THE DEMON #4

Cover shows a prominent vertical crease running through the center of the cover extending from mid-height down to the lower third, along with a smaller crease near the top logo area. Spine shows visible white stress marks/ticks and slight wear at top and bottom. Corners show mild blunting, and the book is in a protective sleeve which slightly obscures fine edge detail. Interior and back cover were not assessed.

The Demon #4 continues Jack Kirby's short-lived but influential 1972-1974 series for DC, in which Kirby fused Arthurian myth, horror, and superhero action around the dual identity of Jason Blood and his demonic alter ego Etrigan. Kirby wrote, plotted, and drew the series during his early-1970s DC tenure, with Mike Royer providing inks and lettering in his signature clean, Kirby-faithful style. While the character's true landmark issue is #1 (first appearance of Etrigan), #4 is a solid representative issue from the same Kirby run, valued by collectors of the series and of Kirby's DC output generally rather than as a first-appearance or origin book.

Market data shows a wide census of nearly 100 CGC Universal copies, reflecting steady collector interest in the title without the intense competition seen on true first-appearance issues. Pricing is flat across the mid-to-high grades (roughly $65 from 9.0 through 9.4) before jumping sharply at the top of the grade scale, a pattern typical of Bronze Age books where high-grade survivors are scarce relative to demand from Kirby completists and CGC registry builders. Lower grades trade modestly, consistent with a book bought primarily for reading and Kirby-run completion rather than speculative first-appearance premiums.

This issue suits Kirby collectors assembling a full run of The Demon and Bronze Age DC horror-superhero buyers rather than key-issue investors. Raw copies in low and mid grade move at modest, stable prices reflecting genuine but unspectacular demand, while the jump to CGC 9.8 reflects rarity at the top of the grading curve more than any inherent scarcity of the issue itself. Expect steady, unspurred appreciation tied to broader Kirby and Bronze Age market trends rather than issue-specific catalysts.