Between the movies and the lineup of new Marvel series, the pieces are falling into place to make the second incarnation of Amazing Fantasy #15 the hottest comic on the market.

I’ve been spreading the word for months that Amadeus Cho is coming to the MCU. There was a possible allusion to him in Captain America: Winter Soldier, and Endgame has ushered a new era of classic heroes passing their torches. We’re seeing more of Marvel's modern era coming to screens, and the Disney+ announcements have pretty well sealed the deal. There’s also the push for more diversity in the cinematic universe, and Cho would be the franchise’s first Asian-American superhero. 

The bigger picture is that when Cho does arrive, I envision him playing an important role in the MCU. In the comics, he was elevated to the status of “world’s smartest person” before he concocted a means to transfer Bruce Banner’s gamma powers to himself, thus giving birth to the Totally Awesome Hulk. 

With the Spider-Man franchise out of the picture (at least until Disney and Sony come to a new agreement), Marvel Studios will be looking for a new avenue to reel in the younger demographic. The two Spider-Man films were clearly marketed towards the teenage crowd, and without him, there’s a void to fill. Enter: Totally Awesome Hulk. In the comics, he was geared to kids and young adults, and that’s exactly what he will do on the big and/or small screen. 

Cho/Totally Awesome Hulk appeals to a broad audience that Marvel wants to attract, and that’s why it’s too perfect for them to ignore. It’s not a question of if he will be in the MCU but when. I predict we’ll at least see Cho in his human form by next summer. When that happens, prices for AF #15 vol. 2 will crack the sky. That being said, here’s the state of the market for both Cho and the Totally Awesome Hulk’s first appearances.

 

AMAZING FANTASY #15 (vol. 2)

Maybe it’s not that Amazing Fantasy #15, but the 2005 version will ascend into major key status when Cho is announced for the MCU. It’s not like it’s cheap at the moment considering a 9.8 sold for $365 in June. It also has a 90-day average of $334, but at this point, it’s not been a hot issue in terms of sales volume. So far this year, only ten graded 9.8s have sold on eBay, with three of those coming this month, and there’s been just 23 universal grades sold altogether. That will change quickly, so now is the time to add this comic to your collection before the prices truly inflate.

 

 

 

TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #1

While I don’t expect TAH #1 to reach the same levels as AF #15, it will nonetheless come along for the ride. Love or hate Totally Awesome Hulk (I tend to be part of the latter group, to be honest), if it wasn’t for Cho’s turn as Hulk, his live-action debut wouldn’t be much to talk about. It’s the fact that we can say with certainty that we’ll eventually see Cho’s Hulk that makes both of these firsts so collectible. However, TA Hulk #1 is the more economical of the two comics. At the moment, a 9.8 has a 90-day average of $65, though one did sell for $85 on August 3.