Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 7/92 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-003702
DARKHAWK #17
Direct-edition Darkhawk ongoing series issue from the character's original 1992 Marvel run
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | July 1992 | Modern | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows sharp, square corners and strong glossy surface with vivid black background ink showing no visible scuffing or color breaks. Spine appears tight with no visible stress lines or ticks in this view. No creases, tears, or stains are visible on the front cover; the book is protected in a plastic sleeve which limits full surface inspection. Interior pages 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 | $5 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $120 |
// Archive commentary
Darkhawk #17 is a mid-run installment of Marvel's early-1990s street-level superhero title starring Chris Powell, the teenage hero who transforms into the armored Darkhawk using an amulet tied to an alien criminal's abandoned battlesuit. The series, launched in 1991 amid Marvel's push to diversify its street-hero line alongside titles like Spider-Man 2099 and Deathlok, found a dedicated but modest fan base during its 50-issue run, with Fingeroth and Manley providing continuity of vision through much of its early chapters.
Market data for this issue is thin, consistent with its status as a non-key, mid-series number in a series that never became a major crossover engine. Certified population is small across the grade spectrum, with only a handful of 9.6 and 9.8 copies graded and just two sales recorded at the top grade. Demand is driven almost entirely by series completists and Darkhawk collectors building full runs, rather than by any first appearance, death, or landmark creative event tied to this specific issue.
This book trades as a low-cost completion piece in raw grades, with prices staying nominal through mid-grade condition and only appreciating meaningfully at the CGC 9.8 tier, where scarcity of pristine copies commands a real premium over lower certified grades. Collectors assembling a full Darkhawk run, Marvel 1990s specialists, and census chasers targeting high-grade slabs represent the primary buyer pool; casual buyers are unlikely to pay above token prices for raw copies given the absence of any historical significance.
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-003702 | ~9.4 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
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