Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 6/89 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-021998
AVENGERS #304
Avengers #304 (June 1989) — Copper Age team title, post-Byrne transitional issue
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | June 1989 | Copper | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-019543 | ~9.0 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-021998 | ~8.5 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and vibrant colors with sharp corners visible in this photo. There is a light vertical crease/handling line near the top edge above the logo, and a bit of edge wear at the top right corner. No major spine stress lines, color breaks, or stains are visible on the front. 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 | $4 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $34 |
// Archive commentary
Avengers #304 arrived in June 1989 as part of Marvel's flagship team title during a transitional stretch following John Byrne's run as writer-artist, which had concluded a few issues earlier. The book continues the ongoing roster and subplot threads typical of the series' late-1980s stretch, without introducing a new character, creative milestone, or story now cited as a turning point for the team.
Market data reflects a book that circulates as a common component of Copper Age Avengers runs rather than a standalone target. Sales volume is thin across most graded tiers, with only a handful of transactions recorded above the low grades, and pricing rises gradually rather than sharply until the top of the census, where a modest premium separates 9.6 and 9.8 copies. There is no evidence of speculative demand, character-driven collecting pressure, or scarcity beyond the normal attrition curve of a late-1980s newsstand and direct-market comic.
This issue trades primarily as run-filler for collectors assembling complete Avengers volumes or Copper Age team-book sets, and its value is concentrated almost entirely in top-census CGC 9.8 copies, which carry a real but limited premium over other high grades. Raw and mid-grade copies see negligible individual demand and are typically acquired as part of bulk lots or long-run purchases rather than sought out on their own merits.
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