Because they appeal to a broader, international audience (and therefore would generate more revenue for Disney), many have speculated that Alpha Flight, Canada's version of the Avengers, will eventually appear in the MCU. Most speculators have focused on their first cameo appearance in Uncanny X-Men #120 and their first full appearance in Uncanny X-Men #121. I've written about these two books before; in particular, how unusual it is for a cameo appearance to be more valuable than the first full appearance. Nonetheless, both books have jumped in value. For example, the value of a CGC 9.8 copy of X-Men #121 has risen by over 40% over the past three years. Similarly, the value of a CGC 9.8 copy of X-Men #122 has risen by nearly 73% during the same period of time.

There are obvious reasons for collectors to focus on these two issues; however, one overlooked Alpha Flight key is Alpha Flight #1. I'll discuss a couple of reasons why collectors should give it a closer look.

Reason #1: This Book Has Multiple 1st Appearances.

Most people think X-Men #121 and #122 have all of the first appearances of Alpha Flight team members; however, this isn't true. Not only does Alpha Flight #1 contain the first appearance of the Beta and Gamma Flight teams, but it also includes the first appearances of (1) Box; (2) Diamond Lil; (3) Flashback; (4) Marrina Smallwood; (5) Puck; (6) Tundra; (7) Wild Child; and (8) Smart Alec. It's rare to find a book with so many first appearances. As Regie says, if you buy this book, you're taking a lot of shots on goal.

While none of these characters have become household names, if even just one of them becomes a breakout star this book could explode in value. As we saw during WandaVision, even if Disney simply teases the appearance of one of these characters (see, e.g., Mephisto and Grim Reaper), this book could jump in value. In addition, Kevin Feige has clearly demonstrated his ability to transform run-of-the-mill characters into superstars. Consider what he achieved with the Guardians of the Galaxy as an example.

If he could do that with the Guardians of the Galaxy, he can also make Alpha Flight great. Of course, there's no guarantee that Alpha Flight will appear, but if you're a speculator who wants to buy books before they get hot, this is a great book to purchase.

Reason #2: This Book Remains Affordable.

Like almost all mutant-related Marvel books during the past year, the value of Alpha Flight #1 has also appreciated considerably. For example, the value of CGC 9.8 copies of this book have risen by nearly 84% over the past three years. Even so, it's still much more affordable than X-Men #121 and 122. You can still get a raw, high-grade copy on eBay for less than $20. It could be a good idea to buy it raw, send it to CGC, and hope for a 9.8. 9.8s have recently sold for around $230 on eBay. That's an opportunity to make a 200% return on your investment.

Do you think Alpha Flight #1 is a good book to speculate on? Please tell us your opinion in the comments below!

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