Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 2/81 · NEWSSTAND
UNIT ECA-011325
MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #72
The Thing joins Black Bolt and the Inhumans against the cosmic threat Maelstrom
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | February 1981 | Bronze | Newsstand | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and vivid color with sharp corners and no visible creasing or spine stress; a UPC barcode box confirms newsstand edition. Minor surface sheen/glare is visible from the protective sleeve, and slight edge wear is possible at the extreme corners but not clearly evident. No tears, stains, or writing are visible on the front cover. Interior pages and back cover were not assessed, so grade is capped conservatively.
// 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 | $60 |
// Archive commentary
Marvel Two-In-One #72 pairs Ben Grimm with the Inhumans in a cosmic-tinged team-up written by Mark Gruenwald, featuring Black Bolt, Gorgon, Karnak, and a guest appearance by Reed Richards, all rendered under a Chic Stone-inked cover lettered by Gaspar Saladino. The issue introduces Maelstrom as an antagonist within the series' ongoing rotation of guest stars, a hallmark of the Two-In-One format that paired the ever-popular Thing with a rotating cast of Marvel heroes throughout the Bronze Age. It sits within a long-running, well-collected series but carries no first appearance, origin, or landmark creative milestone that would elevate it beyond a solid piece of team-up-era Marvel history.
Market data reflects a book with a modest but stable collector base: certified sales cluster tightly in the $16 to $60 range across the graded spectrum, with only thirteen recorded 9.8 sales anchoring the top of the curve at roughly $60 and a one-year average holding steady near that figure. Lower and mid-grade raw copies see minimal secondary-market attention, consistent with a back-issue-bin title whose demand is driven primarily by series completists and Thing or Inhumans character collectors rather than broad speculative interest. The absence of any sales data below grade 6.0 underscores how little raw-copy activity this issue generates outside of graded submissions.
This is a book for series runs and character-focused collections rather than investment-grade acquisition. Raw copies in low and mid grades trade for pocket change and are typically bundled into larger Bronze Age lots, while CGC 9.8 examples command a modest premium reflecting relative scarcity at the top of the census rather than any inherent key status. Collectors building complete Marvel Two-In-One runs, Inhumans completists, or Thing enthusiasts represent the primary buying audience, and pricing across grades should remain steady rather than appreciating sharply absent a broader Bronze Age market surge.
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-011325 | ~8.5 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
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