Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 3/79 · NEWSSTAND
UNIT ECA-009488
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #1
Marvel's newsstand debut adaptation of the Battlestar Galactica television series, cover by Dave Cockrum and Bob McLeod
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | March 1979 | Bronze | Newsstand | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and vibrant color with sharp corners and no visible creases or spine stress. Barcode box present confirms newsstand edition, cleanly printed with no tears. Minor handling wear may be present but not visible at this resolution; interior and back cover were not assessed, so grade is capped conservatively.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $2 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $6 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $125 |
// Archive commentary
Battlestar Galactica #1 launched Marvel's licensed adaptation of the Glen A. Larson television series, bringing Commander Adama, Apollo, Colonel Tigh, Boxey, Baltar, and the Imperious Leader into comic form for the first time under the Marvel banner. The cover pairs Dave Cockrum, fresh off his defining run redesigning the X-Men, with inker Bob McLeod, while interior art is handled by Ernie Colon and colors by George Roussos, giving the book a recognizable and well-regarded Bronze Age art pedigree even though the underlying characters and concept originate with the television property rather than Marvel's own universe.
Demand for this issue is driven less by any first-appearance significance and more by nostalgia for the original series, general Bronze Age licensed-comic collecting, and interest in Cockrum's cover work. As a mass-produced newsstand movie-tie-in from a period of enormous print runs, raw copies in low and mid grade remain plentiful and inexpensive, trading close to bulk-box pricing. Higher-grade material draws a modest but real premium because well-preserved, sharp-cornered copies of late-1970s newsprint stock are harder to find than the overall print run would suggest, and CGC 9.8 examples command a real if unspectacular premium over lower slabbed grades.
The book suits collectors building complete Battlestar Galactica or Marvel movie-adaptation runs, Dave Cockrum cover collectors, and dealers stocking accessible Bronze Age sci-fi inventory rather than speculators chasing a key issue. Low- and mid-grade raw copies move steadily as inexpensive filler and rarely see sharp price movement, while CGC 9.8 copies are the segment most sensitive to fluctuating census populations and occasional bidding spikes on Heritage or eBay when fresh top-grade copies surface.
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-009488 | ~9.0 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
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