Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 5/73
UNIT ECA-028259
FANTASTIC FOUR #134
Thing vs. Thundra rematch cover, Buscema art, Fantastic Four Bronze Age issue
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | May 1973 | Bronze | — | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-028259 | ~8.5 | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows bright, glossy color with strong red and yellow ink retention on the Human Torch and title logo; corners appear sharp with only minor blunting at the top right. No visible spine stress lines, creases, or color breaks are evident, and the cover surface appears free of major stains or tears. Slight glare from the protective sleeve makes it difficult to fully assess edge wear or fine spine ticks, and the interior and back cover were not assessed.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $8 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $20 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $150 |
// Archive commentary
Fantastic Four #134 arrived in the spring of 1973 as part of the extended Thundra storyline that ran through the low #130s, pitting Ben Grimm against the towering warrior-woman from a matriarchal future timeline. Gerry Conway scripted the issue with pencils by John Buscema and inks by Joe Sinnott, a veteran creative team then steering Marvel's flagship title through a transitional period following Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's earlier run. The issue is a middle chapter rather than an origin point — Thundra had already debuted a few issues prior — so its interest rests on the ongoing rivalry and the era's polished house art rather than any character's first appearance.
Market data reflects a book that trades as a solid but unspectacular mid-run Bronze Age Fantastic Four issue. Certified population is substantial, with nearly 170 Universal copies graded and the bulk clustering in the 9.2 to 9.6 range, indicating a well-preserved, widely available print run rather than a scarce commodity. Pricing across the upper grades is notably flat, with 9.4 and 9.6 copies trading within a few dollars of one another, which suggests collector demand plateaus quickly once a copy reaches high-grade condition rather than escalating sharply, a pattern typical of non-key issues from this period.
This is a book for Fantastic Four series completists and Bronze Age Buscema-art collectors building toward a full run, rather than a speculative or investment-grade key. Entry-level and mid-grade raw copies remain inexpensive and readily sourced, making the title an accessible run-filler; the absence of any 9.8 on the census leaves room for a modest premium at the top of the grading scale, but nothing approaching key-issue multiples. Expect steady, unhurried turnover across all grades rather than competitive bidding.
INQUIRE_ABOUT_THIS_UNIT
Institutional buyers, auction houses, and private collectors — direct line to the archive.
