IRON MAN #20
Silver Age Iron Man featuring Tony Stark's ongoing battle with Midas, Johnny Craig cover art
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | December 1969 | Silver | — | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and vibrant color with sharp corners and clean edges visible in this photo; no major creases, tears, or spine stress lines are apparent. Slight bend/wave near the top edge and minor handling wear along the spine may be present but are hard to confirm due to the protective sleeve and light glare. Interior pages and back cover were not assessed, so grade is based solely on the visible front cover condition.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $12 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $27 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $1,550 |
// Archive commentary
Iron Man #20 arrived at the tail end of the 1960s as part of the title's steady Silver Age run following Tony Stark's solo push out of Tales of Suspense. Scripted by Archie Goodwin with art from George Tuska and inks and cover work associated with Johnny Craig, the issue continues the ongoing Midas storyline that defined several consecutive issues of the series during this period. It is not a first appearance or origin issue, and it does not introduce any character who would go on to lasting significance in the Marvel Universe, placing it squarely in the category of a solid, well-illustrated entry in a collected run rather than a recognized key.
The market data reflects that assessment: certified copies trade in a tight, low-dollar band across the mid and lower grades, with FMVs bunching between roughly $26 and $46 from grade 4.5 through 8, indicating a book bought primarily by run-builders and Iron Man completists rather than speculators chasing a key moment. Demand only accelerates meaningfully at the top of the census, where 9.6 and 9.8 copies command a steep premium over 9.4 and below, consistent with the broader Bronze/Silver-adjacent pattern in which grade scarcity, not character history, drives the highest sale prices. With 185 universal copies already on census, supply at most grades is ample, keeping mid-grade pricing stable and unspectacular.
Collecting interest in this issue centers on Iron Man page-run collectors and readers assembling the Goodwin/Tuska stretch of the title, rather than investors targeting a landmark book. Raw low- and mid-grade copies remain inexpensive and readily available, making the book an accessible run-filler purchase, while true value concentration sits almost entirely in the 9.6-9.8 certified tier, where small census populations and thin sales activity produce outsized pricing relative to the rest of the grade curve.
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-002594 | ~8.0 | — | AVAILABLE |
INQUIRE_ABOUT_THIS_UNIT
Institutional buyers, auction houses, and private collectors — direct line to the archive.
