Who is the minotaur seen at a glimpse in the Multiverse of Madness trailer? Many believe that is Rintrah, and his first appearance in Doctor Strange #81 has become a best seller as a result.

First, it was the upcoming line of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Marvel Legends. The word spread that one of the figures was a giant, green minotaur that left many fans with questions. Then came the first trailer for MOM, and eagle-eyed theorists spotted what appeared to be the shape of a bull-man in the footage. Put it all together, and it has led to a surge in the market for Rintrah’s key issues. Here’s more.

DOCTOR STRANGE #80

The mystical space minotaur first appeared in a cameo in Doctor Strange #80. Strange had ventured to Rintrah’s home planet of R’Vaal. Apparently, the Cloak of Levitation had been torn, and the good folks of R’Vaal just happened to be experts at magical tailor work.

While he was chilling off-world, Strange met Rintrah and his first teacher, Enitharmon. Later, it was Enitharmon who decided that Strange could advance Rintrah’s training as he had learned all he could on R’Vaal. 

Doctor Strange #80 isn’t necessarily an expensive comic, but it has inflated mightily. As of the first week of January, raw copies were selling for $30-$40. Keep in mind that it was earning half those values at the end of November.

DOCTOR STRANGE #81

This issue caught many collectors off guard in the past couple of weeks. Between the MOM trailer and the Marvel Legends figures, Rintrah’s first full appearance in Doctor Strange #81 has been on fire. Prior to the trailer, this was an overlooked comic in the Strange world. Chances were you could have found it in the dollar bin at your local comic shops. All that’s changed now. These days, you can’t get a high-grade raw copy for less than $75. 

The graded copies have been on an impressive ascent. In 2020, only one graded 9.8 sold online, and it had a lackluster price tag of $65. Once the rumors started, 2021 saw that same 9.8 average $350. That’s nothing compared to recent weeks. On Christmas Day, one copy sold for a record $655.

Since Rintrah has never been a major character in the comics, it is hard to imagine him playing a much bigger role in the MCU. Likely, his story arc will loosely follow that of the comics, and he probably won’t last to a third Doctor Strange movie. It would be wise to think closely before spending too much on his debut issue.

DOCTOR STRANGE: SORCERER SUPREME #51

Speaking of Rintrah’s story arc, Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #51 marked the end of his journey. After joining the good doctor’s adventures as his pupil, Rintrah used his magical abilities to destroy an evil object.

In a moment that reminds us of Harry Potter, the magic space minotaur is mortally wounded after casting his spells. He is left dying with no cure to be found, so Doctor Strange left his apprentice in a pocket dimension until he could find a way to save Rintrah. And there Rintrah has remained, completely forgotten by his former teacher and the readers at large until now.

“Death” issues don’t typically earn top dollar, and that goes double for the death of a minor character like Rintrah. At the moment, you can get a raw copy for about $5 or less.

A SHORT STAY

What Marvel Studios has planned up its collective sleeve when it comes to the magical world of Doctor Strange, no one outside Kevin Feige’s inner circle knows for sure. Anything is possible, and Rintrah could be in for a couple more movies before his time expires. After all, we are watching an MCU that gave Ned Leeds magical powers, so there’s nothing off the table at this point.

*Any perceived investment advice contained within this blog is that of the freelance author and does not reflect recommendations from GoCollect