MARVEL TALES #119

Cover shows strong gloss and sharp corners with no visible creasing or color breaks; spine appears tight with no stress lines visible. There is a small edge ding/discoloration on the right edge near the bottom (visible as a light tan mark) and slight waviness along the top edge, likely from the protective sleeve rather than the book itself. The book is in a plastic sleeve which limits full assessment of surface sheen and interior pages, and the back cover was not visible for review.

Marvel Tales #119 is a newsstand reprint issue from Marvel's long-running anthology reprint line, reproducing the story originally published in Amazing Spider-Man #144, a chapter of the celebrated Clone Saga written by Gerry Conway with art by Ross Andru. The issue features Mysterio's return and further developments involving the clone of Gwen Stacy, alongside the Daily Bugle supporting cast including J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Robbie Robertson, and Ned Leeds. As a Bronze Age reprint vehicle, Marvel Tales #119 carries none of the historical weight of the original first printing; its value derives from being an accessible, lower-cost entry point to a well-regarded storyline rather than from any first-appearance or origin content of its own.

Market activity for this issue is thin, reflecting its status as a minor reprint title rather than a widely collected key. Certified population is limited to a handful of copies, with recorded sales data essentially anchored to a single mid-grade transaction and a single near-mint transaction. Demand is driven almost entirely by Spider-Man clone-saga completists and readers seeking an affordable way to own the Mysterio-and-clone story without pursuing the pricier original issue, rather than by speculative or key-issue interest.

This is a book that trades quietly and inexpensively across most grades, with raw copies changing hands for a few dollars up through the mid-grade range, and even top-graded slabs commanding only modest premiums given the shallow census and lack of any 9.8 or higher certified example. It suits budget-conscious Spider-Man collectors and readers assembling a complete Marvel Tales run more than investors or grail-seekers, and pricing is unlikely to see significant movement absent a broader resurgence of interest in Clone Saga reprints.