BY MATT TUCK
Sabretooth would appear to be a lock for the MCU, but could he be introduced with the Heroes for Hire rather than Wolverine? That would put a premium on his key issues, and not just his first appearance and battles with Logan.
One of the most popular mutant supervillains has been Victor Creed, aka Sabretooth. Debuting in Iron Fist #15, he would truly rise to fame as the arch-nemesis for one of Marvel’s banner carriers, Wolverine. Their bloody brawls would redefine both characters in the 1980s and create a legendary feud that would thrill fans for decades.
The trouble is, Fox already broached the topic. Twice now, Logan and Victor have faced off on the big screen, first in 2000’s X-Men and then in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Unless Marvel is planning to use the Multiverse to resurrect either Liev Schreiber or Tyler Mane from those movies, it would seem Sabretooth may not be the studio’s first choice for an X-Men villain. That doesn’t mean Victor Creed won’t be in the MCU, but he may be in another franchise from his comic past.
SABRETOOTH VERSUS THE HEROES FOR HIRE
Created by X-Men alumni Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum, Sabretooth did not begin as an X-Men villain. Rather, he would be tied to Iron Fist and later the Heroes for Hire. In fact, he would be attached to their titles from his first appearance in 1977 until his legendary throwdown with Wolverine in Uncanny X-Men #212 in 1986.
Sabretooth’s first four appearances saw him terrorize Danny Rand and later Luke Cage to close out the Bronze Age. With persistent rumors that Marvel Studios is looking to recast both heroes and team them together in a Heroes for Hire Disney+ series, it would be fitting for their first supervillainous opponent to be none other than Sabretooth.
There are several “ifs” connected with that theory, so take it as pure speculation at this point. However, in the event that comes to fruition, those other Sabretooth keys besides Iron Fist #14 would become overnight collecting sensations.
POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #66
Understandably, this is the most expensive comic on today’s list. Why wouldn’t it be? Power Man and Iron Fist #66 marked the second appearance of one of Marvel’s most popular villains (and occasional anti-hero).
At a graded 9.8, this issue has not approached those 2005-2008 heights when it was a $400-$450 comic. Three years ago, one copy reached $325, which is the highest sale since 2010. There are signs of life in 2021 after an August 2 sale netted $310.
POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #78
Sabretooth’s third appearance was a bit of a tease. All we see of him on the cover is his clawed hand reaching toward the Heroes for Hire and El Aguila, though the issue reveals the mystery opponent is Sabretooth.
This is a good time to pick up a copy of Power Man and Iron Fist #78, but more collectors are giving this issue a second look. For five years, there were no graded sales to speak of after a 9.8 set a record high of $144 in 2016. This year, there have been four sales with a high of $121, though the most recent transaction was for $56.
POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #84
This would be the last time readers would see Sabretooth for four years. This time, Victor teamed with the Constrictor of the Serpent Society in a tag team match with the Heroes for Hire. Around this time, Sabretooth was not portrayed as a mutant so much as a serial killer.
For the Sabretooth fan, this is a great pickup as it is the character’s second full cover appearance. The 9.8’s record high was $180 set in 2012. So far this year, it has sold as much as $130, which is a nine-year high.
THE RETURN OF VICTOR CREED
Whether or not Marvel Studios actually plans to reboot Luke Cage and Iron Fist in a joint show is anybody’s guess. Still, with the success of the Disney+ series, airing Heroes for Hire with Sabretooth as the surprise villain would be a major hit with fans. It’s just hard to imagine him without Wolverine, and vice versa.
Matt Tuck is the author of the novel, Lost Bones of the Dead. He is a professional writer, avid comic collector, former teacher, and an international man of mystery. You can follow him on his Facebook page, The Comic Blog.