Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 10/90 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-039979
FANTASTIC FOUR #345
Walt Simonson-scripted chapter of the Fantastic Four's early-1990s Terrax storyline
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | October 1990 | Copper | Direct Edition | — | LISTED ON EBAY |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-039979 | ~9.0 | Direct Edition | LISTED ON EBAY ↗ (opens eBay in a new tab) |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and vibrant color with sharp corners and no visible creases or spine stress; the book is housed in a protective sleeve which limits full surface inspection. No tears, stains, or color breaks are visible in this photo, and the spine appears tight. Minor light reflections from the sleeve slightly obscure fine surface detail, and the interior and back cover were not assessed.
// 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 | $50 |
// Archive commentary
Fantastic Four #345 (October 1990) arrived during Walt Simonson's extended writing run on the title, a stretch of the series bridging John Byrne's celebrated 1980s work and the character shake-ups of the early 1990s. The issue is a mid-arc chapter dealing with the returning menace of Terrax, one of the Elders/Heralds tied to Galactus continuity, and features the classic lineup of Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm. It carries no first appearance, death, or origin significance, and its cover is a straightforward action illustration rather than one cited among the era's memorable images.
Market data reflects a book with modest but persistent collector interest rather than speculative demand: certified sales cluster tightly at the top of the grade scale, with 9.8 copies trading around fifty dollars against a backdrop of only a handful of recorded transactions across the entire CGC census. The narrow spread between 9.4, 9.6, and 9.8 values is typical of high-print-run direct-market comics from 1990, when Marvel's output vastly outstripped genuine scarcity, leaving raw copies in worn or mid grade valued at little more than nominal backissue-bin prices.
This is a book collected primarily by Fantastic Four run-completists and readers assembling the Simonson writing era rather than by speculators or key-issue investors. Expect steady, low-volume trading: raw copies move cheaply and in bulk lots, while submission to CGC is chiefly a matter of run-building or convenience rather than value capture, since grade increases from mid to gem yield only incremental returns.
INQUIRE_ABOUT_THIS_UNIT
Listed on eBay. This unit is for sale on eBay: view the listing ↗ (opens eBay in a new tab). Questions about it are welcome here too.
