Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 12/94 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-014115
FANTASTIC FOUR #395
Direct edition Fantastic Four ongoing issue from the Tom DeFalco/Paul Ryan run
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | December 1994 | Modern | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-014117 | ~9.2 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-014113 | ~9.0 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-014115 | ~9.0 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows sharp corners and clean, unblunted edges with no visible creases or color breaks. Spine appears tight with no stress lines or ticks visible in this photo. Colors remain vibrant with no fading or staining noted, though the book is in a protective sleeve which limits full assessment. Interior and back cover were not assessed, so grade is based solely on front cover appearance.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $1 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $3 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $36 |
// Archive commentary
Fantastic Four #395 arrived during the Tom DeFalco and Paul Ryan era of the flagship Marvel Comics title, a period defined by steady, if unspectacular, continuity-driven storytelling rather than landmark firsts. The issue is a standard direct-market chapter of the ongoing series, produced during a time when Marvel was flooding the market with variant covers, foil enhancements, and speculator-driven print runs, though this particular issue carries no such gimmick and represents a routine numbered entry in a long-running superhero team book.
Market data shows a flat demand curve typical of 1990s Marvel filler issues: certified copies command modest premiums only at the very top of the grading scale, with 9.8 examples trading in the mid-$30s and mid-grade or raw copies holding negligible value beyond bulk-bin pricing. The absence of meaningful sales activity below near-mint condition, combined with a census populated mostly by high grades, indicates that collectors pursuing this book are chasing condition census status rather than any narrative or historical significance tied to the issue itself.
This book fits the collecting profile of Fantastic Four run-builders and modern-grading specialists who target 9.8 slabs to complete a series without gaps, rather than investors seeking appreciation. Lower and mid-grade raw copies see essentially no organized secondary market and typically move only in bulk lots or dollar bins, while pristine certified copies retain a thin but consistent floor driven by CGC population reports and completists rounding out full FF collections.
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