Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 3/77 · NEWSSTAND
UNIT ECA-011454
PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #4
Vulture returns in an early issue of Spider-Man's second ongoing title, Sal Buscema on pencils
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | March 1977 | Bronze | Newsstand | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-011454 | ~9.0 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and vibrant color with sharp corners and no visible creases or tears. Spine appears tight with no obvious stress lines or color breaking visible in this image. A UPC barcode box is present in the lower left, confirming newsstand distribution. Minor handling wear cannot be ruled out at this resolution, and the interior and back cover were not assessed.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $2 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $5 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $120 |
// Archive commentary
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #4 arrived in early 1977 as part of the second ongoing Spider-Man title Marvel launched to capitalize on the character's popularity. Archie Goodwin scripted the issue with Sal Buscema on pencils and Mike Esposito inking, a creative team that defined much of the title's early run. The issue brings back the Vulture, one of Spider-Man's earliest and most enduring rogues, alongside a supporting cast that includes Sha Shan and other recurring Spectacular regulars, but it introduces no new characters and carries no origin, first appearance, or landmark creative milestone.
Market data shows a large certified population with over 460 CGC Universal copies graded, the bulk of them clustering in high grades, which reflects how well this title was preserved by collectors even as a secondary Spider-Man book. Demand is concentrated almost entirely at the top of the grading scale, where pristine 9.8 copies command a meaningful premium over anything below 9.0, while sales volume and pricing thin out considerably in mid and low grades, consistent with a common, high-print-run Bronze Age title with no key-issue draw.
This issue functions as a completist and Spider-Man-title-run purchase rather than a spec or key-issue investment. Mid-grade and low-grade raw copies see minimal collector interest and trade near cover-adjacent prices, appealing mainly to readers assembling a full run of the Spectacular Spider-Man series or the Vulture's rogues-gallery appearances. High-grade CGC 9.8 copies, by contrast, draw dedicated modern-slab collectors chasing condition-census material even on non-key issues, sustaining a real premium at the very top of the grading scale while the raw market stays flat.
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