Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 4/98 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-005982
AVENGERS #3
Conclusion of the Morgan le Fay opening arc of the Busiek-Perez Avengers relaunch, Volume 3
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | April 1998 | Modern | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows sharp corners, glossy unbroken surface, and strong color with no visible fading or spine ticks in this photo. The book is protected in a plastic sleeve which limits full assessment of edges and spine stress. No creases, tears, or stains are visible on the front cover; interior 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 | $3 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $32 |
// Archive commentary
Avengers #3 (April 1998) closes out the opening storyline of Kurt Busiek and George Pérez's celebrated Volume 3 relaunch of the team title, pitting the reassembled Avengers against the sorceress Morgan le Fay. The issue features a broad Avengers roster including Captain America, Black Panther, Black Widow, Beast, Black Knight, and Carol Danvers, alongside guest players like Darkhawk, Firebird, and Demolition Man, reflecting the sprawling, team-book ambitions that defined this run. Pérez's pencils, inked by Al Vey and colored by Digital Chameleon, delivered the kind of densely populated splash pages that became a hallmark of the era's Avengers.
The market for this issue tracks the broader pattern for late-1990s Marvel team books: steady but modest demand driven almost entirely by completists assembling the acclaimed Busiek-Pérez run rather than by any first appearance or landmark event. Census data shows a relatively small pool of graded copies concentrated at the high end, with no submissions above 9.8, suggesting collectors who do slab this title tend to pursue top grades rather than mid-range copies. Grading population and sales activity remain thin, and pricing across the grade spectrum stays compressed, typical of a well-regarded but non-key chapter in a fondly remembered relaunch.
This issue suits readers and Busiek-Pérez run collectors more than speculators, and it trades accordingly across the grade scale, from inexpensive reading copies up to modestly priced pristine slabs. Demand is durable but unspectacular, tied to the enduring reputation of the creative team rather than any single defining moment in the issue itself. Buyers assembling a run of early Volume 3 Avengers will find this a reasonably priced completion piece at any grade tier.
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-005982 | ~9.2 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
INQUIRE_ABOUT_THIS_UNIT
Institutional buyers, auction houses, and private collectors — direct line to the archive.
