Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 5/95 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-014150
FANTASTIC FOUR #400
Giant-sized 400th issue anniversary gatefold cover by Paul Ryan
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | May 1995 | Modern | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-014150 | ~9.4 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-014152 | ~9.4 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover is a holofoil/embossed 64-page anniversary edition, appears bright and reflective with strong gloss and no visible creases, folds, or corner blunting. Edges appear sharp and square with no chipping visible; slight surface glare from the holographic foil makes fine scratch assessment difficult. The book is in a protective sleeve, which limits full evaluation of spine and back cover. No writing, stains, or discoloration are visible on the front cover.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $3 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $7 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $130 |
// Archive commentary
Fantastic Four #400 (May 1995) is Marvel's giant-sized 400th-issue anniversary special for the team, written by Tom DeFalco with art by Paul Ryan and a wraparound gatefold cover. The issue arrives during the team's mid-1990s creative stretch and ties into ongoing plotlines involving Alicia Masters, the Human Torch, and the machinations that would soon feed into the larger Onslaught crossover event. As a landmark-numbered issue, it was positioned by Marvel as a milestone release with extra pages and a die-cut or foldout cover treatment typical of the era's anniversary specials.
Market demand for the book is modest and consistent with other high-print-run 1990s Marvel anniversary issues: certified population is substantial relative to sales activity, and value is heavily concentrated at the top of the grading curve. Pristine 9.8 copies command a real premium driven by relative scarcity at that grade despite the book's overall abundance, while mid- and low-grade raw copies trade as inexpensive commons with little collector pressure below near-mint. The gatefold cover format gives it some display appeal but has not translated into meaningful across-the-board demand.
This is a book bought mainly by Fantastic Four run-completists and 1990s Marvel specialists looking to fill out a long box or chase a top-census slab rather than a headline acquisition for a general key-issue portfolio. Raw copies are readily available and inexpensive at any grade below near-mint, while the 9.8 tier draws targeted competitive bidding among grading-conscious buyers pursuing census-topping examples of the anniversary format.
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