We’re back with more market reaction to the news coming from San Diego Comic-Con last week. Some big news was announced by Kevin Feige and team regarding first MCU appearances of villains in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, in theaters February 17, 2023, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, in theaters May 5, 2023.

Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing

Other than more Kang (confirmed for a while now) and a third Cassie Lang (again, confirmed) Marvel revealed that another villain will be making his MCU debut in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania: none other than M.O.D.O.K. Not sure yet who will be portraying the enormous-headed villain, but that’s fairly irrelevant to collectors, and it showed.

M.O.D.O.K. First Appearance

M.O.D.O.K. made his first appearance in Tales of Suspense #94. Six graded copies of this issue have sold since the SDCC reveal. The highest graded copy to sell was a 9.2, which went for $1,329 in a fixed-price eBay sale. While not the record, it’s the second highest price paid for this grade, missing out on the high price by only $66.

This actually marks the first dip in price for this grade since 2020. With this news, expect prices in high grades to likely continue upward. Most of the other grades sold, including an 8.5, two 7.5 graded copies, and a 7.0, didn’t come close to setting records. However, the sale of a 6.0 graded copy on eBay did set the record in that grade with a fixed price sale of $315.

M.O.D.O.K. Origin

One book that could be considered a bit of a M.O.D.O.K. sleeper is Captain America #133, featuring the origin of the character. There was only one sale of a graded copy since the SDCC announcement, an 8.5 graded copy selling for $66, down 31% from its $95 peak set in February 2021.

Keep an eye on the prices for this book, as origin issues are books that collectors often seek when first appearance prices rise beyond the level of affordability for some. The Quantumania spec is starting to heat up - will this?

The High Evolutionary!

The High Evolutionary made a surprise appearance in Hall H at SDCC, a not-so-subtle reveal of the main villain in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Unlike the other cast members of the film, Chukwudi Iwuji showed up in full costume and never broke character once, uproariously telling the crowd, “I can’t wait to dissect all of you,” as James Gunn pulled the microphone away.

High Evolutionary Keys

The High Evolutionary’s first appearance came in Thor #134. Four graded copies have sold since Saturday, with the highest being a 9.0 selling for a slashed $2,400. Assuming 10% off the asking price, it comes in just a little shy of the record-setter of $2,200 set in a Heritage auction on February 1. The 7.5, 6.0, and 4.0 graded copies sold didn’t come anywhere near the high price for their grades.

As with Tales of Suspense #94, the highest graded copy sold for close to the record. If trickle-down effects that have been proven out in the past come to fruition here, expect some price bumps in the lower grades soon.

The High Evolutionary’s origin (and second appearance) occurred in the next issue of the series, Thor #135. No copies have sold since the character’s reveal at SDCC.

Consider this something of a sleeper book as well. The 30-day average for a 9.2 graded copy stands at $204, down considerably from the 1-year average of $260.

We Can’t Forget About Cosmo

Cosmo, the Soviet canine telepath, who made their MCU debut in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film is back, this time in a speaking role. Cosmo’s comic debut was in Nova #8, published in January 2008. An 8.5 graded copy sold on Sunday for $108, shattering the previous record by $38. Hard to say at this point if this is just an outlier sale.

Keep an eye on this book, though, as stranger things have happened in the collecting world than the first appearance of a talking dog skyrocketing.

We’ll be back tomorrow with more market reactions from the news coming out of the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con.

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What SDCC news or footage releases excited you the most?  Quantumania? GotG3? Let us know below!

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