Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 7/78 · NEWSSTAND
UNIT ECA-009802
DEVIL DINOSAUR #4
Jack Kirby's Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy battle Stone-Hand in this late-1970s Marvel newsstand issue
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | July 1978 | Bronze | Newsstand | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-009802 | ~9.0 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and vibrant color with sharp corners and clean edges; no visible creases, tears, or stains. There is minor surface reflection from the protective sleeve obscuring fine detail, and a slight waviness/warp is visible near the upper right edge and along the spine area that may indicate a light bend rather than true wear. Spine appears tight with no visible stress lines or color breaking. Interior and back cover were not assessed, 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 | $6 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $85 |
// Archive commentary
Devil Dinosaur #4 continues Jack Kirby's prehistoric adventure series, one of the last new concepts he created for Marvel before departing for animation work. Kirby handled writing, penciling, and the cover, with longtime collaborator Joe Sinnott inking the cover and Michael Royer contributing interior inks and lettering; Jim Shooter edited. The issue pits the titular red tyrannosaur and his companion Moon Boy against the antagonist Stone-Hand, continuing the primeval setting Kirby established in the series' debut.
Market data shows a shallow, gradually rising FMV curve typical of a lower-demand Bronze Age title: certified 9.2 copies fetch around $22, 9.4 around $36, and only the top tier of 9.6-9.8 slabs cross into the $65-$85 range despite a fairly deep census of 37 copies at 9.8. Demand is driven primarily by Kirby completists and collectors building full runs of the four-issue Devil Dinosaur series rather than by any first-appearance or landmark-cover premium, since the character debuted in issue #1. Sales volume is steady but modest, with no signs of speculative spikes.
This issue trades as a supporting piece within Kirby's late-career output rather than a standalone target, appealing mainly to Kirby collectors, Bronze Age Marvel specialists, and Devil Dinosaur run-builders. Raw copies in worn condition command little beyond a few dollars, mid-grade raw examples remain inexpensive, and only pristine CGC 9.8 slabs see meaningful premiums, reflecting a book valued more for its creator pedigree than for narrative or character significance.
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