Hawkeye. Speaking of…

Hawkeye

After becoming Ronin and going on a murderous rampage post Infinity War, Hawkeye was happily reunited with his family with the defeat of Thanos and a lot of people speculated we’d be seeing his daughter take the role of the Arching Avenger with the intro scene in Endgame, but Marvel is sticking to it’s comic guns and handing it off to Kate Bishop, a skilled fighter and powerless young hero who rejects her privilege and takes up the mantle of Hawkeye. There are a few books that are scorching the price guides related to the show which is surprising considering Hawkeye’s role in the Avengers. You’d think the more coveted shows would have tons of books connected and here comes Hawkeye with his old man jog and arrows chock full of keys.

The obvious Tales of Suspense #57 (1959) and Avengers #19 (1963) first appearance of Hawkeye and origin of should already be in your collection as Hawkeye was one of the first Avengers introduced to us back in Phase 1. You should’ve been trying to get this key as it is less than the main hero keys and at the moment quite attainable with prices for a raw LG floating over $200 and slabbed mid grades near a k. At first he wasn’t really taken seriously by fans who relegated him to just a sidekick that even Joss Whedon teased killing off throughout all of Age of Ultron. But over the years Hawkeye has grown to become one of the most popular MCU characters thanks in part to his portrayal by Jeremy Renner. He breathed life and personality to a character that as a comic fan growing up I never gave any attention to and I’m sure I wasn’t alone. That’s why I’ve come to love Marvel Studios so much. They have made me love characters the comics never could get me to love and now I find myself going back and devouring all those comics I ignored as a kid. Pretty much since the AoU torture session I’ve wanted Renner to get his own show and it’s great to finally get him the spotlight even if it will ultimately be shadowed by his younger replacement in Kate Bishop who is being played by Hailee Steinfeld.

Some may be unfamiliar with the actress but she has quite a number of credits to her young career including True Grit, Edge of Seventeen and BumbleBee but once they hear her they might instantly recognize her as Spider-Gwen from the recent smash hit Into the Spider-Verse. Her popularity is about to skyrocket so grabbing a copy of Young Avengers #1 first appearance of Kate Bishop as it is one of the top buys to make this Comic Watch. Prices are all over the place but are starting steady. I myself was able to scoop a F/VF for $50 with near mints having found prices in the $100+ range.

Issues are flying as everyone scrambles to grab this comic as it not only is the first appearance of Kate Bishop but also of the Young Avengers, the next generation of Avengers that are rumored to be the MCU’s next big team. With Kate Bishop’s appearance already in production you can bet that a hit show will lead to a Young Avengers spin off and possible film. Even the LPR Directors Edition print is selling. Normally first appearance variants run second to the Cover A but some people are taking the dive and betting that this will be a big show and a big key.

Didn’t even send a Best Offer O_O

If you find that Young Avengers #1 keeps slipping out of your hands I highly recommend trying to scoop Hawkeye #1 Vol 1(1983) which doesn’t boast any specific first appearances but it is the first Hawkeye limited solo series and NOBODY is looking at this cause they are too busy enamoured with Hawkeye #1 (2012) Vol 4 since it is the Hawkeye series many assume the show is based on. I would also recommend Hawkeye #1 Vol 5 which is the first Kate Bishop solo series where she takes over the Hawkeye mantle. If the show is given a second season they will more than likely pull from this volume as well.

The show also boats an appearance by Florence Pugh’s character Yelena Belova who as previously mentioned is appearing in Black Widow. Having her appear here should boost Inhumans #5.

Guardians of the Galaxy 3/ I am Groot/Holiday Special

Who knows where James Gunn plans to take us with GotG and with the next ten years of his life pretty much committed to finishing this series and now Suicide Squad which WB will no doubt want a sequel, you can bet Gunn will be a busy man. One has to hope he doesn’t burn out and the work suffers creatively but if he hasn’t burnt out already from making GotG 1 & 2 and then going through all that Facebook bs and then coming back with WB and then again with Disney, I don’t think much will phase him at this point. James Gunn has changed his look to reveal a sleeker seasoned veteran of Hollywood who has commanding power and pretty much top choice at whatever big time project is being thrown around. Many imagine Gunn will be WB’s top choice for reshaping the DC Universe as soon as he is done with Marvel but I don’t think so [crosses fingers]. I think the relationship between the two has been smoothed out as Disney has come to their senses and made amends for their mistake in firing Gunn and letting him get scooped up by WB. It’s actually pretty amazing that he is being allowed to do both a DC and a Marvel films almost at the same time. A known anti-Marvel vs DC proponent, Gunn has always tried to get both fanbases to lower their arms and frankly this is a great way to do it. It’s a refreshing take toward ending the rivalry but I can assure James Gunn that Marvel vs DC will outlive us all and be carried with future generations and passed on to alien civilizations. You cannot have light without darkness.

So until we get more word on the storyline and casting outside the obvious players continue just trying to fill in your collections missing spot. All Groot related comics are a must but focus on the 2015 series specifically Groot #5 the first full appearance of Baby Groot. Surprisingly this comic is under $10 for high grade and you’d think after Guardians 2 it would’ve skyrocketed. Avengers #257 first appearance of Nebula is still a great affordable key even in higher grade and there are plenty of newsstand versions you can find over VF (Newsstand variants of comics are typically much harder to find in higher grade). Strange Tales #180 has plateaued at around tha $124-$150 range of VG/FN and high grade slabs commanding a modest $500ish price tag. One has to wonder if killing off Gamora had something with the stall even though she technically isn’t dead with another version of her floating out there.

Marvel Preview #7 first appearance of Rocket Raccoon has lost a little value so now is a great time to try and scoop it as Rocket is bound to get an appearance on some kind in a show outside of I am Groot. Marvel Studios has perfected their film tech and I bet it’s a lot easier to motion capture now than it was when they first started. Rocket is a real fan favorite and a great complex character and will for sure get a solo movie or series in the near future.

Oh yeah…

Marvel Preview #4, first appearance of Starlord has also taken a hit but for other reasons. There are real strong calls out there for replacing Chris Pratt and as much as he keeps silent and fellow A-listers defend him fans do not forgive or forget when it comes to discrimination. It’s 2020 and if you’re accused of bigotry or racism and got zero explanations to offer you better believe fans are gonna cut you off. Pratt can save a thousand unborn babies from a burning building but if he still supporting homophobic causes even I a huge fan of his acting, will turn on him. You would figure this year and the actions of so called Christians and their support for the Orange Menace would have opened his eyes but we won’t know unless he says something. If he stays silent fans are gonna make up their own minds and neither Marvel, Disney, Gunn, Pratt, RDJ or whatever holy spirit of Wakanda is gonna save his career. Keep testing people going into 2021 and you’re gonna find yourself on the wrong end of a box office dud and now ain’t the time to bust with money being drained at the wrist. There is still a lot of time from here to release date and you better hope and pray every night that Pratt doesnt pop up with some shit that may force Disney to be like you’re out of here cause of public pressure. If you check the net it’s not just trolls or a few people that have a problem with him. It’s a lot of fans, a lot of blue checkmarks, and a lot of people with a lot of followers themselves that have developed a distaste for Pratt. Which is sad cause he is a great actor and seems like a cool dude but people are starting to no longer separate the art and the artist. Slated for 2023, Guardians of the Galaxy is sure to face a lot of heat so one has to wonder how will it affect the comic market.

Ironheart

Debuting on Disney+ Marvel isn’t wasting anymore time and is officially bringing Marvel’s newest tech genius Riri Williams to her own series. It’s a little surprising considering she first appeared in a cameo in Brian Michael Bendis’ 2015 Invincible Iron Man #3. Before you scramble for the scoop remember this is just her cameo and well below Invincible Iron Man #9 which is her first full appearance and commanding a near $100 price for VF/NM. 9.8 Slabs are just cracking $400 and will more than likely start to make huge leaps. You should also scoop Volume 4 issue #3 of Invincible Iron Man as it is the first time Williams is named Ironheart and it is still under $20 for a NM.

The series is set to tie into Secret Invasion and I have to imagine Armour Wars as well with the storylines being about new armour and tech being created. You can also bet that there’s a good chance Riri shows up in Black Panther with her first meeting Shuri in Irontheart #9 (2019).

Secret Invasion

Also coming to Disney+ is the forever young Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos as they bring Brian Michael Bendis’ 2008 Secret Invasion comic to life. Bendis has been a key influence for the MCU as many of his series have introduced dozens of characters that have all gone to have prominent roles in both Marvel films and television. Jessica Jones, Daisy Johnson, Yo-Yo, Maria Hill, Ronin, Miles Morales, Riri Williams just to name a few. Bendis is a Marvel major player and following his works will give you better insight into what Marvel Studios may be trying to do in the future.

A few things stand out. The connection to Ironheart that this show will have and also the connection to WandaVision and possibly Armor Wars. The Secret Invasion comic introduces Norman Osborn as the new head of H.A.M.M.E.R., and the connection to his 2005 series House of M who many are speculating may be a storyline for WandaVision. While we won’t more than likely see Norman Osborn as Marvel Studios refuses to include Sony owned characters other than Spider-Man into a MCU property until they own Spidey out right, it may spell the return of Sam Rockwell who portrayed Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2 and supposedly is in talks for Armor Wars. Not much is known about Secret Wars but you can expect more casting and story info as other series start airing and revealing the connections of Phase 4.

Though I don’t think it will be the groundwork for House of M, Secret Wars may be the series that introducing some Fantastic Four characters. Skrulls were originally introduced in Fantastic Four #2 and the two are pretty much attached at the hip. There is still plenty of time to introduce mutants as Wanda still has room to grow in the MCU and Bendis wrote the popular 2013 all new X-Men and could be the source material that Marvel will be basing a future series on. Maybe we are getting ahead of ourselves but you can see why you should be collecting as much Bendis works as possible.

Pick up Secret Invasion #1 before people start paying attention to it as you can net a VF for under $30. Be sure to keep an eye on casting announcements as that is gonna be your best bet at plotting the show and figuring out which comics to focus on. Secret Invasion itself is only 8 issues so it may be in everyone’s best interest if you just scooped the whole thing.

Armor Wars

After years of playing second tier to Tony Stark, James Rhodes will be taking center stage in his own series based on the Armor Wars. Published in 1987 the 8 issue series saw Tony’s worst fears come true of a world with too many tech based supervillains. Of course we don’t have RDJ anymore so Don Cheadle will step in his place. The story also boasts a guest starring of Scott Lang so maybe we’ll get some Ant-Man action as well.

Armor Wars is only 8 issues so it’s best to get the whole thing cause let’s be real why not. #225 has seen an increase at about $30 for a VF but like all of these other keys expect it to go up. Armor Wars won’t be out till the later part of Phase 4 so you can expect that by the time the show hits a VF should be well near or over the $100 mark. Iron Man #282 which is the first time Tony wears the War Machine armor is the comic to get in regards to the show and it’s only now that it has seen a significant price jump. Strange considering War Machine has been here since Iron Man 2. It’s sad how people won’t care about a comic unless it gets its own show or movie but that’s how the comic world works I guess. Take advantage and learn from this mistake the world keeps making. Many think #282 is the first time Rhodes wears it but that doesn’t happen until issue #284 which is a $5 comic right now. I doubt that people are aware of this but I suspect as #282 dries up people will try to rally #284 as the comic to get because they made the mistake of getting that instead of #282.

That’s actually Tony…

It actually isn’t until West Coast Avengers #94 where Rhodes takes on the persona of War Machine and the name no longer refers to the armor but instead to the man. The comic is not only a $1 bin issue but also a HTF cause well let’s be real no one read or collected West Coast Avengers.

Thor: Love & Thunder

The fourth installment in the Thor franchise will boasting a few firsts. It will be the first film series to get a fourth title and will be the first to feature Natalie Portman in a lead. There is a lot of weird fan bs when it comes to Portman as many love her as an actress and love the films she makes but there is this underlying sense of hate and resentment toward her from assholes that stems from her not only being an intelligent woman but specially a child star that became successful without having to be on some executives couch. There is also unfortunately some anti-semitism toward her as she is a leading Jewish actress who is vocal and opinionated, and an Oscar winner that is liberal and one of the world’s leading feminists. She’s got this mix of amazing that makes incels wet their pants while the rest of us are all about seeing more of her. I’m not surprised they brought Portman back rather than ultimately recast her which rumortrolls were desperately trying to generate. It bothers me how many casual MCU fans constantly try and rank the worst MCU films and are always putting early Thor at the top of their lists. It’s kind of hate bullshit toward Portman. You’re not gonna tell me you didn’t like Hemsworth or Dennings. You’re not gonna tell me you didn’t like Loki. You’re not gonna tell me you didn’t like any of the other characters or the villian or the story or the effects or the sets or the acting or whatever. The only bullshit you have a problem with is always Natalie Portman. Well guess what? Here’s some more fucking Natalie Portman you ungrateful bastard sons of DC Comics.

Not only are we going to get the film incarnation of the hit 2014 Thor comic series written by Jason Aaron but we may also be getting the first inklings of Original Sin, his mini series published in the same year. Either they will pull from the story in concerns to Thor and his “worthiness” or they are gonna go their own path. As previously stated, Marvel pulls from the source material so keep an eye on Original Sin while you start building this collection.

There are really around 5–6 books you need to focus on. While Key Collector Comics is a fine resource they do tend to listen a bit too much to outside noise as comic fans argue about which books are the actual keys. Look people I know we want to discover more keys but just because you didn’t get the first appearance and mistakenly bought some other comic that some misinformed shop owner recommended doesn’t mean you can argue till the cows come home that a shadow in the background is actually a characters first appearance. Guess what? It’s not. We go by the Marvel Database, artist and writer confirmation and consentient agreement . Jane Foster first appears in Journey into Mystery #84 (1962) which was also the second appearance of Thor. We aren’t gonna focus on that cause what do I look like Jeff Bezos? Lower grade slabs are undervalued at a half a k.

In 1978 the What If?… series had a story in issue #10 which was what if Jane Foster was Thor. It was kind of a goof meant to show an opposite or alternative effect to crucial Marvel storylines and now it has become the first on comic appearance of Jane Foster as Thor. Though not in continuity the multiverse effect deems it so and with her confirmation in the Modern Age as the new god. The comic jumped from a $1 bin issue to a $150 major key overnight.

You are also going to want to scoop 2014’s Thor #1 which is the female Thor’s first full appearance in Marvel comics continuity. Key Collector Comics has issue #2 as her first full appearance and this is causing the issue to get some bids. But I seriously caution collectors as KCC is wrong about this. Not only is the new female Thor on the cover of issue #1 but she also fully appears on the last page after lifting Mjolnir. Why after hyping up the series and the character would Marvel have her first full in her own series be issue #2? Come on let’s be real here and not trying to make everything a key.

You can scoop #1 for around $50-$60 but that price is quickly rising after every Marvel announcement. She has a cameo appearance in Thor: God of Thunder #25 but her first full is in this issue. Her identity is then revealed as Jane Foster later in Thor #8 which like #1, is rising in price. These issues were pretty hot upon their release as the news of a female Thor was both turning heads and angering incels but even if dudes hate it they were still collecting the issue in anticipation of this moment. The comics cooled down as the series ended and Marvel went on to elevate the character who now dawns the name of Valkyrie after War of Realms Omega #1. It is a good play to scoop this issue too now and sit on it because there is no doubt that Portman will work out and will be getting multiple films. Taika Waititi is going to give us another hilariously fun movie and the new Goddess is going to knock it out of the Marvel Universe.

With another recent Marvel announcement the great Christian Bale has been attached as the villian Gorr the God Butcher who first appears in Thor: God of Thunder #2 a 2013 series and commands a hefty $200+ price tag for a Millenium Age issue (post 2012). The character was only confirmed a few weeks ago and yet this comic is nuclear. My guess is the obvious casting and star power of Christian Bale aka Batman. But as mentioned before a word of caution to collectors. Look at past villians that ultimately get killed off. Pretty confident Portman’s Thor will beat Gorr in some way and we will never see Gorr again. Maybe I’m wrong as his affect on the great MU is impactful considering it was his words that lead to Thor’s unworthiness. You can see how interesting it will be if they can tie in Original Sin and set that up for Phase 5. Samuel Jackson is not a young buck anymore and we might be seeing his replacement sooner rather than later. Gorr may leave a lasting impression but if you look at the history as soon as the movie is done and released this comic might take a hugh plunge. Purchase with caution and sell it while the sellings good.

First appearance of Gorr

Black Panther 2

It still is shocking to have to remind myself that Chadwick Boseman passed and it still hurts everyone especially with the dismal way 2020 has been. Initially it seemed to make sense to recast the character of Black Panther but Marvel is deciding otherwise and shelving him for the foreseeable future which imo is a real shame. Many will point that Panther appeared in more than one film but if you do honestly that’s kind of dick considering they were minor roles compared to the other characters. Black Panther only got one film compared to the three the other major white characters got and it feels lame knowing how much Black people needed the film and the character. Why not cast Tenant’s John David Washington to take over who proved he can be a leading man and an action power house? Fans were calling for Letitia Wright to take over the mantle as she does in the modern issues of Black Panther but with her recent anti-vaxxer posts that she ultimately deleted along with all her social media accounts, one has to wonder if she is gonna go down the way of Chris Pratt. I’m weary but hopeful for the next Black Panther as it is set to go “hero-less” and focus on all the other characters in the film. It should be still be awesome because Ryan Coogler is still writing and directing and the remaining cast members are all characters we’ve come to love in a short time are returning but I wonder if it will feel empty if no one ultimately dawn the mantle of Black Panther.

Currently Shuri’s first appearance in Black Panther #4 (2005) and Black Panther #5 (2009) first appearance of Shuri as Black Panther are both selling over $100 for VF Buy it Nows. You can prolly still score one in an auction for under $100 but that won’t last long. Female leads are going to power the next phase so just stock up and keep in tune with PreviewsWorld and news of upcoming pre-orders that may feature characters with greenlight potential.

Another set of comics to keep an eye out for are the movie variant covers for Rise of the Black Panther #1 (2018) which featured Chadwick Boseman stills from the movie as well as the movie poster variant. Both of these saw a significant increase over the past year following his death and are sure to ask a high price once the sequel comes out and everyone is reminded of his passing.

Blade

Not much is known about the Blade movie outside of the Mahershala Ali’s recasting from Luke Cage’s Cottonmouth to Blade. It was a great move by Marvel as Ali was just too good to waste on Luke Cage and kudos to them for giving fans credit on being able to move past that fact. You can try all you want to get your hands on Blade’s first appearance in Tomb of Dracula #10 as a major key even low grades go for near $1000. I’m still holding on to the hope that Blade will make an appearance in Doctor Strange MoM but until Marvel releases more details focus on ancillary characters like Rachel van Helsing (Tomb of Dracula #3), Hannibal King (Tomb of Dracula #25, and Lilith (Giant Size Chillers #1).

Vampire Tales #8 is the first Blade solo story but that is a tough comic to get as it is scare HTF and has a $100 starting point for lower grades. I recommend scrambling to get Blade the Vampire Hunter #1 (1994) which is the first Blade solo title and sells moderately for $30+ but this is bound to change very quickly as people realize this comic is HTF.

We were supposed to get a new Blade comic series in 2016 featuring Blade’s daughter which no doubt was a set up for a new show or movie but because some fans criticized that the writers were white men writing Black characters Marvel effectively pulled the plug for the foreseeable future. Shame really cause that book would’ve been a big seller so here’s to hoping they eventually release the series in time for the film.

Moon Night

Like Blade not much is known outside the lone lead casting. Oscar Isaac of the new Star Wars and Dune fame is set to play Marc Spector aka Moon Knight who first appears in Werewolf by Night #32, a major key that commands a $500+ price for VG and up. After that there are several keys to look out for. Second and third appearances both sell surprisingly well and his first solo story in Marvel Spotlight #28 is getting a $50+ asking price for low grade. I’d say try to scoop it in an auction cause the Buy it Nows are grossly overpricing the comic. The Bronze Age issues should get a high price tag eventually but not until we learn a little more about the show.

While we wait for that scoop the key issues of supporting characters like Moon Knight #14 (1981) first appearance and origin of Stained Glass Scarlet who might be the next to be cast for the show.

Moon Knight #1 (2014) is prolly a key issue to scoop as it reveals a new modern Moon Knight and more importantly it is written by Warren Ellis of Castlevania fame with numerous titles under his belt. Marvel could pull from this series as opposed to Moon Knight’s first solo series so be sure to add it to your watchlists.

Another key issue to get is the first appearance of Werewolf by Night in Marvel Spotlight #2 (1972) as there are tons of rumors swirling about the character appearing on the show. The book was under $50 not too long ago but has since skyrocketed past the $200 mark for a VG. If you can scoop it in an auction consider yourself lucky. I would also keep an eye on Marvel’s latest incarnation of Werewolf by Night which was just released in 2020. The character persona is now taken over by a Latino name Jake Lopez and Marvel Studios could be pivoting to use this character for a more diverse cast.

Fantastic Four

As with every phase Marvel Studios typically wraps things up with a team event and now that they had the rights of both Fantastic Four and X-men returned to them fans have been waiting to hear which one would get the reboot first. It was pretty obvious that it being Phase 4 the choice would be the Marvel first family cause you could totally juice the logo and it is exactly what they did. Marvel is bringing the comic series that started it all to the MCU to give fans a proper incarnation. Whatever they decide to do it’s gonna be good and it’s gonna be fantastic.

Forget trying to collect their first appearance unless you are Bezos as low grade copies of Stan Lee’s masterpiece go for up to $25k easily if not more. You’re better off trying to win one in an internet raffle than get your hands on one through hard work and determination cause that’s prolly the only way people are giving up their copies right now. This will be the next Avengers that Marvel will ride for as long as they can before bringing X-Men into the fold. Though I highly doubt it dare I say that we might not see X-Men for about the same amount of time it took to establish the current MCU. You’re talking about Phase 4 lasting for about 5 years then Phase 5 being the sequels to those subsequent hits. It’s a massive undertaking to be running all these shows but content is king right now and if the future of entertainment is about having the most shows out there than we might see the second family join sooner but for now we get to focus on the 4.

So what the hell do you collect if you can’t get #1? Fantastic Four #48 first appearance of Galactus is kind of out of reach with a $500 price tag on a rainy afternoon. First Appearance of Dr. Doom who could be the next big Phase villain is totally out of reach with a $60k value for even the most modest copies. Don’t even bother with Sub-Mariner who chances are will be the villain of the film as his appearance in issue #4 is around a $15k comic in high grade. Fantastic Four is proving that the Silver Age is currently the upper echelons of collecting and unfortunately you’re prolly going to have to just stick to fill in issues that aren’t keys but that are Silver Age gems. There is no shame in this as some of these comics in VG and up quality go for over $50-$100 per issue sometimes and if you can amass a good collection of nice quality Silver Age Fantastic Four, I mean you are gonna be good.

Even during a pandemic. Courtesy of ComicConnect

Focus on crossover issues like Fantastic Four vs Avengers in #26, or vs X-Men in #28. Their first meeting of Spider-Man (#8)& Doctor Strange (#27) are also good gems and the Thing vs Hulk issues including their rematches are always high sellers (issues #12, #25). Villain issues are also going to be good bets are the lower tiers are gonna be fodder for the team to get it going and may even be used in other shows if they have connections to other Marvel characters. Super Skrull in #18 is a good play with Secret Invasion coming, as is Rama-Tut (#19) who is later revealed to be Kang the Conqueror who is appearing in Quantumania and later revealed to be Iron Lad of Young Avengers who is then revealed to be Nathaniel Richards distant relative of either Reed Richards or Dr. Doom. It’s all kind of confusing with all the alternate universes but for now just stick to the main first appearances till we know more.

Epilogue

In conclusion it’s been a crazy year to say the least and I know it’s kind of meaningless in the end to talk comics when so many people have lost so much. Pretty much everyone has been affected by so much irresponsibility that it really makes you wonder if we can pull ourselves together. It’s gonna be tough to forgive as many are not gonna be willing to forget but we have to hope that the common ground we have in hobbies and just things that bring us small bits of happiness in dark moments can effectively help treat the wounds we’ve amassed over the past months. Comics and films have been a big help for many in this lonely secluded time and I wonder will we be more appreciative of creators when things get back to normal or we will go back to ignoring the the people that make it happen in favor of a cheap celebrity crush or face that can market the product better?

THE LIST

  1. Young Avengers #1
  2. Avengers #8
  3. She-Hulk #1
  4. Invincible Iron Man #9
  5. Amazing Spider-Man #101
  6. Marvel Special Edition #15
  7. Avengers #196
  8. What if #10
  9. All-New Marvel NOW! Point One #1 (2014)
  10. Thor #1

Honorable Mention: Marvel Spotlight #2, Hawkeye #1 (2012), Iron Man #282, Captain America #25 (2014), Tomb of Dracula #1

2020 Losers: Magik #1 (1983), Marvel Graphic Novel #4 (1982), Secret War #2 (2004), Strange Tales #169 (1973)

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