Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 10/90 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-008824
THE SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK #20
Steve Gerber and Bryan Hitch's Batman-parody "Dorkham Asylum" arc, with a Dale Keown cover
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | October 1990 | Copper | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows sharp corners, strong gloss, and vivid unfaded colors with no visible creases or spine stress lines. The Spider-Man head replacing the barcode confirms this is the direct edition, and the cover appears flat with clean edges under the plastic sleeve. No tears, stains, or writing are visible, though the book is in a protective sleeve which may obscure minor surface wear; 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 | $50 |
// Archive commentary
The Sensational She-Hulk #20 arrives during Steve Gerber's offbeat, satire-heavy run on the title, pairing his script with early penciling from Bryan Hitch, later known for The Authority and The Ultimates. This issue delivers a broad parody of Batman's Arkham Asylum mythos, recasting Gotham's rogues gallery through characters like Hugo Oddt, Dogwoman, and Three-Face in the fictional "Dorkham Asylum." The cover is supplied by Dale Keown, whose stint on The Incredible Hulk would soon make him one of the most recognizable Image-era artists, though the cover itself is not counted among the classics cited in price guides. There is no first appearance, death, or origin story here; the issue's interest rests on its creative talent and its place within Gerber's genre-bending She-Hulk stretch.
Market data reflects a book that trades almost entirely as a low-cost back-issue rather than a speculative vehicle. Certified population is modest at 29 Universal copies, concentrated in high grades, with a 9.8 FMV near fifty dollars and a 9.6 showing a wide gap between its flat current FMV and a much higher one-year average, indicating thin, uneven sales rather than sustained demand. Raw copies in low and mid grades carry only nominal value, consistent with a Copper Age direct-market title that was never scarce and has no significant grade-sensitive demand curve below the top tier.
This issue suits completists of the She-Hulk series, Steve Gerber's bibliography, or early Bryan Hitch and Dale Keown output rather than general key-issue investors. Mid- and low-grade raw copies remain readily available and inexpensive, making the book an easy, low-risk addition to a run rather than a standalone target. High-grade certified copies see occasional premium interest tied to Keown's cover work and slab scarcity at the very top of the census, but the overall trading pattern is that of a stable, low-value Copper Age filler book with a small niche following.
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-008824 | ~9.2 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-008826 | ~9.0 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
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