WandaVision could give you two reasons to want Avengers #186 and Marvel Chillers #1. Here’s why you will want to get ahead of the curve on these issues.
THE THEORY
The WandaVision theories have been rampant. Of course, the show was written to do just that, and Jimmy Woo and Darcy Lewis went so far as to be the metaphorical audience in an episode. It is filled with Easter eggs galore down to the smallest of details, and it is designed to keep us guessing.
The biggest speculation is that either Nightmare or Mephisto will be the show’s villain in the end, but a new fan theory suggests that both of those could be wrong. That is why you will want to invest in a high-grade copy of Avengers #186.
CHTHON AND THE DARKHOLD
In Avengers #186, Scarlet Witch is possessed by an evil Elder God named Chthon, the first master of dark magic. This demonic god wrote all of his knowledge of the mystic arts in a book called the Darkhold, which is magical in itself.
Could it be that WandaVision is preparing for the ultimate swerve? Instead of Mephisto, Nightmare, or even Wanda Maximoff herself as the show’s villain, could it be that Marvel Studios will unveil Chthon? It could work, especially when you consider that the Darkhold is tied into the Doctor Strange lore, and we already know that Scarlet Witch will play a significant role in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Even if Chthon is a one-and-done villain for WandaVision Season One, it could all be meant to establish the Darkhold in the MCU. The evil book could eventually be a centerpiece for a Midnight Sons team up, and Marvel Studios is putting the chess pieces on the board for that move.
MAGDA
As if Chthon and the Darkhold were not enough, there is more for collectors to savor in Avengers #186.
It was in this issue that Wanda and Pietro first learn that their father is the X-Men’s Magneto. Not only that, but their mother and Magneto’s wife, Magda, makes her first appearance. Since we have both Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver in the current episodes of WandaVision, not to mention Evan Peters’ Quicksilver ties the show to Fox’s X-Men franchise and specifically Magneto, it stands to reason that Magda could make an appearance by the end of the series and hint at the coming of the Master of Magnetism.
CURRENT MARKET VALUES
There has only been one 9.8 sold this year, but it brought a high price tag, so other collectors are on to this idea. Back on February 7, that near-mint-plus sold for $499. Before that, it had never gone for more than $375, and that price was earned last year.
Suffice to say, this issue is beginning to trend, and that $499 price tag will be a bargain if Chthon is revealed to be the villain of WandaVision. A 9.6 already broke the 9.8’s record high with a $500 sale on February 13, so the values are inflating by the week at this point. Do not hesitate to buy a copy before prices go overboard.
THE OTHER
While you are at it, you may as well invest in Marvel Chillers #1.
Although Chthon’s official first appearance was in the aforementioned Avengers #186, he appeared as The Other in this issue. Don't forget that Mordred the Mystic made his deubt, and he could factor into WandaVision or Multiverse of Madness. At the moment, a 9.8 is selling for about $450 while a 9.6 is bringing less than $300, but those prices will not last. After all, a 9.4 sold for $275 as recently as February 12.
FINAL THOUGHTS
All of this is speculation, of course, but this issue has such a strong upside. With the current values, this comic is worth the gamble on the off chance that Chthon or Magda debuts in the MCU, which could very well happen.
Matt Tuck is the author of the novel, Lost Bones of the Dead. He is also a teacher, freelance writer, comic collector, and an international man of mystery. You can follow him on his Facebook page, The Comic Blog.