Between She-Hulk and the Thunderbolts, Moonstone’s star is about to shine bright, and you’ll want to put these Moonstone key issues on your wish lists.

The recent wave of Marvel news is great for Moonstone. The former psychiatrist Karla Sofen has been both a villain and anti-hero in her four decades in Marvel Comics. She was a founding member of the Thunderbolts and infamously impersonated Ms. Marvel during Dark Reign. With her enhanced strength, she has been known to trade punches with the Hulk. That makes her a prime candidate for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Thunderbolts, and possibly the Captain Marvel sequel, The Marvels. Her MCU potential should put a target on these issues.

CAPTAIN AMERICA #170

Originally, Moonstone was the alter ego of Lloyd Bloch. Making his cameo debut in Cap #169, he gained his powers from a magic stone he found on the moon. In the next issue, he used his newfound powers to fight Captain America, but it didn’t go so well. Lloyd was defeated, and so began his unsuccessful supercriminal career. After Karla stole his moonstone, Lloyd would rebrand himself as Nefarious, though the results were about the same.

What helps this issue’s value is the debut of Falcon’s iconic red and white costume, but a live-action Moonstone, even if it won’t be Lloyd, could boost those prices. 

The graded 9.4 has been the highest grade sold this year, earning $400 in March. That should be good news for anyone with a 9.8. The last time one sold, it brought $304 in 2020. If a 9.4 is earning $400, imagine where the next 9.8 will fall.

INCREDIBLE HULK #228

The most famous version of Moonstone would debut in 1978’s Hulk #228. That’s why I called this a sleeper pick three years ago. After all that time, that investment is ready to pay dividends. When Karla took Lloyd’s magic rock, she gained his powers and became the most famous Moonstone in this comic. Fittingly, she would begin her supervillain career battling the Hulk. That could add up to her getting a surprise appearance in She-Hulk.

Back in 2019 and 2020, you could have owned a graded 9.8 for close to $300. Up to that point, it had never sold for more than $350. Like practically every other first appearance with the slightest MCU potential, the prices made a dramatic leap in 2021. From May 21 to the end of November, copies sold anywhere from $700 to as much as $950. There have only been two 9.8s sold this year, the last of which brought a high of $625 on June 13. 

CAPTAIN AMERICA #192

To complete the Moonstone package, you will want to find a copy of Cap #192 since this issue marked Karla’s first appearance sans superpowers. While her premiere as Moonstone is the bigger key, the plus side here is the price difference.

The last time a graded 9.8 traded hands online, it brought $600 in January 2021. So far this year, the highest grade sold has been the 9.6, which brought $325 this past January after averaging $188 two years ago.

THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU NOW

There are no rumors or gossip about Moonstone that I am aware of, but I predict that will change in short order. There are too many reasons for Marvel to include her in She-Hulk, the Marvels, and Thunderbolts, and I can’t see her not being on the list for at least one if not all three projects. Even better will be if we get Dark Avengers with her as the evil Captain Marvel. At any rate, this is her time to shine.

Want more upcoming MCU spec?

*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.