Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 3/88 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-039912
FANTASTIC FOUR #324
Late-1980s Fantastic Four issue from the Englehart/Pollard run
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | March 1988 | Copper | Direct Edition | — | LISTED ON EBAY |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-039912 | ~7.0 | Direct Edition | LISTED ON EBAY ↗ (opens eBay in a new tab) |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
A distinct vertical crease/stress line runs down the cover roughly a quarter-inch from the left edge, extending nearly the full height and causing a slight color break in that area. A price sticker has been applied to the lower right of the cover, which could leave residue or minor surface damage if removed. Corners appear reasonably sharp with only minor wear, and there is no visible major edge chipping or staining in this photo. The book is housed in a protective sleeve; interior pages and back cover were not assessed.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $1 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $5 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $65 |
// Archive commentary
Fantastic Four #324 (March 1988) appeared during Steve Englehart's tenure as writer, with art handled by Keith Pollard, in a period when the title was working through the fallout of Reed Richards's trial and related team-dynamic storylines. The issue is a standard chapter within a long-running arc rather than a landmark single issue: it introduces no new characters of lasting significance and contains no first appearance, death, or origin story that price guides or collectors have singled out over time.
Market data for the issue reflects its status as a common, mid-run Copper Age book. Sales activity clusters almost entirely at the high end of the CGC census, with 9.8 copies drawing modest but real demand from completists building full runs of the title, while raw and lower-grade certified copies see negligible transaction volume. The gap between the top grade and everything below it is pronounced, consistent with a book that was never scarce in its own era and has only recently seen collectors chase pristine, unpressed submissions.
This issue is best understood as a run-filler for Fantastic Four collectors rather than a standalone investment target. Raw copies in low and mid grades trade cheaply and are readily available in back-issue bins and online lots, appealing mainly to readers completing the Englehart/Pollard stretch of the series. High-grade CGC 9.8 examples carry the only real premium, driven by a thin population of true gem-mint survivors and modern-era grading enthusiasts, but even there the ceiling remains modest compared to recognized keys of the same era.
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.
