Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 11/97 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-005979
AVENGERS #13
First appearance of Lord Templar and Jonathan Tremont, introducing the Triune Understanding, in the Busiek/Pérez Avengers run
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | November 1997 | Modern | Direct Edition | 1st appearance of Lord Templar; introduces Jonathan Tremont and the Triune Understanding storyline; part of the Busiek/Pérez Avengers run | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-005979 | ~9.0 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and vibrant color with sharp, unblunted corners and no visible creases or spine stress lines. The book is protected in a plastic sleeve, and no tears, stains, or fading are apparent on the front. A faint printing line near the top edge and minor handling wear along the right edge keep this from a higher grade; interior pages 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 | $36 |
// Archive commentary
Avengers #13 (vol. 3, November 1997) arrives during Kurt Busiek and George Pérez's widely praised Avengers relaunch, a run credited with restoring the team's stature after a turbulent mid-1990s stretch. This issue introduces Jonathan Tremont and the Triune Understanding, a religious organization that would recur through Busiek's tenure, and features the debut of Lord Templar, a powered enforcer aligned with Tremont's group. The New Warriors lineup of Nova, Justice, Firestar, Night Thrasher, and Rage crosses over with the Avengers roster, adding some team-book crossover appeal alongside the core creative pairing.
Market demand centers on the strength of the Busiek/Pérez run itself rather than on Lord Templar as a breakout character; he remains a secondary figure in Marvel continuity with limited standalone recognition. Certified population is modest for a book of this vintage, with only 16 Universal copies recorded across grades and no 9.8 sales volume large enough to suggest speculative pressure — the $36 FMV at the top grade reflects steady collector interest in a well-regarded run rather than character-driven demand. Lower and mid-grade raw copies trade near cover price, consistent with a direct-market title from an era of high print runs.
This issue suits readers and completists assembling the Busiek/Pérez Avengers run more than character-first key-issue speculators. Raw copies in any handling grade are inexpensive and easy to source, while certified 9.8 copies command a real but limited premium tied to relative scarcity at the top of the grading curve rather than broad market heat. It is a reasonable stock item for a run-focused inventory, with the high-grade slab serving collectors seeking a complete, certified Busiek/Pérez set rather than investors chasing a single character's rise.
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