Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 10/78 · NEWSSTAND
UNIT ECA-011535
PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #23
Hammerhead and Kingpin scheme against Spider-Man in a late-1970s Bronze Age issue
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | October 1978 | Bronze | Newsstand | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-011535 | ~8.5 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and vibrant color with sharp corners and no visible creasing or color breaks. There is a faint diagonal press/bend line near the top edge and a small dent along the upper spine area, along with light edge wear at the top right corner. The book is preserved in a protective sleeve, which limits close inspection of surface sheen. Interior pages and back cover were not visible for assessment.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $3 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $8 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $120 |
// Archive commentary
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #23 (October 1978) is a mid-run Bronze Age issue written by Bill Mantlo with art by Jim Mooney and Mike Esposito, part of Marvel's second ongoing Spider-Man title launched to expand the character's continuity outside Amazing Spider-Man. The issue features Spider-Man contending with two of his more durable rogues, Hammerhead and the Kingpin, alongside supporting cast regulars Mary Jane Watson, Betty Brant, and J. Jonah Jameson. It carries no first appearances, deaths, or other landmark content, and its place in the character's history is as a routine but well-crafted chapter in the ongoing Kingpin/Hammerhead underworld conflict rather than a pivotal turning point.
Market data reflects a book with a large surviving population and steady but unremarkable demand. Certified copies are plentiful across the grading spectrum, with FMV compressed in the low-to-mid grades and rising sharply only at the top of the census, where CGC 9.8 copies have traded consistently near the $110-120 range over the past year. This pattern is typical of a late-1970s newsstand title that was not heavily speculated on at release but has since accumulated a broad collector base pursuing complete Spider-Man Bronze Age runs.
This issue trades primarily as a run-filler for Spider-Man and Kingpin/Hammerhead completists rather than as a standalone target. Raw copies in low and mid grades see modest, incidental demand, generally purchased as part of bulk lots or long-run acquisitions. High-grade CGC 9.8 examples command a real premium due to relative scarcity at the top of a large census, and represent the primary segment where dedicated collectors and registry builders compete, while lower grades remain accessible entry points with limited appreciation potential.
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