ANGEL AND THE APE #1
Angel O'Day and Sam Simeon return in DC's 1991 revival of the offbeat detective-and-gorilla team-up
// Unit specification
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-012655 | ~9.2 | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows sharp corners and clean edges with no visible chips or tears; colors appear bright with no noticeable fading. Slight glare from the protective sleeve obscures fine surface detail, and there appears to be very minor waviness near the center gutter that could indicate a faint stress line. No spine ticks or color breaks are apparent along the visible spine edge. Interior pages and back cover were not assessed; grade is based solely on the front cover as photographed.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $2 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $4 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $60 |
// Archive commentary
Angel and the Ape #1 (Volume 2, cover-dated March 1991) launched a four-issue DC miniseries reviving the short-lived 1968 humor title created by Bob Oksner. The new series was written and drawn by Phil Foglio, whose broad cartooning style and irreverent, self-aware humor gave the book a distinct identity within DC's early-1990s lineup. The premise remained the same as the original: private investigator Angel O'Day partners with the mild-mannered, cigar-loving gorilla Sam Simeon, and the strip leans into parody and gag-a-page comedy rather than straight superhero action, making it something of an outlier alongside DC's more traditional Copper Age output.
The book has never registered as a sought-after key; it carries no first appearance of consequence and its characters, while cult favorites among fans of humor comics, have limited crossover recognition compared to DC's core superhero line. Demand has stayed modest and steady rather than showing any breakout activity, and the absence of a published fair-market value in standard price references is consistent with a book that circulates mostly as inexpensive back-issue stock rather than as an actively tracked collectible.
This is a title for completists of Phil Foglio's work, fans of the original Oksner series looking to round out the franchise, and general Copper Age DC collectors filling gaps rather than chasing investment-grade material. Raw copies in any reading condition remain easy to find and inexpensive, and even a top-graded slab represents a modest outlay rather than a significant purchase, reflecting the book's status as a pleasant curiosity rather than a cornerstone of any serious collection.
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