BLUE BEETLE #15
Ted Kord Blue Beetle, mid-run issue from DC's late-1980s ongoing series
// Unit specification
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-002171 | ~9.2 | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and vibrant color with sharp corners and no visible creasing or spine stress; edges appear clean with no chips noted. There is minor glare from the protective sleeve that could be masking small surface defects, and the interior/back cover were not assessed. Overall this presents as a high-grade near-mint copy based on the visible front cover.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $3 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $8 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $200 |
// Archive commentary
Blue Beetle #15 is a mid-run issue from DC Comics' 1986-1988 ongoing series starring Ted Kord, the gadget-and-detective successor to Charlton's original Blue Beetle following DC's absorption of the Charlton Action Heroes into its shared universe. The series arrived on the heels of the character's high-profile appearances in Crisis on Infinite Earths and his subsequent membership in the Justice League, giving the solo title a built-in audience even as it settled into standard superhero fare by its mid-teens issues. Issue #15 does not carry a first appearance, origin, or other landmark distinction; it represents a routine but representative installment of Ted Kord's only ongoing solo series.
Market data for this issue is thin, reflecting its status as a non-key back-issue title with a small surviving certified population. The wide gap between the 9.8 and 9.6 price points is characteristic of low-population Copper Age books, where a handful of top-grade copies can command outsized premiums simply due to scarcity of submission rather than storyline importance. Demand is largely confined to Blue Beetle series completists and Justice League-adjacent collectors rounding out Ted Kord material, rather than broad speculative interest.
This book trades as a value-priced Copper Age filler at the raw level, with most transactions occurring well below ten dollars regardless of stated grade, and only condition-census copies commanding attention. High-grade slabs draw interest chiefly from registry builders pursuing complete Blue Beetle vol. 1 runs, where population scarcity rather than character significance drives price. Casual buyers and dealers stocking Justice League-era Copper Age runs represent the primary market for mid- and low-grade copies.
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