BY MATT TUCK
Is now the time to buy those Wolverine holy grails? With so much Wolverine content clawing into the mainstream, you’ll want to stockpile his early appearances.
It’s Wolverine’s world, and we’re all just living in it.
Ryan Reynolds may be the star of the Deadpool franchise, but Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine will reel in the moviegoers when Deadpool 3 hits theaters. From the moment the teaser dropped on YouTube, fans have been ecstatic over the prospect of seeing the two characters share the screen in the MCU, and it should be enough to end Marvel Studios’ string of box office duds (at least by Disney standards).
Deadpool 3 may be the biggest attention getter, but there’s much more coming from the Logan front. X-Men ‘97, the revival of the beloved X-Men: The Animated Series, is scheduled for a January release date, and there’s no doubt Wolverine will be one of the show’s major players. In today’s marketplace, there’s no ignoring the importance of a major video game release. After all, those Miles Morales keys first took flight when the Miles-led Spider-Man companion game was announced. Now that Spider-Man 2 is officially in the rearview mirror, gamers will be turning their attention toward Sony’s next Marvel game, Wolverine.
Naturally, all this exposure has led to an uptick in sales for those classic Wolverine issues. Given Logan’s enduring popularity and Marvel icon status, his early appearances bring top dollar. Two years ago, values were at a peak and getting further out of reach for many collectors. By and large, the entire secondary market has been down for the past year, and those Wolverine grails are no exception. If you’ve been looking for an opportune time to buy, this could be your chance.
INCREDIBLE HULK #180
CGC still labels this as Wolverine’s first cameo appearance, much to the chagrin of Hulk #180 enthusiasts everywhere. Sure, the comic’s final panel was a tease to get readers to buy the next issue, a ploy that continues to work to this very day. Whether the “cameo” or “full” designations make any difference to you, there’s no arguing that Wolverine debuted in Hulk #180, and that makes it a must-own for Logan collectors.
In recent years, Wolverine’s true first appearance has been getting more respect from buyers. Earlier this year, the graded 9.8 sold for $24k, though it’s a drop from 2021 when it was averaging over $30k. Still, it’s much more reasonable than Hulk #181, which has long been the appeal of opting for #180. In fact, the FMV drops to $6k when you downgrade to a 9.6. If you want to keep your investment under $1,000, a 7.5 sold for $855 last month.
INCREDIBLE HULK #181
There’s only one issue that sets the market for Wolverine’s keys: Hulk #181. True, he made his debut an issue earlier, but the iconic cover art has elevated this in collectors’ eyes. This is the Bronze Age holy grail to own, and it’s not getting any cheaper, especially now that Jackman is introducing Logan to the MCU.
When it comes to grails, the litmus test is found in the lower grades. The near-mint copies present the more stunning prices, but those ragged comics tell the full story. In this case, an incomplete 1.0 sold for $1,600 in September. That’s only $50 shy of the record high set last year.
GIANT-SIZE X-MEN #1
It’s not often that GSX #1 is the second choice, but that’s what happens when the competition is this stiff. Wolverine was an instant hit with fans when he arrived in Hulk #180-182, and co-creator Len Wein saw an opportunity to put Logan’s newfound popularity to good use. With the entire X-Men title on the brink of cancellation, Wein and company reimagined the team with the anti-hero Wolverine at its core. History was made, and the new lineup pushed the X-Men to the top of Marvel Comics.
Again, the best way to gauge a holy grail’s popularity is to look at the lower grades. Virtually across the board, values have been down for GSX #1, but that doesn’t mean it’s suddenly become a cheap investment. Even the 0.5 is still earning over $500. However, that’s less than half its average from 2021.
A CHANGING MARKET
Especially in the current economy, reaching those astronomical prices from two years ago is a tall order. However, if the market begins to see an uptick as a whole, you can bet that Wolverine’s grails will be among the first to skyrocket. With the character slicing back into the mainstream media via a movie, cartoon show, and a massive video game release, the Wolverine market is due for inflation. If you have been debating putting your money into the aforementioned issues, now is a good time to do so.
