Five Early Donny Cates Keys
When it comes to Marvel comics, there may not be a bigger name right now than Donny Cates. That’s no disrespect to the other writers there or the ones that came before him, it’s just the truth. Cates has taken on several projects there and pushed those characters back into the collecting relevance. Just take a look at what he has done for Venom and Thor. However, long before Cates was leading the way on symbiotes and Thunder, he was making a name for himself with Indy books. With news breaking that Cates is taking over Hulk in November, we thought it would be a good time to take a look at Five Early Donny Cates Keys to add to your collection.
Ghostfleet #NN – June 2014
I realize I just said that these would be books to add to your collection. However, this first one is going to be tough. In fact, almost impossible. Cates himself has gone on record saying it may be the rarest book with his name on it. With that being said, this scarce ashcan could be considered the holy grail of Cates books. While they’re not currently available on the secondary market, you can find other Ghostfleet books out there. Happy hunting on this one.
Dark Horse Presents #24 – May 2013
Cates had work published while interning at Marvel, however, Dark Horse Presents #24 is widely considered his first “official” work in the industry. You can find said work in a story called “Armageddon Outta Here” from this 2013 publication. Collectors can currently find copies on the secondary market with asking prices in the $80 to $100 range, however, they typically sell for about half that.
Secret Wars: Battleworld #2 – June 2015
Donny’s first official work at Marvel came some four years after his internship there. In June of 2015, Cates worked on Secret Wards: Battleworld #2 which served as a backup story in canon. The good news for collectors here is that this book can most likely be found in a dollar bin at your LCS. Rather odd considering his current status in the hobby.
God Country #1 – January 2017
God Country #1 is most likely the book that thrust Cates into comic book lore. The premiere issue in the epic tale about a man who travels across the country to care for his father is a must-have for fans of Cates. The elements of Sci-Fi and Fantasy that weave their way in and out of this series are fantastic. Cover A seems to be the most popular version of this book, but there are several different variants to look for as well.
Redneck #1 – April 2017
We’re going to wrap up our Five Early Donny Cates Keys list with Redneck #1. This vampire story about an end of an era is what a horror series should. Cates masterfully crafted this story and fans of the series loved it. As a self-proclaimed vampire fan, I can’t recommend it enough. Again, the good news is it won’t set you back more than $12 for a quality raw copy.
That’s going to conclude our list of Five Early Donny Cates Keys comics to add to your collection. However, we know that there are lots more books to consider, so please let us know what Cates books you have in your collection. Also, If you missed this week’s CBCS Hip-Hop Variants check it out here. Finally, don’t forget to check out this week’s CBCS Hot List.
