Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 6/88 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-027722
FANTASTIC FOUR #315
Fantastic Four #315 – Englehart-era direct edition featuring the First Family
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | June 1988 | Copper | Direct Edition | — | LISTED ON EBAY |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-027722 | ~8.5 | Direct Edition | LISTED ON EBAY ↗ (opens eBay in a new tab) |
| ECA-039928 | ~8.0 | Direct Edition | LISTED ON EBAY ↗ (opens eBay in a new tab) |
| ECA-039347 | ~1.5 | Direct Edition | LISTED ON EBAY ↗ (opens eBay in a new tab) |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Graded at 8.5 (VF+) on 2026-11-04, from new photos taken out of the sleeve: front and back. Top right corner blunted with slight wear showing on the black ink. Other corners lightly softened. No color-breaking spine ticks. Back cover clean.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $2 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $5 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $60 |
// Archive commentary
Fantastic Four #315 arrived in June 1988 during Steve Englehart's extended run on the title, a period that steered the team through cosmic and mystical storylines as Marvel's flagship family title continued its long publication history under the Fantastic Four indicia. The issue features the core lineup of Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and the Thing, produced during a transitional creative stretch following John Byrne's celebrated tenure. It carries no first appearance, death, or origin story of note, and its cover has not entered the ranks of widely cited classic Copper Age imagery.
Market data reflects a book with thin but telling grading activity: sales cluster at the top of the census, with 9.8 copies moving in the range recorded here, while mid- and low-grade raw copies see little to no tracked activity due to minimal collector demand outside the highest tiers. This pattern is typical of late-1980s direct-market Marvel output, where high print runs and careful handling by speculator-era buyers left a surplus of well-preserved copies, suppressing raw-copy premiums even as pristine slabs retain modest but real value.
This issue suits completist Fantastic Four run collectors and Copper Age accumulators rather than key-issue investors. Raw copies trade as inexpensive filler for long-box builders, while CGC 9.8 examples command a modest premium reflecting genuine scarcity at the top of the grading scale rather than any narrative significance. Expect steady, low-volume demand tied to overall Fantastic Four collecting rather than speculative spikes.
INQUIRE_ABOUT_THIS_UNIT
Listed on eBay. This unit is for sale on eBay: view the listing ↗ (opens eBay in a new tab). Questions about it are welcome here too.
