Rumors of Spider-Man's demise are greatly exaggerated. After all, Spidey has got to tumble with Jake Gyllenhaal as the dreaded Mysterio. According to the latest gossip Gyllenhaal is playing Mysterio in the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming 2 (CBM). One of my all-time favorite characters, since I was a kid. I never thought we would see this character on the screen as he isn’t the kind of super-powered being that usually fights Spidey. Let me clear the smoke-filled haze left by Mysterio's arrival; there are several keys for the many incarnations of Mysterio.
Amazing Spider-Man #13 has one of the best Spidey covers from the Silver Age. This comic book ASM #13 was created by Mr. Excelsior himself Stan Lee (script) and Steve Ditko (pencils). This is the first appearance of the menace of Mysterio. The first Mysterio was Quentin Beck, an effect wiz from Hollywood. He realizes his effects and skill set would make a challenging supervillain for Spidey. He then sets out on a quest to best Spider-Man.
The returns on ASM #13 have of course been positive, any early Amazing Spider-Man is blue chip stock in the speculator world. The returns are green as far back as GoCollect has data. Everyone knows that early Spideys are great investments. A few notable issue grades pop out as significant: (2.5) at +170%, (2.0) at +95%, a very fine to near mint (9.0) has an ROI of +60%, and a (9.6) sold for a whopping $20,251 back in November online (GoCollect). Amazing Spider-Man #13 in any condition is a great key to own, or in Mysterio’s own words, “There is no limit to my powers!”
The second Mysterio is Daniel Berkhart, and he first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #141 (1975). This comic was created by Gerry Conway (script) and Ross Andru (art). Dan Berkhart was a stuntman who worked with the original Mysterio Quentin Beck. He took vengeance on Spidey with Jameson hiring him to torment Spider-Man. Later on, he joins the Sinister Six as a supervillain group claiming to reference his death.
This is a good Bronze Age comic to own and is still affordable, for now. Currently, FM value for (9.8) is $725, expensive but not unreasonable. This character is a big piece of Spidey’s villains and still very reasonably priced. Currently, a near mint (9.2) has a FM value of $85 with the last sale only $52 on eBay. Speculation on Bronze Age Amazing Spider-Man is really just investing in Spider-Man.
Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do #1
The third Mysterio is Francis Klum created by Kevin Smith and Terry Dodson. He first appeared in Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do #1 (2002). Klum purchased the Mysterio paraphernalia of currently deceased Quentin Beck and uses his mutant powers of teleportation to kill Spider-Man. Nurse Arrow stabbed him at MidTown High during an attempt to kill Spider-Man, afterward he was never heard from again. The return on this comic is +42% in a (9.6) and very approachable at $41.
The fourth and (whew) final Mysterio is called Mysterion created by Christopher Yost and David Lopez in Avenging Spider-Man #22 (2013). An unknown individual purchases the Mysterio suit and becomes Mysterion. Doctor Octopus captures him and places him under mind control. He eventually escapes and tangles with other heroes like Squirrel Girl. This last comic is going for around $4 online on eBay currently. I don’t expect there to be a huge run up for this comic. But if you are a completist; you may want a copy, after all it is Mysterion man!
