Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 6/91 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-003301
DARKHAWK #4
Early Darkhawk run issue, direct edition, Mike Manley art
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | June 1991 | Copper | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows sharp corners, strong gloss, and no visible spine stress, creases, or color breaks. Slight scuffing near the top left logo area under the plastic sleeve is minor and does not appear to be a defect on the book itself. No barcode box is present, consistent with a direct edition for this 1991 cover date. Interior and back cover were not assessed as only the front cover is visible through the protective sleeve.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $1 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $3 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $16 |
// Archive commentary
Darkhawk #4 continues the early adventures of Chris Powell in the armored vigilante identity introduced by writer Danny Fingeroth and artist Mike Manley in Darkhawk #1 (1991). The series arrived amid Marvel's early-1990s push toward new street-level heroes with a sci-fi/tech edge, and this issue falls within the opening arc that built out the character's rogues gallery and New York setting rather than introducing any new major character or concept.
Market activity for the issue is thin and reflects its status as a supporting chapter rather than a keystone of the run. Certified population remains small across the board, with only a handful of copies graded at any tier and sparse recorded sales even at the top end. Pricing across grades stays modest and comparatively flat, consistent with a book collected mainly by Darkhawk completists and Copper Age run-builders rather than speculators chasing a first appearance.
This is a book for collectors assembling a complete Darkhawk or early-1990s Marvel run rather than a standalone investment target. Raw copies in low and mid grade trade cheaply and are readily available, while CGC 9.8 examples, though scarce on census, have not shown the sustained high-end demand seen in genuine key issues. Expect steady but unspectacular movement across all grades, with value driven more by completeness of a set than by any single notable event within the issue itself.
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-003301 | ~9.4 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
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