A special thank you should go out to the DC cinematic universe for finally putting out a movie worthy of the buzz of its trailer: Wonder Woman!
With the release of Wonder Woman and the praise it’s receiving, expect Diana’s sales to shoot higher than Steve Trevor’s pulse rate. Up to this point, Wonder Woman: Rebirth sold steadily, but it wasn’t getting the sales of its DC: Rebirth counterparts, like Batman and Flash titles. Expect that to change, just not drastically. As the reception of the movie stays in a positive light, comic fans – and maybe a few non-comic fans – will give Wonder Woman’s titles a bit more love. Because of this anticipated upturn, you may want to pick up the original and variant of Greg Rucka’s “Wonder Woman: Rebirth” #1. As a side note, Rucka makes his convention rounds, so it wouldn’t hurt to get it signed if you feel so inclined. At the moment, you can get copies of WW:R #1 for cheap. Wait for the announcements for a sequel (you know it’s coming) and any major casting revelations, and you should be able to turn a quick profit.
There’s no denying the historical importance of Wonder Woman and her impact on the comic industry. She’s long been overdue for a respectable movie, and over her 76 years of stories, there’s plenty of source material for movies and television shows to come. For those who have the means, it’s never a bad idea to invest in golden age comics from the 1940s. The rarity of those books will only increase as they age, and with Wonder Woman getting her due in the main stream media, people will be clamoring for old issues. If you don’t have the budget for those, look at one of Wonder Woman’s more prolific creators, George Perez, and his 1987 “Wonder Woman: Volume Two” issue #1, which is much more affordable. Recent figures show that you can get a near-mint copy for less than $70.
Speaking of riding the crest from the cinematic universe wave, thank you, Marvel and Sony, for casting Tom Hardy as Venom and talking up the “Venom-verse.” Venom, who is hitting his 29th birthday since his first full appearance in “Amazing Spider-Man” #300 back in 1988, has never lost much of his popularity no matter what form the character takes (i.e., Guardian Venom, Agent Venom, etc.). If Topher Grace’s portrayal in “Spider-Man 3” didn’t damage Venom’s credibility, he’s downright impervious, but Hardy should sway those who still have a lingering doubts. Hardy tends to play “tough-guy” rolls and should have Venom fans’ interest piqued. All that being said, use the rejuvenated interest in Venom and pick up the “Lethal Protector” series from 1993. Graded copies are averaging between $20-$30 graded on eBay for those in 9.0+ range, which will keep your investment cost efficient. Once Sony reveals more details, those prices should spike. As far as the first appearance, you can’t go wrong with ASM #300, which is an absolute classic from cover and interior art to the superb writing, not to mention that the sales figures rarely (if ever) drop no matter the grade. Simply put, ASM #300, while pricey at a high grade, is one of the more solid investments there is.
With all the symbiote talk in a “Venom-verse,” Carnage should get even more popular as rumors persist that he will eventually make his live-action debut. Graded copies of “Amazing Spider-Man” #361, which features the first cover and full appearance of the third-generation alien symbiote, stay under $100 on average sales when the grade is below that coveted 9.8. Whenever Sony officially puts Cletus (not to be confused with Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel from “The Simpsons,” although I’d pay to see that mash up. “We’s all sortsa thangs.” Give yourself $5 of your own money if you get that joke.), that price will definitely jump.
