Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 11/83 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-026594
CAPTAIN AMERICA #287
Bronze Age Captain America from the Zeck/DeMatteis run
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | November 1983 | Bronze | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-026594 | ~9.2 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows sharp corners, strong glossy surface, and no visible spine ticks or stress lines in this photo. Colors appear bright and unfaded with no creases or tears evident. The book is in a protective sleeve, which limits full assessment of edges; interior and back cover were not examined, so grade is based solely on the visible front cover.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $2 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $7 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $100 |
// Archive commentary
Captain America #287 arrived in November 1983 as part of the acclaimed early-1980s creative run by writer J.M. DeMatteis and penciler Mike Zeck, a stretch of the series noted for grounding Steve Rogers in character-driven storytelling rather than large-scale superhero spectacle. The issue is a representative installment of that run rather than a landmark chapter: it contains no first appearance, death, or origin story that collectors or price guides single out as historically pivotal, and it has not accrued the recognition attached to bookend issues of that creative team's tenure.
Market data reflects a typical mid-tier Bronze Age direct-market comic: certified sales are steady but modest across the grade spectrum, with fair market value climbing gradually from the mid-30-dollar range at 9.4 to around 100 dollars at the top of the census in 9.8. The absence of any graded copies above 9.8 and the relatively even distribution of sales across high grades suggest a book that was well preserved by original buyers and remains readily available to today's market, tempering scarcity-driven premiums that define true key issues.
This is a book bought primarily by Captain America run-collectors and Zeck/DeMatteis completists rather than speculators chasing a first appearance. Raw copies in low and mid grades circulate cheaply and are easy to source, while investment interest concentrates almost entirely on Gem Mint or near-Gem CGC 9.8 holders, where population remains capped and incremental demand from graded-set builders sustains modest but consistent value above the raw market.
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