Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 2/87 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-011826
PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #123
Sal Buscema-drawn chapter of the 1986-87 Gang War storyline pitting Spider-Man against the Rose and Hobgoblin
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | February 1987 | Copper | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-011826 | ~9.0 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows sharp corners and strong glossy surface with no visible creases or color breaks. Spine appears tight with no stress lines or ticks visible in this image. There is minor whitening/toning at the top edge and slight softness at the bottom right corner, and the book is housed in a protective sleeve which limits full assessment of edges. Interior pages and back cover were not visible for review.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $1 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $4 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $44 |
// Archive commentary
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #123 (February 1987) is a mid-run chapter of the multi-title "Gang War" arc that ran through Spider-Man's family of books in 1986-87, pitting Spider-Man against the mysterious crime boss the Rose and his uneasy rival the Hobgoblin as New York's underworld factions battle for control after the Kingpin's temporary fall. The issue was produced during Sal Buscema's long, steady tenure as the title's principal artist, working from a script attributed to Gerry Conway, and reflects the workmanlike house style that defined the series through the mid-1980s. It carries no first appearance, death, or origin of consequence and is not cited in price guides as a notable cover or storyline entry point.
Market data reflects this status: certified sales cluster at the top of the grading scale, with modest, incremental price steps between 9.0, 9.6, and 9.8, and no meaningful sales activity recorded in mid or low grades. Demand is driven almost entirely by Spider-Man completists assembling a run of the Spectacular series or the broader Gang War crossover, rather than by speculative or investment interest. The absence of a recognized key moment keeps the ceiling low even at the top census grade, and raw copies in circulated condition see negligible collector attention.
This book trades as a bulk/filler title outside of near-mint certified copies. Dealers should expect raw low- and mid-grade copies to move only as part of larger Spider-Man lots or run completions, while CGC 9.8 examples appeal to a narrow band of registry-set builders chasing high-census Copper Age Spider-Man titles. It is not a book to anchor a high-end consignment around, but it fills a legitimate niche for series and storyline completists.
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