The Predator's first appearance is quietly on the rise, and comic investors will want to jump on this before everyone else takes notice.
Movie and television tie-ins used to be the comics that serious collectors scoffed at. When I was a kid, these were dollar-bin fillers at best. Times have changed, and these comics have gained respect in the collectors' circles.
Characters from 1980's franchises are doing the best these days since all things '80s are en vogue at the moment. Whether its remakes or new installments in a series, sci-fi classics such as Ghostbusters, Predator, and Aliens are staying relevant in the mainstream media, which is boosting their comic sales.
This year, we're being treated (or possibly cursed if it's bad) to a new Predator movie, aptly titled The Predator (Shane Black pulled deep from the creative well for that name). This is a movie monster that simply will never die. These hunters have fought Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny Glover, and Adrian Brody. The Predator is so tough, in fact, that even two truly horrendous AVP movies couldn't kill its popularity. Trust me, if both Predator and the Alien xenomorphs can survive those two abominations, they're invincible.
With the new movie comes a renewed interest in the franchise, often from younger viewers who may be looking to discover older characters. Not only does that mean the digital movie sales for the 1987 Predator film will be on the rise, but the 1990s comics are getting a bump from the exposure as well.
The Predator may have been created for the big screen in '87, but he debuted in the comics with Dark Horse's Predator #1 in 1989. In the past three months, this has been a hot comic. While there hasn't been a huge number of graded issues sold, it has nonetheless been gaining value. Five graded 9.6s have been sold in the past 90 days, and their average is up $53 from two years ago; in 2016, it averaged just $65, but it's brought a median of $117 since May. The latest sale of a 9.6 was for $185 in July. That same month, one sold for $199, a record high for a 9.6.
The 9.4 grade is picking up in sales as well and has already reached a new record high. Two years ago, that grade would have cost you $38, and only four copies sold that year. In the past 90 days, there have already been six sales, and it's averaging $78. On July 27, a 9.4 brought $100, which is an all-time high at this grade.
Even a 9.0 has been steadily on the rise for the past three years, and it's hit a new high sale this year. In 2014, there was only one graded 9.0 sold on eBay, and it was for just $15. Two years later, two copies sold, one for as much as $45. While only three were sold last year, the high increased to $50. So far this year, it's already seen three sales, and the record high of $71 has eclipsed 2017's numbers.
I'll expand on other Predator keys in the coming days, but here's your homework for now (after all, I am a teacher by day): find yourself a Predator #1 and put it away for safe keeping. If we're lucky, The Predator will be a big hit and kick off a whole new batch of entries into the franchise.
