Approximate
Condition Profile
DC COMICS · 4/64
UNIT ECA-036118
STRANGE ADVENTURES #163
Silver Age DC sci-fi anthology issue with a thin certified census and no graded 9.8 on record
// Unit specification
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-036118 | ~5.5 | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows moderate wear consistent with a Silver Age book: a vertical crease running through the soldier's helmet at upper left, mild corner softness at top corners, and light surface wear/rubbing along the edges. There is slight discoloration/toning near the spine and a small crease in the lower left corner area. No major tears, color breaks, or missing pieces are visible, but the book is in a protective sleeve which obscures fine surface detail; interior pages and back cover were not assessed.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $10 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $30 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $650 |
// Archive commentary
Strange Adventures #163 is a 1964 entry in DC's long-running science-fiction anthology line, a title that showcased rotating creative teams delivering standalone speculative-fiction stories in the mold that had defined the series since its 1950 debut. The anthology format means the issue carries no continuing headline character or landmark first appearance, and it predates the title's later notable additions such as the Animal Man backup feature that would arrive a few years on. Its interest rests primarily on its place within the broader Strange Adventures run rather than on any singular event within its pages.
Market data for this specific issue is sparse: certified population remains small across all grades, with only a handful of copies tracked and just one recorded sale, at a mid-grade level, establishing the only firm price point available. The absence of any transaction near the top of the certified population, or any 9.8 example at all, reflects both the book's overall collector profile and the difficulty of finding surviving copies in pristine condition from a mainstream-but-not-flagship 1964 anthology title. Demand is driven less by iconic imagery and more by completists building out the Strange Adventures run and Silver Age DC science-fiction collectors filling gaps.
This is a book that trades modestly in low and mid grades as a run-filler, with value climbing sharply only at the truly high end where certified copies are essentially unproven. Collectors pursuing it are typically series specialists rather than character-driven key hunters, and pricing should be expected to track general Silver Age anthology trends rather than exhibit independent momentum. A high-grade slab, should one surface, would likely draw interest primarily for its condition rarity rather than any content-driven premium.
INQUIRE_ABOUT_THIS_UNIT
Institutional buyers, auction houses, and private collectors — direct line to the archive.
