A FUTURE MCU STAR?
Chris Hemsworth has said he has no intention of leaving the role of Thor anytime soon, but Marvel Studios could be setting up his replacement for the future. While Natalie Portman will pick up from Jason Aaron’s Thor run in the comics and wield Mjolnir, I don’t think that will be a permanent change.
Marvel chief Kevin Feige had said before that he wanted to debut Beta Ray Bill in a significant way. Although not without his fans, Bill has never been more than a minor character in the overarching Marvel Universe. Why be so careful with a minor character? Not only that, but he has reemerged in Donny Cates’ Thor, and the horse-faced superhero is getting a new series.
What does it all mean? Could it be that he will someday become the MCU’s Thor? Only Feige knows for sure, but it is an interesting idea, and these minor keys could pay dividends with little risk.
MARVEL AGE #6
It pays to collect those preview comics and magazines. In the pages of Marvel Age #6, readers caught their first glimpses of Beta Ray Bill ahead of his debut in The Mighty Thor.
Like most ads and previews, this is no substitute for that coveted first appearance in an actual story. Still, this issue is worth your attention.
Values are all over the place, so you should be able to find a copy to fit your budget. Only two grades have sold this year, the 9.6 and the 9.4. There have only been two 9.6 sales in 2020. The first was for $59 in January, but the second jumped to $105 in May.
Looking for something cheaper? The three 9.4s sold this year have averaged just $38, and the last one sold for $23 on December 5.
THE MIGHTY THOR #339
The first appearances of legendary items hardly compare to the characters that wield them, but they are worth an investment nonetheless. Here, we have the first appearance of Beta Ray Bill’s very own magic hammer, Stormbreaker, which Thor currently holds in the MCU. Once Bill shows up in the MCU, he likely will claim a version of Stormbreaker for himself, which will please fanboys everywhere.
At the moment, The Mighty Thor #339 is reasonably priced, which is why the 9.8 has been the best seller. Over the past 90 days, it has averaged $78. That happens to be down from 2019’s FMV of $112, so now is a great time to buy a copy of your own.
STORMBREAKER: THE SAGA OF BETA RAY BILL #1
This is more or less a sleeper pick. With a new Beta Ray Bill comic series on the way, there is a possibility that it will delve into Bill’s past. In that event, we could see new spins on Stardust and Alpha Ray Bill.
When Bill crosses into the MCU, will Alpha Ray Bill follow? That is a remote possibility. Stardust, however, has a slightly better chance as that character is a forgotten herald of Galactus. “The Devourer of Worlds” could enter the MCU by way of the Fantastic Four or a Silver Surfer movie, and who knows which heralds he will bring with him? Marvel Studios could throw a curve and introduce mainstream audiences to Stardust.
Prices for Stormbreaker #1 are cheap at the moment, and you might even find this issue in the dollar bins at your local comic shops. As for graded copies, the 9.8 last sold for $36 in 2019. The only grade to sell in 2020 was a 9.4 that brought $41 in October.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Something is definitely in the works for Beta Ray Bill, and it will pay to have his key issues in your long boxes. Once this ball is rolling, he will be a seriously hot character.
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