Collector Keys Corner — Collectible Comics To Look Out For This Week

Welcome back to Collector Keys Corner! There are basically two kinds of people buying comics. Those who read them, and those who collect them. There is quite a bit of overlap between the two groups, but comics consumers generally lean hard one way or the other. This column is aimed at the collectors, highlighting this week’s comics keys.

The Incredible Hulk #30

Abomination returns! The biggest status quo change in Hulk’s history happens in this issue! It’s a rematch to the death as Eldest possesses one of Hulk’s greatest villains, and the door to the Eternal Prison is opened! The end of an era, the beginning of a new one.

This issue features the first appearance of the Mother of All Horrors and the possible first appearance of the Infernal Hulk

The Incredible Hulk #30- Chrissie Zullo Uminga Muppets Variant

I don’t know what wild thought process led to this cover being created, but it is absolute nonsense, and I’m here for it.

The Incredible Hulk #30- 1:25 Kyle Hotz Variant

And while that Muppets cover is the best thing ever, we should probably look at one that features Infernal Hulk himself. The 1:25 incentive ratio means your LCS has to order 25 open order covers to get one of these, so expect a 2-3x markup on the cover price. This one is desirable because it gives a clear look at the big fella who’s making his first appearance within.

The Amazing Spider-Man #14- 1st appearance of the Goblin Slayer

Enter the Goblin Slayer! Something has been trying to kill Norman Osborn since the first issue of this volume, and they up the ante this issue! What can Spider-Man do to stop the Goblin Slayer? With all that Norman has done and could do, SHOULD Spidey stop it?

As advertised in the solicit above, this issue marks the first appearance of the Goblin Slayer. I don’t hate this cover, but I do have some questions. What is going on with this web? Spidey isn’t holding it in either hand, and it’s kind of tangled around his body. Dynamic pose, cool light and color effects, weird web physics.

Iron & Frost #1

Cold as Frost, Hard as Iron!

X years later, after 3K’s devastating terrorist attack cost Tony Stark and Emma Frost everything, the Heartless Queen returns to what remains of her past. Secrets hide in the ruins of New York. The Hellfire Club has a dangerous new leader.

I don’t know how much more literal a cover could get. There’s Emma Frost, holding an Iron Man helmet. I feel like there were a lot of directions they could have taken for the A cover, but they dropped the ball a little here. Inside, you’ll find Tony Stark in a new role as the Iron King, so phoned-in main cover aside, this is one to pick up.

G.I. Joe #12

A standalone Night Force covert op! The first appearance of fan-favorite shooter!  How can she join Night Force when she’s imprisoned in Darklonia? Lady Jaye has a plan…

Pretty standard fare for the GI Joe franchise on this cover. Soldiers, ninjas, pouches, ammo belts… Jodie Craig (Shooter) makes her debut within.

Fantastic Four / Gargoyles #1

Marvel’s first family unites with the Manhattan Clan in this exciting crossover!

GARGOYLES creator and acclaimed Marvel writer Greg Weisman brings the Gargoyles to the Baxter Building alongside star artist Enid Balám! Danger strikes when the super villain Diablo learns stone gargoyles may hold the secret to eternal life… but the Gargoyles aren’t about to let him leech the blood of his own! Fortunately, they’ve got the help of expert Diablo-bashers — the Fantastic Four!

I don’t know that I saw this one coming, but there’s a lot of really cool spaces for this crossover to explore. 

Fantastic Four / Gargoyles #1- 1:50 Gabriele Dell’Otto Virgin Variant

This 1:50 incentive variant is a virgin presentation of the open order Gabrielle Dell’Otto cover, and it is dope. That is all.