On December 11 TV Guide produced for viewers a future timeline for releases and a brief synopsis for all Marvel Cinematic Universe properties. Here is how it impacts you.
Wandavision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Jan and March 2021)
No real investment news to report here. Minor characters introduced and Baron Zemo will be back, but no characters that warrant the quest for keys right now.
The Black Widow (May 7, 2021)
In release limbo, most of the speculative books are known to you. My brother recently worked on a film with David Harbour and said he was a nice guy, but that does not mean you should bet the farm on Red Guardian appearances. Other characters like the Taskmaster and Yelena Belova may be better bets, but the prices on these books have already spiked. Getting in now is not a good bet for speculators or investors. If you really must make an investment look to the first appearance of Belova in Inhumans #5. This book may have peaked but the possibility of her being a future important player in the MCU makes this book the one to buy.
Loki (May 2021)
This is not the Loki who died at the hands of Thanos. This is a new old Loki who stole the Tesseract and vanished. What is interesting is we do not know where he went. Time travel and different multiverses are a part of the new phase. In this series, the Time Variance Authority appears, but investing in their first appearance in Thor #372 seems to be risky. Maybe a character is revealed to appear later, but right now nothing seems investment-worthy.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (July 9, 2021)
Another film that was in release limbo. The first appearance of Shang-Chi was very affordable years ago. News of him appearing in the MCU has caused his books to spike so we should look elsewhere in this film for a good investment.
A general rule of thumb is that heroes are better investment bets than villains. I believe investing in the Mandarin is a better choice this time than investing in Shang-Chi. Tony Stark themed stories will appear in later MCU films. If that is the case maybe it is time to rethink Tales of Suspense #50. People thought the Mandarin had already appeared in the MCU, but that was just a red herring. This book is not cheap, but if you are looking for a safer bet to invest this may be the one to choose.
What If? (Summer 2021)
This is a series that might be of interest to investors. Remember, time travel and different multiverses are the keys to the next MCU phase. Is it possible that a book from the series plays more of an impact than we already know from a later film? If that happens then there will be a run on that book. Until then I would not look for much investment opportunity in the What If? books.
Eternals (Nov. 5, 2021)
Finally a release date for a film that could transform the MCU. I believe in this film even if it is based on mainly unknown characters. A great cast makes characters come alive. That was the case with Guardians of the Galaxy. The film also produces a few books that do have investment opportunities. Eternals #1 is the book that many flocked to and I will not disagree - it has room to grow. If you want to get serious then maybe Eternals #1 30 cent variant might be the better pick for upside. These variants are from the Bronze Age and very rare. Released in certain geographic areas, it is possible to find some raw copies confused by non-comic book fans as the more common issue. This is the holy grail of Eternal books to purchase if you can find it. Eternals #2 - the first appearance of the Celestials is also a book to own.
The book that I have more faith in is Avengers #48. This is the first appearance of Dane Whitman as the Black Knight. This character is portrayed by Game of Thrones' Kit Harington in the Eternals. I like the versatility of the character in that he can fill many different roles in the MCU. Again this book has spiked and speculators may have missed the boat on this book, but it may still have long-term investment appeal. This book is over 50 years old with a white and grey border that makes it hard to find in great condition. That does not make it impossible. Raw copies in great condition do exist. If you find one buy and hold it. This is the possible break out star of all the characters mentioned so far. Speculators stay away. Long term investors should be interested in this book.
Coming Soon
The next part of my article will reveal more MCU projects scheduled for release. These new projects offer better investment and speculative opportunities. There is also more risk. This risk may also extend for the first time to the MCU. See you soon!
