The obvious books to pick up with the Moon Knight series on the horizon would be Werewolf by Night #32 and Moon Knight #1, but with an average increase in FMV of 250% in the last year, the ship has most likely sailed on these. Don't fret; there are still plenty of overlooked alternative Moon Knight keys that would make fun, smart, and more importantly safe investments. Let's take a look.

We have seen comics from all ages drastically increase in value in the past year thanks to rampant speculation and stimulus checks. Moon Knight keys are no exception.  The difference, however, is that many of the comics that experienced exponential growth in their fair market values are now trending downward.  Moon Knight keys continue to break records on a weekly basis thanks to the upcoming Disney+ show.

Safety First

If you've read my blogs in the past year, you know that I have been a naysayer regarding the overheated comic and broader collectibles market. Many, if not most, of the keys that have quadrupled in price in the last year have done so without any catalyst whatsoever. This leads me to suggest investing in more reliable, blue chip, Silver Age comics. If I were going to pick another category to safely invest in during this period of uncertainty? It would be Moon Knight comics. Other books will continue to drop as the year goes on. Moon Knight keys have a better chance of surviving a comic crash.

A few months ago, I wrote a Blogger Dome where I argued that Moon Knight was a better investment than Batman and just an all-around cooler character. I wasn't just picking a side for the fun of it. I really meant it. Moon Knight is the comic book industry's best-kept secret. Despite debuting in 1975, Marc Spector, aka Moon Knight, has been a largely overlooked character for the entirety of his existence in the Marvel Universe. Once the secret is out after his debut next year, he will inevitably catapult to mainstream popularity. More than likely, a FOMO buying frenzy of his issues will ensue.

Having read every issue of every Moon Knight series, I can't express enough how great of a character Moon Knight is. He is an extremely complex, adult-themed superhero who somehow manages to be brooding and hilarious at the same time. If handled properly, Moon Knight, as well as his cast of supporting characters, has the potential to be some of the most popular MCU characters and team players for the next decade.

Marvel Spotlight #28

Other than Werewolf by Night #32 and Moon Knight #1, Marvel Spotlight #28 is the book everyone should keep an eye on over the next year. I had previously written about Non-Silver Age premiere solo stories such as Wolverine #1 and Punisher #1 being extremely undervalued. This trend has come to an end in the past year as first-time solo stories, such as Moon Knight's in this issue, have finally started getting the attention that they deserve.

In Marvel Spotlight #28, we not only get Moon Knight's first solo adventure but also have the introduction of his long-time love interest in the comics, Marlene Alraune. We also meet his quirky friend and informant, Bertrand Crawley. One of the best parts of Moon Knight comics is his supporting cast of characters and these two will undoubtedly make their debut on Disney+. We also get the first appearance of Conquer Lord in this issue. While I doubt he'll be appearing in the Moon Knight series, it never hurts to have another first appearance as an extra bonus. After all, it is Kevin Feige and the MCU, you never know who will pop up.

It's Got the Look

This comic has always been a personal favorite of mine with its artwork by Don Perlin. The yellow pops off the cover, the background details are fantastic, and the Moon Knight pose is iconic. The past year has shown us the importance of comics as displayable artwork and this comic fits the bill. This issue will be considered a classic down the line. You can never go wrong with some Bronze Age goodness.

With all of the aforementioned variables, this comic clearly has a lot going for it. I always keep my eye on this issue. Last year, 9.6 graded copies were going for about $450. That's a great price for a high-grade book from the 1970s. If we take a look at GoCollect analyzer data, we can see some savvy collectors have caught on. A 9.6 has increased by 150% in the last year and has an FMV of $1250. This is nothing to sneeze at, but this increase isn't as crazy as the 300% to 400% we have seen for many issues since the pandemic started.

I believe this issue still has plenty of room to grow as both a short and long-term hold in 9.6 if you can afford it. If not, the lower grades are also worth taking a look at. A 9.2 is up 95% for the year and a 9.0 is up 129%. That's not quite high enough to scare me away. An 8.0, on the other hand, is up 232%. I generally try to stay away from grades that have seen that large of a percentage increase in such a short amount of time. These percentages are where you make your money. They are why it is so important to use tools such as GoCollect for your due diligence.

Werewolf by Night #33

In Werewolf by Night #33, we have Moon Knight's second appearance in comics as well as a beautiful cover by Gil Kane and Klaus Janson. If you've never seen one of these in person, the gradient orange/purple of the buildings combined with the yellow of the moon above the city give this cover a surreal, trippy feel. There is a reason Klaus Janson is considered the best inker in comics, and with Gil Kane giving us other classic covers such as Amazing Spider-Man #129, you really can't beat this duo.

In the last few years, we have seen a lot of debate about first versus second appearances or cameos versus first appearances. Many often see these alternative appearances as consolation prizes. The fact of the matter is, cameos and second appearances are now getting their due respect. Often, they're just better investments. For instance, if you bought a Hulk #180 last year at a reasonable price, you have seen increases in FMV anywhere from 150% to 230%.

I won't claim Moon Knight is or ever will be as popular as Wolverine. That being said, if Moon Knight's second appearance only does half of what Wolverine's one-panel cameo has done in the last year, you'll be in nice shape. Currently, GoCollect analyzer data shows us that a WWBN #33 in a 9.6 has an FMV of $2000 dollars. It's has seen a 30% increase for the year. This is a modest percentage, considering the Disney+ show and how loony this market has been.

Lower grades have shown similar, reasonable upward momentum and are more reasonably priced. A graded 9.0 has an FMV of $575 with a YTD increase of 62%. An 8.5 has an FMV of $525 and a YTD increase of 32%. These are great, affordable entry prices for high-grade, key Bronze Age books. Plus, they have the potential to at least double with the debut of the show. If you want the best bang for your buck, I would go with these two grades.

Don't Sleep!

These Moon Knight issues are safer investments with the upcoming show and have plenty of room to grow with a year until the show debuts. If you see them for a steal, don't pass them up. What are some of your favorite Moon Knight books? Drop a comment below and thanks for reading!