Did you hear the latest rumors about X-Force? Rob Liefeld dropped a sizable hint that Stryfe could be coming to the silver screen, so you'll want to keep an eye on some key issues.
San Diego Comic Con never fails to keep the comic world's ears twitching. This year hasn't had the bombshell announcements or innuendos of year's past, but it's not without its noteworthy additions. While on stage at SDCC, Liefeld was asked about Stryfe being used in future films, he alluded to actor Josh Brolin playing both Stryfe and his nemesis, Cable. You can read the full article here.
It's not clear whether Liefeld is referring to the oft-mentioned X-Force standalone movie or Deadpool 3, but he definitely makes us believe that Stryfe is coming. Of course, we can't be sure of any previous Fox plans. If you haven't heard, the Disney/Twenty-First Century Fox deal is done, and that means we'll have to wait for Disney to give us official word on which projects are still on the table and which ones will be scrapped. Deadpool 3 is the most likely candidate considering the mass success of the first two installments, and Brolin's portrayal of Cable was so well received that I can't picture the role being recast. Add all that up, and it seems likely that Brolin will bring Stryfe to life.
Speaking of Cable, Deadpool 2 has already made a noticeable impact on the market for New Mutants #87, but don't forget that Cable wasn't the only character making his debut in those pages; Stryfe made his first full appearance in that issue as well.
Since the release of Deadpool 2 in May, NM #87 has been one of the hottest comics on eBay. A whopping 249 copies of CGC-graded 9.6s have been traded on eBay in the past year, and 164 of those have been sold since January. In the past 90 days, that 9.6 has averaged $271, which is up from the $254 it averaged last year. With the Stryfe rumor hitting the internet, you can expect those numbers to be on the rise. Granted, Stryfe isn't as popular an addition to the Deadpool sector of the X-universe, he's still an established character, and this makes that NM #87 only that much more collectible.
Now we get to resurrect that age old debate: the cameo appearance versus the full appearance and which one is the true first appearance. Considering Stryfe is Cable's clone, it makes sense that his first appearances mirrors Cable's; both characters made their cameo debuts in New Mutants #86. Like most cameo firsts, it isn't nearly as valuable as the first full appearance, but Cable and Stryfe fans still want this in their collections. Most collectors are looking for that near-mint 9.8, and 11 of those sold in 2017 for as much as $164, which happens to be the most an NM #86 has ever sold for.
At the moment, New Mutants #87 (and to a lesser extent NM #86) is a seller's market. Cable's recent surge in popularity is still driving the sales upward,and now is a good time to sell. However, if you're a buyer, I would suggest waiting for the wave to die down.
