RED HULK
An early rumor popped up for 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. It surrounded the return of General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross on the cast list. Combined with the Hulk’s departure in the final minutes of Avengers: Age of Ultron, people became increasingly convinced that Ross was going to fill the giant Hulk shaped hole with his own hulking rendition of Red Hulk.
Nearly four decades after Ross’ overall first appearance, he finally made his debut as the Red Hulk in Hulk #1 (2008). It did take a few years until the World War Hulks storyline that the Red Hulk’s real identity of Ross was revealed. Prices for CGC 9.8 slabs of Hulk #1 soared from the $30 levels at the beginning of 2014. They would reach as high as $175 in the months leading up to the movie’s release. After rumors were resolved to be untrue, the market for Hulk #1 dropped to the $100 level. It wouldn’t stay low for long.
The specific Civil War Red Hulk rumor didn’t pan out. However, Thaddeus Ross has found himself in continued appearances in later films and with them the continued hope for a Red Hulk. The effects of this were most noticeable in 2019 and 2020 when prices one again made new highs; peaking at $300 but ultimately settling around the low $200s.
Oddly enough, General Ross finally appearing as the Red Hulk might actually be worse for the book’s market value than if Ross just continues to appear (as a human) without the Red Hulk ever being let out of the bag. An infinite pump scenario.
DEATH
While the Hela character identity was still a secret/unconfirmed, one of the leading rumors for 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok was that the antagonist was none other than Death. This was further pushed after the “Goddess of Death” character quote started appearing in the film’s marketing. Then tying it all together, Thanos’ complicated affections for Death are at the core of why he was rampaging across space. If Thanos was going to be the big baddie in Infinity War, it only made sense that Death would be introduced.
Although the Death/Thor: Ragnarok rumor didn’t pan out, Death’s first appearance book of Captain Marvel #26 (1973) can thank the film for generating greater interest in the character. The sales volume for Captain Marvel #26 jumped up in 2017. It has been trading hands at an increased rate ever since. Unfortunately, the market value wasn’t able to retain the highs seen in 2017; trending slightly downward. As for the future of Captain Marvel #26’s market, Thanos’ journey may have ended with Endgame. However, Death still always has Deadpool.
NIGHT NURSE
Scrubs, E.R., Grey'S Anatomy… what do they all have in common? Marvel Comics was decades ahead of the game with Night Nurse #1 (1972). The first hint came in 2015 when the showrunner for Netflix’s Daredevil series mentioned in an interview that Claire Temple’s character name was originally the Night Nurse, Linda Carter. He said that the reason for the change was due to the feature side of Marvel. Then finally in 2016, Christine Palamer (surgical nurse and Linda Carter’s roommate) appeared in the Dr. Strange movie.
This 2015/2016 time frame was also when the biggest change occurred in the market for Night Nurse #1. Sales volume for CGC slabs increased and sales prices (at the higher end of the CGC grading range) roughly tripled. With the movie side of Marvel appearing to move in the cosmic direction, it’s difficult to see the Night Nurse fitting in. Perhaps a series on Disney+ is more likely.
“I was General Thunderbolt Ross. I became the very thing I hated most in life.” – Red Hulk
