Are your Morbius and Preacher keys getting second chances at profits? This week's eBay sales charts say yes.
Trending Comics is back, and there were plenty of interesting finds deep in the Hottest Comics' rankings. New to the blog series? Today's picks may not challenge for the biggest movers and shakers on the eBay bestsellers' list, but they stand out among a crowded field. This week, buyers have left us with some surprises.
10 DAYS
One of Garth Ennis' earlier hits has returned to the Hottest Comics. The last time we saw Preacher #1 climbing the charts was back in 2016 ahead of the AMC live-action adaptation. The show lasted four seasons, and there's currently no reports of Preacher making a return. As is the usual case, the lack of news has impacted the market value for the comic series' first issue. Here we are eight years later, and it could be on the verge of a comeback. What could be driving things is AMC's streaming deal that will send Preacher to Netflix. It's not uncommon for the streaming giant to secure the rights to cancelled shows and breathe new life into them, and that could have comic fans hoping Preacher gets a fifth season.
What is going on with the Morbius keys? The Living Vampire's first appearance took off ahead of Sony's Morbius movie. Then audiences saw the final product and were far less than impressed. The character's first appearance in ASM #101 plummeted as critics and viewers lambasted the nonsensical entry into the Spidey-less Spider-Verse. Despite nothing on the agenda for a Morbius sequel, his key issues have been getting a resurgence as of late. ASM #101 has become a mainstay on the Hottest Comics, but seeing Morbius' second appearance in ASM #102 crack the top-100 bestsellers is a rare occurrence. It's a reminder that while the movie may be atrocious, fans still love the character and see his big and small screen potential.
30 DAYS
In 2022, Voltron fans rejoiced as Rawson Thurber announced that a live-action movie is in the works. Things were quiet for a couple of years until last month when Superman himself, Henry Cavill, was confirmed as the film's lead actor. Adding an A-lister like Cavill to the cast immediately gives the project credibility, especially considering he's a proud, card-carrying nerd. It gives fans hope that the movie will stay true to its roots. Put it all together, and it's no wonder Voltron #1 has been hot among collectors and investors.
After 2018's horrendous The Predator, the alien hunter's franchise seemed destined for a reboot. Then came Prey, and the property has been as hot as ever. First Marvel Comics published a new Predator comic series and gave us the fight fans have always wanted: Wolverine versus Predator. The popularity has paved the way to not one but two more movies on the horizon. As the Predator leaves a fiery trail across pop culture, it keeps Predator #1 high atop those wish lists.
60 DAYS
After years of waiting, Deathstroke will get his own movie. The only time fans have gotten a big-screen Slade Wilson was in the closing moments of Justice League. Once the Snyder-verse came to an end, it seemed Deathstroke had gone to the back of the line for a movie. Then came James Gunn's DCU: Chapter One reveal, and the one-eyed assassin was not mentioned. Fans didn't give up hope, knowing that a character as interesting as Slade would eventually make it into the all-new, all-different DCU. In September, they got their wish as a Deathstroke film was confirmed. That had buyers moving directly to eBay for that all-important first appearance. In this case, it's Slade's debut in The New Titans #2, a perennial favorite among DC fans.
Speaking of the upcoming Deathstroke movie, there was an unexpected twist in that story. The Hollywood sites have reported that Slade will share the marquee with Batman villain Bane. What Gunn and company have in store for the characters is a mystery, and theorists are wondering if Bane will be the antagonist or if this will be a team-up flick. Either way, it's got comic readers ecstatic for the movie's potential, and that has spilled into the secondary market with Bane's most famous cover. While this isn't the 'roid-raging villain's first appearance, his iconic moment came in Batman #497 when he broke the Dark Knight's back.
