Incredible Hulk #449 has been heating up over the past year, and the last two months have seen startling price jumps in the higher grades. Why do so many collectors want this issue?
Ever churning out the gossip, the rumor mill has it that Marvel Studios is actively developing a Thunderbolts movie. Of course, that hasn't been confirmed by studio chief Kevin Feige, which means we don't really know anything as to whether or not the Thunderbolts will come into the MCU. Still, it's an intriguing idea that is fueling higher prices for the team's first appearance in Incredible Hulk #449.
Over the years, the Thunderbolts have undergone many iterations (the original lineup is as '90s as '90s characters get), and they garnered decent fan support in the 2000s. That has made Hulk #449 a key issue that, at least in a 9.8, earned higher prices. However, it's truly taken off in the past couple of months due to the movie rumors.
For four years, a 9.8 Hulk #449 stayed in the respectable range of $100-$200. In 2017, it averaged $202 with a high of $289. Recently prices have begun to climb. In 2018, it sold a record 42 times, and it peaked at an all-time high of $389.
This year's numbers are putting those to shame. So far in 2019, it's already sold 34 times, and one 9.8 reached a high of $400 on May 20. This month, it has sold for under $300 only once with no signs of cooling off.
It's not just the 9.8 that is doing well; every grade that has sold this year is up. The 9.6 has almost doubled its fair market value from a year ago when it averaged $71. Since April, it's earned an FMV of $119 and has twice sold for over $160. Even the lowest grade sold this year - a 7.0 - is averaging $47 at the moment.
If the rumors die down, then expect prices to plateau, but if Feige confirms the Thunderbolts for the MCU, that $400 for a 9.8 will be eclipsed in a hurry. But that's the fun in comic speculation, taking a gamble and waiting for it to pay off. However, I recommend caution with this issue.
While Thunderbolts sounds like it would make for a great addition to the MCU, it would be similar to two other ideas from the comic movie universes, namely the DCEU's Suicide Squad and Dark Avengers.
In the comics, the Thunderbolts are mostly comprised of former supervillains who use their talents as a means to help the greater good, which is very close to DC's Suicide Squad. Marvel Studios has been the trend setter when it comes to comic movies, and I don't see Feige and company developing a franchise that fans would instantly compare to a recent DC film property.
The other part of the equation is Dark Avengers. Like Thunderbolts, Dark Avengers is mostly made up of supervillains, though in this case they masquerade as heroes rather than try to be heroes, and there's been rumors that they are being added to the MCU. While the two teams are not necessarily alike, the core concepts are close enough that it wouldn't make sense to have both the Thunderbolts and the Dark Avengers in the cinematic universes for fear mainstream audiences might confuse the two properties.
Although nothing has been confirmed, it appears Norman Osborn will be brought to the MCU very soon, and that he will play a major role as more than just a Spider-Man villain. Pair that with the Dark Avengers rumor, and it would seem more likely that Marvel would put its efforts into that franchise rather than Thunderbolts.
All that being said, Hulk #449 is still a great comic to add to your collection, especially for the Thunderbolts fan even if it doesn't pan out on screen.
