Approximate
Condition Profile
DARK HORSE COMICS · 6/02 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-010267
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #51
Dark Horse's ongoing Buffy the Vampire Slayer continues its mid-run storyline in this June 2002 issue
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Horse Comics | June 2002 | Modern | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-010267 | ~9.2 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and sharp corners with no visible creases or spine stress; colors appear vivid with no fading. A slight bend/wave is visible near the top edge of the book and the book is in a protective sleeve which may be masking minor edge wear. Interior and back cover were not assessed, so grade is based solely on the visible front cover.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $2 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $4 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $55 |
// Archive commentary
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #51 is a mid-run installment of Dark Horse Comics' flagship ongoing series based on the Warner Bros./20th Century Fox television property, published in June 2002 during the show's sixth-season run on the WB network. The comic continued the licensed adventures of Buffy Summers and the Scooby Gang between televised episodes, a format that allowed the Dark Horse creative teams to explore side stories and expand supporting-cast material without disrupting the show's own continuity. By issue #51 the series was well established, having launched in 1998 and running past sixty issues before its eventual conclusion, making this a standard chapter rather than a debut, crossover, or storyline-opening issue.
The issue's market profile reflects its place as ordinary mid-run content within a long, well-collected licensed series. Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics retain a steady base of fans tied to the television franchise's enduring popularity, but individual non-key issues from the ongoing series trade at modest, largely stable prices, with demand driven more by completists filling out full runs than by speculation on any particular number. There is no first appearance, milestone creative work, or storyline landmark attached to this issue that would elevate it above its peers in the run.
This is a book best suited to Buffy completists assembling the full Dark Horse ongoing series, television tie-in collectors, and dealers rounding out back-issue bins. Raw copies move cheaply and predictably regardless of grade tier, since the title was never scarce and print runs were ample for a licensed comic of its era; only top-tier certified slabs command any real premium, and that premium remains modest compared to genuine keys from the same publisher and period. It is not a book collectors seek out for investment purposes, but it fills a legitimate niche for those completing the series.
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