Imagine you could learn any physical skill just by observing it. You could handle a car like a Formula 1 driver, or throw a punch like Mike Tyson, do a spinning back kick like Chuck Norris, attempt a Michael Jordan layup, or drive a golf ball like Tiger Woods, any earthly physical skill would be easy. What would you do with this ability? Well, if you were in Marvel, you would be called the Taskmaster. Simply put, Taskmaster is a supporting super-villain a mercenary to the core. He has photographic reflexes and has learned the skills of all the street level Avengers (The Swordsman's skill with a blade, Captain America's ability with a shield, Hawkeye's deadeye archery, and the list goes on). This character is a one-man army of skills. He is probably more than a match for a skill-based Avenger. Lately, Taskmaster has received a ton of hype about his first supposed appearance in the Black Widow movie slated to begin filming this summer.

It took me a while to find the source of this Taskmaster news. There is a website that claims this is happening you can view it here. I looked online at YouTube and most Marvel fans have no idea who this character is. If the website "Wegotthiscovered" is correct; then the world is going to get to know an entirely new villain. No, he isn't some world breaker like Thanos. He is much more interesting and nuanced more of a street-level supervillain. Taskmaster first appeared in Avengers #196. Three of the best artists at Marvel at the time contributed to the pencils George Perez, Sal Buscema, and Dick Giordano. Dick Giordano has done a ton of inking at Marvel and DC Comics including but not limited to many of Neal Adams works on Batman. The writers that breathed life into this master of all skills were David Michelinie and Kurt Busiek.

Avengers #196

Can this Taskmaster imitate speculation and make us some profit a.k.a. moolah? The answer to positive returns both the short-term and the long-term is: yes, Taskmaster can. Also, this character is still obtainable in high-grade for reasonable prices, though they are on the rise. The long-term approach with this character has worked. I can remember hoarding Taskmaster's first appearance back ten years ago. Yep, you have to look far ahead if you wanna make a killing at comics. This character has returned positive long-term results with Avengers #196:

Long-Term

  • Grade 9.8 $875 FMV positive long-term trend +64.2%
  • Grade 9.2 $220 FMV positive long-term trend +129.6%
  • Grade 6.5 $55   FMV positive long-term trend +10.9%
  • Grade 4.0 $28   FMV positive long-term trend +6%

Short-Term

  • Grade 9.8 $875 FMV positive short-term trend +15.8%
  • Grade 9.2 $220 FMV positive short-term trend +67.2%
  • Grade 8.5 $150 FMV positive short-term trend +68.4
  • Grade 6.5 $55   FMV positive short-term trend +48.8%

Over the long-term, this skulking skull earns the cheddar. Take a look at grade 9.2 this is an especially nice return for those folks that didn't go to the mat on this bet. Whenever an investment of less than $200 can make you more than double your money that is time to suit up as a speculator and get this comic book. You don't have to invest in 9.8's to get ahead in the comic world.

Over the short-term, this master of all skills proves an adept speculator as well, with very nice returns, even over the last 3 months. If you had purchased an Avengers #196 back in December 2018 you would be looking at a solid +67.2% return for grade 9.2. This is why we do this folks! First, for the love of the genre, and second because there are great returns in comic books and collectibles. Suit up people, grab your shield, strap your quiver and bow, holster your firearm, and sheath your sword; now is time for action. The lower grades have yet to participate in this upward surge of prices, get your copy before the Taskmaster hits center stage with Scarlett Johanson.