One of the single biggest drivers of comic book speculation nowadays is the MCU.  From major characters like Spider-Man all the way down to D-listers like Frog Man, the MCU has fundamentally changed the way people look at comic books.  The goal of this article series is to provide investors of all stripes with some well-reasoned speculation opportunities so they can be one stop ahead of a constantly shifting marketplace. So for this issue, let's talk about Marvel's Hip-Hop Variants.

One of the most popular variant cover sets out there today from Marvel is the Hip-Hop Variants.  Each cover is an homage to a classic or widely known Hip-Hop album cover.  These books are typically really solid investments, due to, amongst other things, the global appeal of hip-hop, the popularity of homage covers in general, the high quality of (most of) the covers, and the fact that most of the variants were for #1 issues.  With so much built-in appeal, it only makes sense to figure out which of these books are most likely to benefit from some MCU heat.

Low-Cost Options

Hercules #1

I am very surprised that this book is still as cheap as it is given that Hercules now officially exists in the MCU.  The most likely explanations are the uncertainty around where he will show up next and/or inflationary concerns.

Either way, those conditions will not last forever.  Buy this book now and hold it until the heat comes back

Spider-Woman #1

A few months ago, there were numerous reputable reports that Spider-Woman (specifically, a pregnant Jessica Drew) would be playing a prominent role in Across The Spider-Verse.  It would seem that people either missed those reports or forgot about them, as that is the only explanation for why this book still costs so little.

This book marked the first time readers saw a pregnant Jess and the hip-hop variant incorporates that pretty strongly.  When the trailer does come out and audiences see a pregnant Jess, I expect this book will see a major increase in interest.

Medium Cost Options

Silk #1

Be warned that you should not buy this book if you are looking for a quick flip.  The value of this book has fluctuated a lot over the years as Sony has continuously sent mixed messages about their plans for the character.  While that lack of clarity is definitely frustrating, it is important to remember that Sony clearly wants to be in the Silk business, even if they are not yet sure of how.

That means that long term, this gorgeous cover is almost certainly going to have another moment in the sun.  Why not invest now when people seem to have forgotten about it?

Nova #1

I will plainly admit that this selection is a little bit biased.  I love Sam Alexander, I love Chance The Rapper, and I love the Coloring Book album.  Even so, both Coloring Book and Chance are incredibly popular and Marvel has confirmed that a Nova project is in the works.

Granted, they have not specified whether it will be about Sam Alexander, Richard Rider, or both, but that really should not matter.  It's not like there can only be one Nova at a time.  This book has a lot going for it and should be on a lot more people's radars.

High-Cost Options

Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur #1

It is not the most interesting cover in the world, but given the strong fan interest in Moon Girl, her upcoming cartoon, and the low print run of her first appearance, who cares?

This book is trending low right now, but that will not last forever, especially as Lunella becomes more prominent in the comics.

Spider-Man #1

This is the holy grail of the Hip-Hop variants.  Miles Morales is arguably the most popular character Marvel has created since Wolverine.  He is the next generation's Spider-Man and his star will only continue to rise.  Throw in the fact that this cover is an homage to one of the greatest rap albums of all time the and result is truly a no-brainer investment.

Be aware that this book's price does tend to ebb and flow a bit, so investors should be prepared to sit for a little while if they want to get the biggest payday possible.

Out of Nowhere Pick

U.S.Avengers #1

I love this spec because it contains the first appearance of Toni Ho as the Iron Patriot.  For those who are not aware, Toni is the daughter of Ho Yinsen, the man who saved Tony Stark's life and helped create the original Iron Man armor.

Here is a small snippet of a previous writeup I did on the character: "The child of the man who died saving Tony Stark automatically has an incredible amount of high drama to it.  Compound that further with her strong aversion to weapons and the complications that brings as she dons the Rescue armor (which Tony first built) and the result is a character brimming with fascinating internal conflicts that are ripe for adaptation."

Toni is great and this book is typically not too expensive.  At the right price, buy with confidence.

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