Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 9/77 · NEWSSTAND
UNIT ECA-022183
AVENGERS #163
Jim Shooter script with George Tuska art and a George Pérez/Pablo Marcos cover as Hercules and the Avengers battle Typhon
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | September 1977 | Bronze | Newsstand | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-022183 | ~8.5 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and bright, unfaded colors with sharp corners and no visible creases or color breaks. There is slight waviness/warping visible along the top edge and a faint spine tick may be present but is hard to confirm through the protective sleeve's glare. The book is bagged, which obscures some fine surface detail; interior and back cover were not assessed.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $8 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $22 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $180 |
// Archive commentary
Avengers #163 arrived in the fall of 1977 as part of the team's long Bronze Age run under Marvel's stewardship, with a script by Jim Shooter and interior art by George Tuska rendering the Avengers' clash with the primordial giant Typhon. The issue features Hercules, Iron Man, Black Widow, Beast, and Iceman in a lineup typical of the era's ensemble storytelling, with the cover illustrated by George Pérez and inked by Pablo Marcos — a notable early Pérez cover credit during his ascent as one of the medium's defining artists. The book carries no first appearances, deaths, or origin content, situating it as a solid but unexceptional entry in the series rather than a recognized key.
Market data reflects this standing: a large certified population exceeding 190 Universal copies on census indicates the issue was well preserved and remains readily available across the grading spectrum, with fair market values climbing gradually through the mid grades before a pronounced jump at the top of the census near pristine 9.8 examples. Demand is driven primarily by Avengers team-run completists and Pérez cover collectors rather than character-first-appearance buyers, keeping raw and low-grade values modest while high-grade certified copies command a premium tied to relative scarcity at the top of the curve.
This issue suits collectors building a complete Bronze Age Avengers run or assembling George Pérez cover work, rather than speculators chasing character-driven appreciation. Raw copies in low and mid grades trade as inexpensive fill-ins for long boxes and want lists, while CGC 9.8 examples appeal to registry-set builders competing for the top tier of a large but not exceptionally scarce certified population. Long-term appreciation is likely to track the broader Bronze Age Avengers and Pérez-related markets rather than move independently.
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