IRON MAN #158

Cover shows a prominent diagonal crease running through the upper left corner and along the top edge, along with a vertical crease near the left spine area; there is also noticeable rippling/wave distortion across the left portion of the cover, likely from moisture exposure at some point. Corners appear reasonably sharp with only minor wear, and colors remain bright with no major fading. The book is in a protective sleeve which obscures fine surface detail; interior and back cover were not assessed.

Iron Man #158 arrived in May 1982 as a mid-run entry in Marvel's long-running armored Avenger title, scripted by Dennis O'Neil with pencils by Carmine Infantino, inked by Al Milgrom and Dan Green, and colored by Bob Sharen under the editorial hands of Jim Salicrup and Jim Shooter. Bob Layton, the artist most closely associated with the Tony Stark corner of the Marvel Universe during this era, supplied the cover. The issue carries no first appearances, deaths, or origin material, and its place in the character's history is that of a solid but unremarkable installment during a transitional creative period for the series.

The certified market reflects that status. GoCollect's census shows a book that is plentiful in high grade relative to demand, with FMV compressed across the upper grade tiers rather than showing the steep climb typical of keys; even 9.6 and 9.4 copies trade only modestly below the 9.8 benchmark. Sales activity is sparse in the mid and low grades, consistent with a book collectors acquire mainly to complete a run rather than to chase a specific moment in Iron Man's publishing history. Interest is driven almost entirely by series completists and admirers of Layton's cover work rather than by any character-first-appearance demand.

This is a book that trades cheaply and predictably: raw copies in low and mid grade move as filler in longbox or dollar-bin transactions, while CGC 9.8 examples command only a modest premium reflecting scarcity at the very top of the census rather than collector urgency. It suits Iron Man run-builders, Bob Layton cover collectors, and Bronze Age Marvel completists assembling full sets, but it holds little appeal for investors seeking growth or for buyers focused on landmark issues.