Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 2/91 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-005367
THE INCREDIBLE HULK #378
Peter David/Dale Keown-era Hulk issue from the acclaimed 'Mind Games' run
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | February 1991 | Copper | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and vibrant color with sharp, unblunted corners. No visible spine stress, ticks, or creasing along the spine edge in this image. Minor handling/edge softness may be present but not clearly visible under the protective sleeve's glare; front cover surface appears clean with no stains or tears. Interior and back cover were not assessed, and the book is in a plastic sleeve which may mask small defects.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $3 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $7 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $70 |
// Archive commentary
The Incredible Hulk #378 (Feb. 1991) arrived during Peter David's celebrated run on the title, with art by Dale Keown, whose kinetic, muscular style helped define the character's early-1990s look. The issue falls within the extended aftermath of the merged Hulk personality arc that David had been building since the mid-#330s-#370s, a stretch widely regarded by fans as one of the strongest sustained runs in the character's history. It carries no first appearance, death, or origin content of note, and its significance rests on being a well-regarded chapter within a fondly remembered creative era rather than on any landmark event.
Market data shows a comic with modest but persistent demand concentrated almost entirely at the high end of the grading spectrum. Certified copies sell for essentially the same price across a wide swath of mid-to-high grades, with values only meaningfully separating at 9.6 and 9.8, where recent sales and rolling averages point to renewed collector interest in top-census copies. This pattern is typical of a Direct Edition Copper Age issue that was heavily preserved by speculators at the time but generates only incidental demand outside of registry-driven completism.
Collecting interest in this issue is driven chiefly by Peter David/Dale Keown run completists and Hulk registry builders chasing high-grade certified copies; raw copies in low and mid grade trade as inexpensive reading copies with little upside. The real action is at the 9.6-9.8 tier, where scarcity of pristine, sharply printed copies supports a real premium over the flat mid-grade price floor, making this a book best pursued in top condition rather than assembled as a run-filler in average grade.
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-005365 | ~9.0 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-005367 | ~9.0 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
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