FANTASTIC FOUR #242

Graded at 8.5 (VF+) on 2026-11-03, from new photos taken out of the sleeve: front and back. Two small color-breaking ticks low on the spine. Light rub at the lower spine corner. Tiny wear at the top left corner. Cover trimmed slightly short at the upper right, showing a thin tan line. Back cover clean with the mail-in coupon uncut and unfilled.

Fantastic Four #242 (May 1982) arrives during John Byrne's celebrated run as writer, penciler, and (by this point in the run) frequent inker of Marvel's flagship team title. The issue falls within the arc chronicling the arrival of Terrax the Tamer, one of Galactus's heralds, on Earth, setting up the Devourer of Worlds' own subsequent appearance in the title. Byrne's tenure on Fantastic Four is widely regarded by collectors and historians as a definitive artistic and narrative high point for the series, restoring the book's cosmic scope and character-driven storytelling after a period of inconsistent creative direction.

The market for this issue reflects its status as a well-regarded but non-key chapter within a celebrated run: sales data is sparse, limited to a small handful of high-grade transactions in the 9.4 to 9.6 range, with no certified 9.8 or higher yet recorded. Demand is driven primarily by Byrne-run completists and Fantastic Four series collectors rather than speculators chasing a first appearance, since Terrax debuted several years earlier in FF #211. Pricing across grades stays modest, with values rising gradually rather than sharply as grade increases, consistent with a book valued for its creative pedigree rather than any landmark event.

Collecting interest in Fantastic Four #242 centers on readers assembling a complete Byrne run or a Terrax/Galactus storyline arc rather than key-issue investors. Lower-grade raw copies move steadily and inexpensively as reading copies or run-fillers, while mid-grade raw examples appeal to those wanting presentable shelf copies without a premium. High-grade certified copies, though scarce on the census, remain attainable for the discerning Byrne-era specialist, and the absence of a 9.8 population leaves room for a top-graded copy to command outsized attention when one eventually surfaces.