Your favorite blog has returned for more updates on the biggest movers and shakers across the daddy of all auction sites, eBay. Based on the sales volume for both graded and raw comics, this list isn’t about rising prices. Instead, it’s all about what collectors are buying, and they made some interesting choices this week.
33. THE NICE HOUSE ON THE LAKE #1 (+51)
It’s taken over a year, but James Tynion IV’s The Nice House on the Lake is finally entering its home stretch. After taking a five-month pause between August 2021 and this past January, the title has continued to reel in buyers with its unique take on an alien invasion and the end of the world. Like practically all of Tynion’s comics, Nice House has been a hit with fans and critics alike, which no doubt influences the sales. However, the name of the collecting game is movies and streaming, and this one has live-action adaptation written all over it.
Between Tynion’s storytelling style and Alvaro Martínez Bueno’s magnificent, cinematic artwork, Nice House seems custom made for some sort of film or series. With Tynion’s premiere title, Something Is Killing the Children, in the works for a Netflix show, that could spark a wave of adaptations for his most popular creations. What ushers Nice House to the front of the line is being under the DC Black Label.
Although nothing has been said, it stands to reason HBO Max would be interested in bringing the title to the streaming network, either as a movie or, more fittingly, a full series. Since both DC and HBO Max fall under the Warner Bros. Discovery banner, it would be an easy transition from page to screen. The only question mark is the same with basically everything else at WBD: budget. With so many projects getting the axe, the most heartbreaking of which was the Batman: The Animated Series revival, Batman: Caped Crusader, it leaves everything in doubt.
Once a live-action adaptation is confirmed, then prices will surge for the first issue. As it stands, you can get graded 9.8s for the standard cover at basement prices. After averaging over $60 for the past year, current values are in the $30 range.
41. INCREDIBLE HULK #180 (+46)
Like it or not, this is the first appearance of Wolverine. Sure, it’s on one panel on the last page, but that’s Logan’s debut, no question. CGC recognizes this as the first cameo appearance, and Hulk #180 pales in comparison to the lofty FMVs of Hulk #181. Although it’s the first full appearance, I suspect the classic Wolverine cover art is the real reason #181 gets the nod in this circumstance.
With prices so high for those early Wolverine keys, it’s no surprise that Hulk #180 is on the move. It’s not exactly cheap to own with anything down to a 4.0 easily costing you about $800, but those are much better prices versus #181. While he’s not on the cover, it still gives you bragging rights since you’ll own the official first appearance of Wolverine.
Slumping economy or not, all things Wolverine are red hot at the moment. Besides the Easter eggs and allusions we’ve gotten in the past year, the big news that Hugh Jackman is returning to the role for Deadpool 3 has sent ripples through the secondary market. Of course, the largest targets are on those early keys. It just so happens that Hulk #180 is the most budget-friendly if the elevated prices of Hulk #181 or Giant-Size X-Men #1 are too much to handle. If you’re willing to go for a very low grade, the 2.0 has been staying under $400 as of late.
39. OMEGA MEN #3 (+25)
It wouldn’t be a Hottest Comic blog without at least one of the usual suspects rearing its head. On the bright side, at least there’s a viable reason for Omega Men #3 to have climbed the ranks this time around.
Lobo’s first appearance is one of a handful of key issues that always manage to find themselves either moving up the Hottest Comics ladder. By the same token, those same issues drop like stones the following week, which is how they end up on the Coldest Comics blogs. It’s an incessant yo-yo of popularity, but a comic like Omega Men #3 never falls out of the top-100 best-sellers. Now there’s actually a reason for it to be taking the elevator toward the rooftop.
The big news this week has been Henry Cavill reprising his iconic role as Superman for Black Adam. That wasn’t all. Since then, there are reports that possibly two direct Man of Steel sequels have received the greenlight, and that brings villain speculation. Who better to take on Superman than Lobo?
There’s also word that James Gunn has a new DC movie or two in the works, and Lobo would be perfect for the writer/director’s style. Put it all together, and we have the makings of the best Lobo live-action prospects we’ve seen in quite some time. It also makes the 30-day average of $280 for a 9.8 all the more tempting.
67. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #238 (+25)
It doesn’t look like we will be getting that MCU Hobgoblin anytime soon. After all the teases of Ned Leeds actor Jacob Batalon transitioning into the villainous role, he recently admitted he was trolling the Marvel fans. However, that didn’t stop buyers from grabbing an ASM #238 this week.
The rumors were rampant last year after Batalon posted pictures of his impressive weight loss. Along with his comments about wanting to see his take on Ned become the comic book villain, fans put two and two together as a sign that the Hobgoblin was finally coming to live action. When Ned cracked the line about promising to never turn evil in No Way Home, it was a clear nod to the character’s complicated comic roots as Hobgoblin.
Now it seems we won’t be seeing Hobgoblin in the MCU, at least not in the foreseeable future. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t appear in the animated Spider-Man: Freshman Year. While a cartoon series would not affect comic values quite like a live-action treatment, it could raise interest in ASM #238.
What can you expect to pay for a copy? At the top of the heap, the graded 9.8 has averaged slightly over $2,300 for the past month. While the 9.6 is also earning four figures, once the grade hits a 9.4, the prices dip below the $600 mark.
31. INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #9 (+23)
Riri Williams is set to make her grand entrance into the MCU, and she is quickly becoming a fan favorite in the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailers. As the movie approaches its November release date, interest in her early appearances has sparked the market.
Although Riri debuted in Invincible Iron Man #7, the real collecting target has been Invincible Iron Man #9 when she first donned the Ironheart armor. That suit has helped her soar to new heights of fame in the Wakanda Forever footage, and Iron Man #9 is on the verge of cracking into the top-30 Hottest Comics. By the time the movie premieres, we could see it flying much higher.
The graded 9.8 has been hovering in the $400-$500 range. Need to save some money? Opt for the 9.6, which has a 30-day average of $151.
Keep up with ALL the Movers & Shakers!
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Do you own all 5 of this week's Hottest Comics? Let us know in the comments!
