Once again, James Gunn has sparked the imaginations of the DCU fandom, this time posting a picture of Mister Terrific. 

Gunn and his DC Studios co-chair, Peter Safran, have been on the job less than a month, and they’ve already managed to get the world buzzing about the DC properties. From a Man of Steel sequel to the duo’s 10-year plan for the shared universe, there’s plenty to get us excited.

Between Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad, and Peacemaker, Gunn has proven he is among the superhero cinema’s elite auteurs, and now we will get to see how he fares managing the entire DCU franchise.

What characters will he introduce? Last week, he dropped a picture of Lobo on his Mastodon Social account, which sent fans into a frenzy for Omega Men #3. This week, he uploaded a pic of a rather obscure DC character, Mister Terrific.

Created in 1942, there have been two characters to use the Mister Terrific moniker. In both instances, he would be a centerpiece of the Justice Society of America. Given the JSA’s arrival in Black Adam, adding Terrific to the live-action mix adds up. That should have you paying attention to these key issues.

SENSATION COMICS #1

The first iteration of Mister Terrific came about in the Golden Age. This is common for DC with so many of its characters debuting in the 1930s and ‘40s. The first Mister Terrific was Terry Sloane, who followed the usual story of a millionaire genius and gifted, Olympic-level athlete who put his brains and brawn to work fighting crime. He also spent time hoping to be a positive role model for kids, creating the Fair Play Club for children. 

Another selling point for this issue is the first appearance of Wildcat, and that only makes this issue more expensive. If you want one, get ready to apply for a loan because a 0.5 sold for over $11k last year.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #37

Following the usual collecting path for DC keys, buyers will want to steer their attention toward 1965’s JLA #37. With prices so high for Sloane’s Golden Age debut, the Silver Age first appearance is the next best thing. If you are looking for a higher grade, get ready to spend between $2,000-$4,000 for a graded 9.8 based on August and September prices.

THE SPECTRE #54

At the tail end of the Bronze Age, the DC editorial staff decided to close the book on Mister Terrific, and Sloane died in the pages of JLA #171 in 1979. For 18 years, the character drifted into obscurity until the moniker was given to Michael Holt in 1997. 

After being inspired by Sloane thanks to the Spectre, Holt became the newest Mister Terrific. Like his predecessor, he is a gifted athlete and genius, holding multiple doctorates. One main difference is that Holt’s superpower is that he is invisible to technology, meaning he can walk past any security system in the universe. He also has his T-spheres that are so technologically advanced that they’re practically magic. 

This will quickly become a hot issue, and the 9.8 is already commanding prices in the $200-$300 range. 

HOLT-ING OUT FOR A HERO

Since it was Holt’s picture that Gunn posted on Mastodon Social, the indication is that he will be the DCU’s Mister Terrific. Holt’s version also happens to be the most popular and well-known, having appeared in cartoons and television for the past 25 years.

With the promise of more Justice Society in the works, it would seem Mister Terrific’s status as an obscure hero is coming to an end.

Will you be hunting down Mister Terrific keys? Let us know in the comments!

*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.