IRON MAN #229

Cover shows sharp corners, strong glossy surface, and vivid unfaded color with no visible spine stress or ticks. Slight edge wear may be present near the top corners but is difficult to confirm through the protective sleeve, which also introduces minor glare. No creases, tears, or stains are visible on the front cover; interior and back cover were not assessed.

Iron Man #229 (Marvel Comics, cover-dated April 1988) falls within the celebrated "Armor Wars" storyline, in which Tony Stark systematically hunts down and disables individuals and organizations who have reverse-engineered his armor technology. The arc, plotted by David Michelinie with art by Bob Layton and John Romita Jr., is widely regarded as one of the strongest extended runs of the Copper Age Iron Man series, reshaping the character's relationship to his own inventions and to figures like Justin Hammer. This particular issue continues that narrative but does not itself introduce a new character, origin, or death, and it is not distinguished by a standalone cover treatment cited in price guides.

Market data shows a book that behaves as a solid mid-run Copper Age issue rather than a speculative key. The certified population is substantial (61 Universal copies of 67 total graded), and pricing is heavily concentrated at the 9.8 tier, where thirteen recorded sales support a fair market value near $120, well above the 9.6 and 9.4 tiers, which cluster in the low-to-mid thirties. Lower grades see minimal sales activity, with only a single 7.0 sale on record, reflecting light demand for anything short of near-mint condition.

This is a book collected primarily by readers assembling a complete Armor Wars run or a full Iron Man series rather than by key-issue speculators. Raw copies in low and mid grades trade for nominal sums reflecting bulk long-box availability, while the market's real activity and premium pricing are reserved for pristine 9.8 slabs, which command a substantial multiple over any lower certified grade. Buyers should expect thin liquidity outside the top grade and treat this as a supporting piece within a broader Iron Man or Armor Wars collection rather than a standalone investment target.