I want to look at a couple of books that have the potential to explode to the next level. Might it be Shazam#1? Thor #337?  The question is, which book has the highest potential going forward? Comic speculating is at an all-time high nowadays as books are spiking in value at every corner. Factors such as characters appearing in a television show or movie play a huge part in the rise in value in comics. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a great example of this. Their multi-media universe consists of many television shows and movies that mark as the golden standard for how comics have exploded in the last 10-15 years. They produce shows and movies that make people want to speculate on issues on their heroes and villains.

These books' values are all represented at 9.8 grades. Are they the next bet for investors?

Captain America #323: The first appearance of John Walker, the new Super-Patriot and Battlestar.

The current FMV of a 9.8 graded copy of Captain America #323 is $550. Not long ago, it was ranked #30 under the "Most Popular Modern Age Comic Books" for GoCollect.

John Walker recently made his debut in the MCU in the Disney Plus series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.  The United States government named him the next Captain America as Steve Rogers retired at the end of Avengers: Endgame. Steve Rogers held the title of Captain America previously. During The Falcon and Winter Soldier, Walker would take the mantle and be involved in a controversial scene where he loses that title.

At the end of the series, Walker would inject himself with the "Super-Soldier" serum and gained powers similar to  Steve Rogers. The last scene of this character was Walker joining with another interesting character, Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. His relationship with her could provide a glimpse of his future role and provide stabilization to his current value. It is possible he could be involved in a new future team down the road, possibly the Dark Avengers?

Shazam! #1: The first appearance of Shazam! since the Golden Age:

Shazam 1 DC reintroduces Captain MarvelI have to give some love to DC Comics. The first Shazam! movie in 2019 was a box-office hit for DC Comics, as the sequel is scheduled to be released in 2023. This movie is primarily focused on the superhero Shazam!  and the book for this blog that will be discussed is Shazam! #1. This issue details the first appearance of this character since the "Golden Age". It is noted since the character's first appearance is very difficult to obtain and super expensive as well. Collectors will opt to grab this issue for this character. The current value of Shazam! #1 for a 9.8 graded copy is sitting at $700. This issue is currently listed as #23 on the "Most Popular Bronze Age Comic Books" list on GoCollect.com

Shazam! was deemed worthy of a sequel after the success of the live-action film in 2019. His ties to multiple DC characters that include Black Adam, Superman, and even the Justice League provide sustainable success and value going forward for him. At the moment, other than Black Adam, who is being portrayed by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Shazam appears to be the safe and good bet for the value of the character to rise in the near future.

It is important for DC Comics, as they do not have a good track record in developing characters other than Batman and Superman. I will not count the minor success that DC Comics has in the television shows, as it has shown a very minimal rise in value in their comics.

Thor #337: The first appearance of Beta Ray Bill:

The last issue I want to discuss is Thor #337. It details the first appearance of Beta Ray Bill. This discussion is different as there is no confirmed news that this character will be in the MCU going forward. Rumors are swirling, though, and the value of this book has spiked lately. The current FMV of a 9.8 graded copy is $1,050. This issue is listed as  #16 on the "Most Popular Bronze Age Comic Books" on GoCollect.com

Beta Ray Bill is a Marvel character who is known for wielding Mjolnir, the weapon used by Thor. Bill ends up wielding the weapon during his encounter with Thor. At the end of the battle, he is forged a new weapon to wield, Stormbreaker.

[caption id="attachment_134254" align="alignleft" width="239"] Thor #337 Recent Sales - GoCollect[/caption]

Rumors are heavily saying he will be joining the MCU as soon as the upcoming Thor 4 movie. It is also rumored that he could be joining The Guardians of the Galaxy team, as the original cast could be leaving. Meaning, a new team will be forming with different Marvel characters.

Lastly, Chris Hemsworth, who portrays the role of Thor in the MCU, will be retiring that role in the near future. Bill could be an ideal replacement to replace Thor. Not to mention, he wears a similar outfit to Thor and wields a weapon just like him. These factors make this character and his first appearance a good investment going forward.

Keep up with every sale and every FMV with a Premium Membership!