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When Nolan and I discussed bringing some comic news to the PCR, I didn’t know where to start. The industry has changed so much in the last couple of years with Joe Quesada taking over at Marvel, let alone the last ten or twenty years. Then the answer was right in front of me in the current issue of Wizard (the most popular comic book price guide). The article was discussing Incredible Hulk # 181 that was CGC (Comic Guaranty LLC) at 9.8 and sold online for $19,100. Whoa. So, let’s review. Hulk #181 is the first appearance of the uber-popular X-men Wolverine and has skyrocketed to a list price of over $1000. Now, comic grading (which I’ll discuss more in a minute) has resulted in only one issue at 9.9 and two at 9.8. The X2 movie was awesome and the Hulk hits the big screen on June 20 but is the second or third best copy of Wolverine’s battle with the Wendigo and the big green worth the price of a car? Wolverine wore yellow tights and had whiskers on his mask for the love of Pete! Like I said, the industry has changed. It’s not 1974 anymore and that "feral of fury" has become the most popular character in the X-universe. As with professional grading of sports cards, there is a "grade" up to the level of 10.0 (pristine). The problem lies with the art and story that becomes inaccessible once your comic is graded. Enclosed in a tamper-proof plastic case, the "professional grade" is maintained and the comic is essentially dead. I guess that’s why it’s being called "slabbed". Well Bub, I’d rather have nineteen thousand bones than a "slabbed" copy of Wolvie’s first appearance. THE SLUSH PILE (Back issues that I’m reading - blessed is the trade paperback) ASTRO CITY (the series 1-3, some later stuff): Kurt Busiek’s complex universe of superheroes defending a large metropolitan city--sound familar? STARMAN (issues 0 and 1-5): The mid-90’s relaunch of the classic DC character. BATMAN: DARK VICTORY: Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. The writer of the Batman title offers up this thirteen piece follow-up to Batman: The Long Halloween. ONE SHOTS Bendis. Bendis. Bendis. Just go check out Daredevil, Ultimate Spider-Man, Alias and Powers and you’ll understand. Attention Bat Fans: check out the Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee tandem - awesome stuff, starts at issue #608. As Vince Scooly would say - "It’s important to note here..." there is a retail "incentive variant" which is rumored to be limited to around 200 copies. (again, thanks to Wizard) The "Superman" flick is still stalled as Warner Bros. searches for a new director to replace Brett Ratner (headed back to the Rush Hour series) Check out Alfred Molina in "Identity" - he's your Doc Ock for "The Amazing Spider-Man" movie. Superherohype.com has pics of Thomas Jane in his Punisher getup. Get your "Hellboy" updates from www.hellsite.com - not much yet, but Ron Perlman is a great unconventional choice. UP NEXT........ The Matrix, of course. "Splash Page" is ©2003 by Brandon Jones.   "The Hulk" and "Wolverine" and their distinctive likenessess are trademarks of the Marvel Comics Group and are used here for editorial purposes only.  Webpage design and all graphics herein (except where otherwise noted) are creations of Nolan B. Canova.  All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2003 by Nolan B. Canova.