Actor Wyatt Russell is fanning the Thunderbolts flames, and it is reigniting the fires underneath all those U.S. Agent keys you stockpiled last year.

The moment that Contessa Valentina “Val” Allegra de Fontaine made a pitch to John Walker in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the prices for everything Thunderbolts immediately sprang to life. While Marvel hasn’t confirmed that Val was indeed recruiting the Thunderbolts, it certainly looks that way, especially after Russell’s recent comments.

In a June 21 interview with The Playlist, Russell was asked about his possible role in Thunderbolts. While he didn’t confirm anything, he made it clear that he was waiting on a call from Kevin Feige. U.S. Agent isn’t officially on the MCU’s new team, but that’s as close to a check mark as you’ll get without Feige putting his stamp of approval on things. That will make John Walker’s key issues all the more appealing.

CAPTAIN AMERICA #323

The first time readers met the Steve Rogers wannabe, John Walker was using the superhero name Super-Patriot. Bargaining with the Power Broker, he was given a dose of super-soldier serum to give him a physical upgrade. At first, he took his talents to the Universal Class Wrestling Federation, but he soon changed careers to become a superhero. It was his fateful meeting with Cap that would set the stage for Walker’s claim to fame.

Last year, the 9.8 sold for a record $900, and it consistently sold in the $600-$700 range that spring. By the end of the year well after FATWS wrapped its first season, those values dipped to $300-$400. They kept dropping into May and June of this year with prices falling below $300. Then on June 22, one brought $313, and that could be a sign of things to come.

CAPTAIN AMERICA #333

John would put the Super-Patriot gimmick aside when he was chosen to replace Steve Rogers as Captain America. Rogers had walked away from the job, and the U.S. government needed someone to carry the shield. It would put Walker on a path to comic immortality, just not as Cap. 

We haven’t seen a 9.8 trade hands online since February when a copy brought $260. More recently, a 9.6 sold for $70 on June 12.

CAPTAIN AMERICA #354

This has been a big seller since FATWS introduced Walker to the MCU. At the end of the series, he was wearing the famous red and black U.S. Agent costume, and that is the one he will keep sporting for Thunderbolts. It was in this issue that fans got their first look at Walker in full regalia after Rogers wore the costume for a few months. 

After regularly earning over $1k last year, the graded 9.8 has stayed close to $550 in 2022.

DEVIL’S REIGN #1

This could be a hot issue on the horizon. While Kingpin’s first Thunderbolts had appeared in the King in Black crossover, Devil’s Reign would see NYC Mayor Wilson Fisk revamp the team in his hunt for vigilantes. That included U.S. Agent, Doctor Octopus, Electro, Rhino, Agony, and Shocker. While Walker was involved with Luke Cage’s Thunderbolts a few years earlier, he was confined to a wheelchair and had left the U.S. Agent moniker behind. In Devil’s Reign #1, we see Walker back as U.S. Agent when he joined the crew.

In April, the 9.8 was bringing around $30. A month later, those prices jumped to the $50 range, making Devil’s Reign #1 an issue to watch going forward.

THUNDERSTORMING

All signs are pointing to John Walker being the first official member of the MCU Thunderbolts. The early indication is that he will be joined by Yelena Belova and Baron Zemo, but there is room for many more additions. No matter who else is put in the lineup, this should be U.S. Agent’s moment to shine on the big screen.

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