Werewolf By Night Key Prior to Other MCU Appearance
An Important Book
Fans know that the Werewolf by Night was important already to the MCU. Remember, Werewolf by Night #32 was the first appearance of Moon Knight. Many do not realize that long before Moon Knight's appearance, Werewolf by Night was already impacting the MCU.
Shortly after his first appearance in the Marvel Spotlight series, another key element of the Marvel Universe was introduced to the Werewolf by Night mythos. Marvel Spotlight #4 is the first appearance of the Darkhold. The Darkhold is a book of ancient spells that provides the user access to great magic at the cost of their own souls. The Darkhold has already been used in the MCU in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Many think it was destroyed, but....maybe not
By the Numbers
The numbers do not look good for this book. A 9.6 FMV is only $1,700 at the time this article was written. 9.4 copies were going for around $500. There are only around 425 total copies graded, too. These numbers should be way higher for an early appearance of Werewolf by Night with a Mike Ploog cover. The first appearance of the Darkhold makes investing in this book a no-brainer.
Sadly, many abandoned this book after the Dr. Strange film. That may have been shortsighted, as indicated by the other selections in this article.
Dracula's Influence Part One
Dracula's Family Tree
Mention the word vampire and the images of Blade and Dracula come to mind. There is another vampire that plays an important part in the Marvel Universe that gets very little attention, but they should. Lilith is Dracula's oldest child who is cursed to oppose her father. She is also unlike most vampires in that she is a day walker who is immune to many of the weaknesses of other vampires.
Blade may be the better-known daywalker vampire hunter but for Lilith, it is personal. Upon her death, she is reborn by possessing the body of a daughter who wants her father dead. Lilith is a very complex character.
By the Numbers
The issue that most should focus on is Giant Size Chillers #1. Industry leaders Marv Wolfman, John Romita, Gene Colan, and Russ Heath all had a hand in this issue. At the time of writing this article, there are fewer than 650 total copies in the CGC census. Most of those issues are showing declines in their 1 yr to 30-day averages. A decrease in value can be seen in many great books but one has to dig deeper.
A 9.6 copy has an FMV of only $2,000.00 while a 9.4 has an FMV of $775. This comic is almost 50 years old and still has a very modest price. The fact that she has ties to Dracula and the monster team of the Howling Commandos makes one truly realizes how undervalued this book is right now.
Dracula's Influence Part Two
Dracula Family Ties
The next comic that is really undervalued also has ties to Dracula's family tree. Many comic book collectors and investors know of Dracula and his daughter Lilith, but what of the "father" of Dracula? Dracula was turned into a vampire by a being called Varnae. Varnae is forgotten among comic book historians, collectors, and investors. That is why, if possible, any person reading this article should target this character.
Origin
Varnae was originally a sorcerer in Atlantis before it was destroyed. He was more concerned with becoming the sorcerer supreme than anything else. Fatally injured in a battle with King Kull, he was turned into the first vampire through the use of the Darkhold (see pick #1) by a cult. He then terrorized the world until he grew tired of his immortality.
Varnae found his successor in the man that would be known as Dracula. Varnae has ties to Atlantis, Dracula, the Darkhold, Dr. Strange, and many more elements that have already been referenced in the MCU. That is appealing, but then his first appearance comic book's numbers are reviewed to reveal how truly undervalued this book is right now.
By the Numbers
Varnae's first appearance is in Bizarre Adventures #33. Bizarre Adventures is the title formerly known as Marvel Preview. Marvel Preview introduced such characters as Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, and the origin of the Punisher. Those are notable issues that make the series sought after by fans. That is not the case for the first appearance of Varnae.
Bizarre Adventures #33 has NO ISSUES IN THE CGC CENSUS! THIS BOOK IS SO IGNORED THAT NOT ONE SINGLE COMIC BOOK FAN SOUGHT TO HAVE A COPY GRADED. Many raw copies can be purchased for a modest sum, but only a few are available for sale. This is a book that collectors like the author have sought out because of the scarcity of the issue mixed with the Marvel Comics importance. That is what truly makes for an undervalued comic. More issues may come to market once people realize how truly rare this book may be, but until then supply will be low while demand should increase.
Something to Sink Your fangs Into
Many comic book fans love Marvel horror comics. The problem is that so many are focusing on the books that every other collector and investor is chasing. There are books that have a historic significance to Marvel Comic's history that are ignored. Bizarre Adventures #33, Giant Size Chillers #1 and Marvel Spotlight #4 are three books that are vampire keys to the Marvel Universe that are currently being ignored. These books will only go under the radar for so long. Get them while they are available.
Want more horror coverage?
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HALLOWEEN HORROR COMICS
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THE INFLUENCE OF THE HORROR COMICS
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