AVENGERS #162

Cover shows strong gloss and sharp corners with only minor edge wear visible along the top and right border. A faint vertical crease/line runs through the center of the cover art, and there is slight surface handling wear near the spine. No major creases, tears, or color breaks are evident, and the UPC barcode box confirms newsstand edition. Interior and back cover were not assessed, so grade is based solely on the visible front cover.

Avengers #162 (August 1977) introduces Jocasta, the synthezoid created by Ultron using the brain patterns of the Wasp and intended as his mechanical bride. Scripted by Jim Shooter with art by George Pérez and inks by Pablo Marcos, the issue folds Jocasta's creation into the team's ongoing conflict with Ultron, and she would go on to become a recurring Avengers-adjacent character across decades of Marvel continuity, eventually joining the team outright in later runs. The issue arrives during a strong Pérez stretch on the title, adding artistic interest to the historical significance of the first appearance.

Demand for the book is steady rather than explosive, reflecting Jocasta's status as a secondary rather than marquee first appearance. Census data shows a healthy population of certified copies across the grade spectrum, with FMVs remaining relatively flat through the mid grades before stepping up meaningfully at 9.4 and above; the 9.8 tier shows the most sales activity and recent upward pressure in its 90-day average, suggesting collectors are willing to pay a real premium to secure top-census copies while mid- and low-grade material trades in a narrow, affordable band.

The book suits Bronze Age Avengers completists, Pérez art collectors, and character-first-appearance specialists building out the Ultron/Jocasta corner of Marvel lore. Raw copies in low and mid grade are accessible entry points and trade thinly but consistently near guide; the real action is concentrated at the 9.6-9.8 tier, where population reports and recent sales activity indicate genuine competition for pristine copies, making high-grade certified examples the more actively pursued end of the market.