Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 1/88 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-026695
CAPTAIN AMERICA #338
Mark Gruenwald-era Captain America adventure from the direct market Copper Age run
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | January 1988 | Copper | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-026695 | ~9.2 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-005281 | ~9.0 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows sharp corners, strong glossy surface, and vivid unbroken color with no visible spine ticks or stress lines. Edges appear clean with no chipping or fraying visible through the protective sleeve. No creases, folds, or discoloration are apparent on the front cover. Interior pages and back cover were not assessed, and the book is in a protective sleeve which may obscure minor surface flaws.
// 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 | $50 |
// Archive commentary
Captain America #338 arrived in January 1988 as part of Mark Gruenwald's lengthy tenure writing the character, a run now remembered for its long-form plotting and deep engagement with Steve Rogers's supporting cast and rogues gallery. This particular issue is a mid-run chapter without a first appearance, death, or other landmark event attached to it, and it reflects the workmanlike consistency of the Gruenwald years rather than any singular turning point in the character's history.
Market activity for the issue is thin and typical of a non-key Copper Age direct-market book: certified sales are sparse across the grade spectrum, with modest prices recorded in the low-to-mid nine range and no meaningful secondary market pressure at the top of the census despite a handful of 9.8 copies existing. Demand is driven almost entirely by Captain America completists and Gruenwald-run readers assembling the full sequence, rather than by speculative or crossover interest, which keeps pricing flat and unremarkable relative to the character's more heavily collected eras.
This is a book that trades as filler in long-run collections and dollar-bin boxes at lower grades, with only incremental premiums for high-grade certified copies given the limited but persistent demand from series completists. Raw copies in low and mid grades remain inexpensive and plentiful, while a 9.8 slab carries a modest premium reflecting scarcity of top-census copies rather than any broader collector urgency. It is best positioned in inventory as a supporting piece within a larger Captain America Copper Age run rather than a standalone draw.
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