MIGHTY SAMSON #14

Cover shows strong gloss and vibrant color retention with sharp, unblunted corners. There is minor edge wear along the top and a faint crease near the upper right corner, but no significant spine stress lines, tears, or color breaks are visible. The book is protected in a clear archival sleeve, which limits full inspection of edge wear; interior pages and back cover were not assessed.

Mighty Samson debuted from Gold Key in 1964, the creation of writer Otto Binder with artwork most associated with Frank Thorne, depicting a mutated strongman battling monstrous creatures in the ruins of a future New York (renamed N'Yark) following a nuclear catastrophe. Issue #14, cover-dated February 1968, arrives during the title's stable mid-run period, continuing the series' blend of pulp adventure, science fiction, and Kirby-adjacent monster action that characterized much of Gold Key's non-licensed output in this era. The issue features no first appearances, deaths, or landmark creative shifts, and functions as a representative entry in a series better known for its consistent visual style and Thorne's detailed linework than for any single storyline.

Market data for this issue is thin, reflecting Gold Key's broader collector base, which remains smaller and more specialized than that of Marvel or DC Silver Age output from the same years. Certified population is minimal, with only a handful of copies graded across the full spectrum, and reported sales cluster at the top end of the census in near-mint and better condition. This scarcity of transactional data at lower grades is typical for lesser-collected Gold Key adventure titles, where raw copies circulate quietly through back-issue bins and small auction lots rather than headline sales events. Demand is driven primarily by Mighty Samson series completists and Frank Thorne art collectors rather than broad speculative interest.

This issue suits collectors building a complete run of Mighty Samson or those focused on Gold Key's science-fiction and adventure line rather than buyers chasing recognized keys. Raw copies in lower and mid grades trade inexpensively and infrequently, generally through dealer inventory or online marketplaces rather than major auction venues. Certified high-grade examples, by contrast, command a real premium due to the very small population of copies submitted for grading, making a top-tier slab meaningfully scarcer, and thus more valuable, than raw grade alone would suggest.