Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 4/89 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-002331
IRON MAN #241
Late-1980s Iron Man ongoing issue from the Layton/Bright creative run, direct edition
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | April 1989 | Copper | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-002331 | ~9.2 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and sharp corners with no visible creases or spine stress; the direct edition Spider-Man head logo box in lower left is clean and uncreased. Slight softness may be present at the top edge but no chips, tears, or color breaks are visible in this photo. Book is protected in a plastic sleeve which limits full assessment of surface sheen; interior pages and back cover were not assessed.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $2 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $5 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $95 |
// Archive commentary
Iron Man #241 is a mid-run Copper Age issue from Marvel's long-running Iron Man ongoing series, published in April 1989 during a stretch of the title steered by the Bob Layton and Mark Bright creative team, who had taken over the book following the celebrated Armor Wars arc. The issue is a routine chapter of the ongoing Tony Stark saga rather than a storyline of lasting historical weight; it carries no first appearance, death, or landmark creative milestone that collectors or standard price guides single out.
Market activity reflects that status: demand is driven almost entirely by series completists and CGC census builders rather than key-issue speculation. The certified population is modest, with only sixteen 9.8s recorded against a total graded population under fifty, and sales at the top grade have been steady but unspectacular, producing a gentle, non-linear rise from low double digits at mid grades to just under a hundred dollars at the top of the census. Raw copies in lower grades see negligible transactional volume, consistent with an unremarkable back-issue-bin book.
This is a book collected primarily as part of a complete Iron Man run rather than acquired on its own merits, appealing to Copper Age Marvel runs collectors and CGC registry participants chasing 9.8s. Raw copies move cheaply and inconsistently across grade, while certified 9.8s command a real but modest premium tied to relative scarcity at the top of the census rather than character or story significance; pricing should be expected to track broader Copper Age Iron Man demand rather than any independent catalyst.
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