Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 10/88 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-037198
STRANGE TALES #19
Late-run Copper Age Marvel anthology issue featuring Cloak and Dagger
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | October 1988 | Copper | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-037198 | ~9.0 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and sharp corners with no visible creases or color breaks; spine appears tight with no stress lines visible in this image. Direct edition indicated by the Spider-Man head logo replacing the barcode. Minor surface glare from the protective sleeve makes fine assessment difficult, and interior pages and back cover were not evaluated. No stains, tears, or writing are visible on the front cover.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $2 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $4 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $60 |
// Archive commentary
Strange Tales #19 (Volume 2) closed out Marvel's short-lived 1987-1988 revival of the Strange Tales anthology banner, a nineteen-issue run that used the title as a vehicle for Cloak and Dagger stories alongside rotating back-up features. By the time this issue shipped in October 1988, the series had settled into a niche corner of Marvel's line, distinct from the better-remembered original Strange Tales run of the 1950s-60s that had launched Doctor Strange and other Silver Age staples.
As the final chapter of a lightly collected, non-flagship series, this issue carries none of the first-appearance or landmark-storyline weight that drives premium demand. It exists mostly as a completist purchase for readers assembling a full run of Cloak and Dagger appearances or Strange Tales vol. 2 in its entirety, and the absence of a published market value reflects that narrow, steady, low-volume interest rather than any scarcity.
Collecting activity around this book is limited to run-builders and Cloak and Dagger specialists rather than speculative investors. Raw copies move occasionally in dealer discount bins and online lots, while certified examples are scarce simply because few graders have bothered to submit a low-demand finale issue; a high-grade slab would appeal only to a completist wanting to cap a graded set rather than to broader key-issue collectors.
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