No question, The Last of Us has been the breakout show of 2023. Couple that with the huge successes of the Sonic the Hedgehog films and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and it is clear that we have entered a new age of video game adaptations. No longer are gamers relegated to horrible, uninspired on-screen transitions. Hollywood is seeing that games have box office potential and staying true to the source material can equal massive dollar signs.
In many ways, the video game world has paralleled that of comic books. Beginning as “kids’ stuff” in mainstream eyes, they are now seen as being fit for all ages with varying degrees of maturity. Thanks to TLOU, non-gaming audiences have begun to take matters more seriously, and that should mean gaming fans will get better quality adaptations going forward.
One of the most anticipated adaptations on the slate is God of War. This has been one of PlayStation’s most popular franchises, boasting an impressive nine games dating back to 2005. The story follows Kratos, a Spartan warrior manipulated into murdering his family by the Ancient Greek god of war, Ares. Fueled by rage and his hatred for the Greek gods, Kratos brutally slays god after god on his path to Ares. Once he’s dispatched the deity in gory fashion, Kratos assumes the God of War title for himself, thus setting the stage for more stories to follow. Currently, he has left Ancient Greece for the Scandinavian region, where he is embroiled in a war with Thor, Odin, and all the Norse mythological gods.
Last year, Sony announced that Kratos would be coming to life for an Amazon Prime live-action series. That has left fans making fantasy casting choices for the lead. It also leaves questions as to whether or not GOW will take place in Ancient Greece or skip straight to Ragnarok.
In any case, it will inspire a wave of collecting as buyers target Kratos’ first appearance and its variants.
GOD OF WAR #1
The list literally begins and ends with God of War #1 in which Kratos starred in his very first comic book. This being a modern publication, there are variants for you to track down. As we get closer to a series release date, it should prove to be a market worthy of Kratos himself. That being said, here are your targets on your quest for glory.
There is both a direct and newsstand God of War #1. The trouble is that the sales data for both editions has been merged. Graded at a 9.8, you can expect to pay around $300 for this one, but they have been known to sell for as much as $450 in the past year. You can cut that average price closer to $200 for the 9.6, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything from an 8.5 or higher for less than $150.
SECOND PRINT
As you scour eBay, be on the lookout for the second print, which is easily identifiable by the black and white cover art. Graded at a 9.8, it has sold for as much as $500 in the past two years. Most recently, these tend to bring anywhere from $200 to $300 on eBay.
There is a mythical graded 9.9 on record, having been sold in 2011 for a mere $53. It will be interesting to see if the current owner decides to put it up for sale. In that event, it will be a seller’s market with a high profit margin, for sure.
GOD OF THE BOX OFFICE?
With the rise in quality for video game adaptations, PlayStation could usher in a new champion of the box office. Take the right combination of game and creative talent, and Sony could challenge Marvel for box office glory. For now, we can be content watching Sony’s intellectual properties take their share of the streaming audiences.
One day, I think we’ll see a PS title reach the holy grail atop the summer blockbusters’ list.
