Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 10/79 · NEWSSTAND
UNIT ECA-026509
CAPTAIN AMERICA #238
Bronze Age Captain America adventure from the Roger McKenzie/Sal Buscema run
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | October 1979 | Bronze | Newsstand | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-026509 | ~9.0 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and sharp corners with no visible creases or color breaks. Slight waviness/moisture ripple is visible across the cover surface (notably near the shield and left edge), which may indicate minor humidity exposure. Spine appears tight with no stress lines visible in this view. Book is in a protective sleeve; back cover and interior pages were not assessed.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $2 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $6 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $85 |
// Archive commentary
Captain America #238 appeared in October 1979, part of a lengthy stretch of the title written by Roger McKenzie with art by Sal Buscema, a pairing that carried the series through much of the late 1970s. This period followed Jack Kirby's celebrated return-and-departure on the book and predates the acclaimed Roger Stern/John Byrne era that would begin shortly after, placing #238 in something of a transitional stretch of the character's publishing history. The issue continues ongoing storylines typical of the period, with Captain America facing costumed adversaries and grappling with his identity and mission as a symbol, themes recurrent throughout the McKenzie run.
As a mid-run issue with no first appearance, death, or other widely cited landmark moment, #238 does not carry the demand drivers that push Bronze Age comics into premium territory. Interest in the issue comes primarily from Captain America completists assembling the full McKenzie-Buscema stretch of the title and from readers drawn to the character's ongoing 1970s adventures rather than from any single collectible event tied to this specific number. The book's newsstand-only status and cover date place it firmly within a well-documented, plentiful supply window for the series.
This issue trades as a reader and run-filler book across most grade levels, with raw copies generally changing hands inexpensively and higher-grade certified examples appealing mainly to those pursuing a complete high-grade Captain America set rather than speculators chasing a key. It suits budget-minded collectors building the series in reading condition, dealers stocking bulk Bronze Age inventory, and registry-focused buyers seeking presentable slabs to fill a numerical gap, but it is unlikely to draw competitive bidding on its own merits.
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