Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 10/81 · NEWSSTAND
UNIT ECA-002423
IRON MAN #151
Bronze Age Iron Man issue featuring an early Scott Lang Ant-Man appearance, following the Doom/Camelot two-parter
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | October 1981 | Bronze | Newsstand | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-002423 | ~8.0 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and bright colors with sharp corners; the book is protected in a plastic sleeve which limits full assessment. There appears to be minor surface wear at the top edge and a faint vertical crease near the spine, along with slight waviness suggesting handling. No major color breaks, tears, or stains are visible in this photo. Interior pages and back cover were not assessed.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $3 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $6 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $85 |
// Archive commentary
Iron Man #151 arrives in the midst of the David Michelinie and Bob Layton run that defined the character through the late Bronze Age, with Layton also supplying inks and cover and Luke McDonnell handling pencils. The issue follows directly on the heels of the two-part Doctor Doom/Camelot storyline and features a supporting turn from Scott Lang, the second Ant-Man, whose civilian and superhero status was still being fleshed out in Marvel continuity at the time. Bethany Cabe, a recurring supporting character tied closely to Tony Stark's personal life, also appears, rounding out a cast typical of the era's soap-opera-inflected superhero storytelling.
Market data shows a book with a large certified population and steady but modest demand: the CGC census lists well over a hundred graded copies, sales activity is concentrated at the top of the grade scale, and pricing across the curve reflects a common, easily found Bronze Age issue rather than a sought-after key. The 9.8 tier trades in the mid-double-digit range with a fairly deep sales history, while raw and lower-grade certified copies command only nominal sums, consistent with an unremarkable middle chapter in a long-running series.
This is a book for run-builders and Iron Man completists rather than speculators chasing a first appearance, since Scott Lang's Ant-Man had already debuted elsewhere and his presence here is incidental rather than landmark. Mid- and low-grade raw copies are inexpensive and plentiful, making the book an easy, low-cost fill for collectors assembling the Michelinie/Layton era; the real value differential sits almost entirely at the CGC 9.8 tier, where well-preserved newsstand copies see consistent, if unspectacular, collector interest.
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