PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #88

Cover shows sharp, well-defined corners and clean, unbroken spine with no visible ticks or stress lines in this image. Colors appear vibrant with no noticeable fading, and edges look free of chipping or wear. The Spider-Man head corner box (rather than a UPC barcode) confirms direct edition; the book is protected in a plastic sleeve which limits close inspection of surface gloss. Interior pages and back cover were not assessed, so this grade reflects front-cover appearance only.

Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #88 (March 1984) is a Bronze-to-Copper transitional Marvel team-up issue, written by Bill Mantlo with art by Al Milgrom and inks by Jim Mooney. The story pairs Spider-Man with Captain America and Bucky Barnes against the villain duo King Cobra and Mr. Hyde, with Black Cat also appearing in a supporting capacity. The issue is a solid example of the era's crossover-driven storytelling but does not feature a first appearance, origin, or other landmark event that would elevate it beyond a standard back-issue.

Market data reflects this status: certified sales are thin across the grade spectrum, with modest prices even at the top of the census. The 9.8 tier commands a real but limited premium of roughly $100-$140, driven by scarcity of pristine copies (only 28 census copies at that grade) rather than character or story significance. Lower and mid-grade raw copies trade for a few dollars, typical of bulk 1980s Marvel product that circulates mainly through dollar bins and online lots rather than dedicated key-issue auctions.

This book appeals primarily to Spider-Man and Captain America completists, run collectors filling out the Peter Parker series, and buyers assembling Mantlo/Milgrom-era bibliographies. It is not a book pursued for investment upside; demand is steady but shallow, and high-grade copies see occasional spikes tied to general Copper Age nostalgia rather than any specific collector event. Most transactions occur in raw form at low prices, with CGC 9.8 slabs representing the ceiling of realistic value for the issue.