Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 9/77 · NEWSSTAND
UNIT ECA-016940
MARVEL TALES #83
Marvel Tales #83 reprints the Gil Kane/Frank Giacoia Spider-Man/Ka-Zar team-up against Kraven the Hunter and Gog
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | September 1977 | Bronze | Newsstand | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-016940 | ~8.5 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and vivid color with sharp corners and a tight spine; only minor handling wear is visible with no evident creases or color breaks. A few small glare spots from the protective sleeve and faint surface sheen lines are visible but appear to be reflections rather than defects. Interior pages and back cover were not assessed, so grade is based solely on the front cover's visible condition.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $4 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $30 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $90 |
// Archive commentary
Marvel Tales #83 is a black-and-white-interior reprint title that recycled the Amazing Spider-Man team-up issues pairing Spider-Man with Ka-Zar, Lord of the Savage Land, against Kraven the Hunter and the towering creature Gog. The original artwork, credited to penciler Gil Kane with inks by Frank Giacoia, dates from the early 1970s run of Amazing Spider-Man, and the Marvel Tales reprint simply repackaged that story for a newsstand audience later in the decade. As a reprint vehicle, the issue carries none of the first-appearance or origin weight attached to its source material; its interest lies almost entirely in the underlying Kane/Giacoia artwork and the Spider-Man/Ka-Zar crossover premise rather than any new content introduced here.
Market data for this issue is sparse, reflecting its status as a low-demand reprint rather than a searched-for key. Certified sales cluster tightly around the $30 mark across a wide swath of grades from good to very fine, indicating that grade has historically driven little price differentiation for this title — collectors are buying the story and cover, not chasing a high numeric grade. The complete absence of sales or even census population at 9.6 and above suggests few submitters have bothered pursuing top-tier certification, consistent with a book whose ceiling is modest even in pristine condition.
Marvel Tales #83 suits budget-minded Spider-Man and Ka-Zar completists, Bronze Age reprint-run collectors, and readers assembling the Kane/Giacoia artwork rather than investors seeking appreciation. Across grades it trades as a low-cost commodity book: raw copies in worn condition are inexpensive pickups, mid-grade raw copies remain affordable, and even a hypothetical pristine slab would command only a modest premium given the shallow demand curve. It is best positioned in a dealer archive as an accessible, story-driven piece rather than a speculative or key-issue holding.
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