Red Hulk went head-to-head with Knull in the eBay arena, and the gamma powered behemoth staved off the competition to make Hulk #1 the biggest mover in the Hottest Comics.
Since it's been a minute between blogs, let's take a moment and make sure we're all on the same page. Here at the Hottest Comics, we take a look at the top-selling, single issues from the last 10 days to the past six months, with a few stops along the way. The data is collected from the most famous auction site in the history of the internet, eBay.
The main thing to keep in mind is the index is based purely on sales, not fair market values. Certainly those impressive price tags get the most attention, but it's in the sales volume where you find the bigger story. Let's face it, it's easy to manipulate the market with a few fake sales; faking a huge sales wave is a different beast.
On that note, it's time to dig into the numbers and see what buyers were adding to their collections this time around.
10 DAYS
Not even Venom #3 could match the power of Red Hulk. In a week ruled by Knull's arrival in the live-action Venom-verse, Thunderbolt Ross' gamma-powered alter ego remained at the top of the collecting heap. Does this mean Captain America: Brave New World is due for huge box office returns? The upswing in Hulk #1 sales does lend itself to that notion.
Fans have been waiting years for Red Hulk to smash the MCU, so it's no wonder their enthusiasm is pushing Hulk #1 to the top of the sales charts. The big reveal that Knull will be in Venom: The Last Dance had many collectors gunning for Venom #3, which makes it the most talked about comic on the secondary market. However, the fact that Hulk #1 still managed to outshine the competition for the past 10 days speaks volumes for Red Hulk's popularity. To be honest, The Last Dance isn't likely to be a legitimately good movie. When it comes to live-action Spider-Verse movies, Sony's efforts have been extraordinarily bad. Even if Brave New World isn't exactly an Oscar contender, odds are that it will be better received than Last Dance. That could negatively impact those Venom #3 sales while a good movie could elevate Hulk #1.
How long will Red Hulk's reign last? While things are going strong at the moment, that could change in an instant. And in this game of collecting and investing, the tide can shift in a hurry. If you're a Red Hulk collector, enjoy the ride as long as you can.
30 DAYS
Once again, a classic X-Men comic has landed high among the eBay best sellers. Of course, this is no stranger to the Hottest Comics. After all, X-Men #94 kicked off the Chris Claremont era, a name synonymous with the X-Men. To this day, all the X-Men stories can draw their foundations directly to Claremont's decades of work on the title. Although he didn't pen the first 93 issues, he created what fans loved about the title and made them one of Marvel's most iconic teams.
What's got buyers so interested in X-Men #94? For one, this is an issue that never goes out of style. Sure, it can hit some down times and lose ground in the eBay rankings, but it always bounces back. Gaining 70 positions over 30 days is nonetheless impressive. Much of the sales could be tied to Deadpool & Wolverine, especially since it would appear that Hugh Jackman will return as Wolverine in future MCU films. Who knows? We could see him get that long-rumored anthology Disney Plus series.
The X-Men's live-action and animated futures are bright. Between more Wolverine adventures and the next season of X-Men '97, there's going to be plenty of mutants in the Marvel realm for years to come. Since it all comes back to those classic Claremont stories, it's logical that buyers would want X-Men #94.
60 DAYS
Speaking of Deadpool & Wolverine, Marvel audiences are still buzzing over the hit movie. Considering the number of disappointments Marvel Studios has produced since Avengers: Endgame, many see their first R-rated flick as a return to form. That most definitely translates into more Deadpool action in the not-too-distant future, given that D&W has been raking in the box office gold for weeks on end. Once it reaches the digital platforms, Disney will enjoy another profit wave, giving the massive corporation even more reason to put the Merc With a Mouth back on the silver screen. That will keep Deadpool's key issues hopping on the secondary market.
When it comes to the Deadpool checklist, his first solo title from 1993 ranks high on the list. Sure, it's not as eye-catching as his first appearance in New Mutants #98, but that also means the prices are significantly lower for Deadpool #1. In today's economy, saving a few dollars is always a factor in what comics move up the eBay index.
90 DAYS
Black Panther has returned to the Hottest Comics spotlight. Just 10 days ago, it narrowly clung to the top 100, landing in 98th position. In the past week and a half, it's rebounded by an impressive 50 spots to make Fantastic Four #52 the biggest mover and shaker across the 90-day mark.
There's no one specific reason for FF #52's ascent through the rankings. Not that a reason is needed. After all, this is Black Panther's first appearance, which makes it a Holy Grail-level collectible. With the prospect of more Black Panther in the MCU, courtesy of Shuri, it won't be losing that grail status. No matter which character is under the mask, any buzz from an upcoming film or streaming series will only add to the appeal of owning FF #52.
What will truly ignite the fires under this classic is an MCU return for T'Challa. Thanks to the Multiverse, any character can return to the fold. Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige had said the role wouldn't be recast, and that could remain true for the main MCU timeline. However, that doesn't erase the possibility of having a T'Challa Multiversal variant appearing in a future film. Who wouldn't be excited to see a heartfelt reunion between T'Challa and Shuri followed by a Black Panther team up? In that event, FF #52 would rocket to the collecting mountaintop.
180 DAYS
Red Hulk was dominant across practically every date range. Not only was his first cover appearance the hottest comic for the past 10 days, but it has climbed the most spots over the last six months. There's no overlooking that it also garnered hefty positions during the 60-day span as well. Suffice to say, Hulk #1 is absolutely red hot with no signs of cooling in the near future.
The real test will be in a few months when Captain America: Brave New World has its theatrical debut. As we have seen many times over, key issues tend to peak in the weeks leading up to the movie premiere. Once the novelty has worn off and fans have seen the newest addition to the MCU, those hot sales begin to slow. Depending on how popular Red Hulk is with audiences, it could retain the higher values despite a sales dip. However, if fans are displeased with what they see on the screen, then it will take a massive nosedive much faster.
While we wait to see what Marvel has in store for Red Hulk, all you Hulk #1 collectors and investors are surely enjoying the upswing. For those looking to buy, you've already missed the opportunity for max profits; that wave kicked off years ago with the first rumors of Red Hulk entering the MCU. At any rate, buyers would be best advised to hold for now and wait on prices to lower after the movie hits theaters.
