Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 6/94 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-014059
FANTASTIC FOUR #389
Fantastic Four #389 (June 1994) – Tom DeFalco/Paul Ryan run, direct edition
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | June 1994 | Modern | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-014055 | ~9.2 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-014059 | ~9.2 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-014057 | ~9.0 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows sharp corners, glossy unmarked surface, and strong color with no visible fading. No spine ticks or stress lines are apparent along the spine edge, and there are no creases, tears, or stains visible. The book is in a protective sleeve which limits full assessment of edges; interior 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 | $4 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $50 |
// Archive commentary
Fantastic Four #389 arrived in mid-1994 as part of the Tom DeFalco and Paul Ryan creative stretch that carried the flagship Marvel team through the early 1990s. The issue features the core lineup of Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and Thing continuing the ongoing storyline of that era, with Ryan supplying both interior art and the cover. It carries no first appearance, origin, or landmark creative event, and reflects a routine chapter within a long-running series rather than a historically cited turning point.
Market data for the issue is thin and consistent with its status as a common, high-supply modern book: certified sales cluster tightly around the $44-50 range even at the top of the census, with no meaningful spread between 9.6 and 9.8 copies. That flat curve signals limited collector competition rather than scarcity-driven demand, and the absence of any recorded sales below grade 8.0 reflects how little attention lower-grade or raw copies receive in the current market. There is no key-issue premium at play here; value is driven almost entirely by condition census position rather than narrative significance.
This is a book most likely to move through bulk lots, dollar bins, or as filler in a run-building purchase rather than as a standalone acquisition. High-grade CGC 9.8 copies hold modest appeal to Fantastic Four completists and census-chasers, but raw copies in low to mid grade carry negligible individual value and are best positioned within bundled inventory or long-box stock aimed at casual buyers filling out 1990s Marvel runs.
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