THE THING #31

Cover shows strong gloss and bright color with sharp corners visible at top and bottom edges. There is minor edge wear along the right side and a faint crease line near the bottom right corner; slight surface rub is visible on the spine area. No major creases, tears, or color breaks are apparent, though the book is in a protective sleeve which limits full assessment. Interior and back cover were not assessed.

Published with a January 1986 cover date near the close of Ben Grimm's first solo title, this issue was scripted by Mike Carlin with pencils by Ron Wilson, inks by Kim DeMulder, colors by Bob Sharen, and lettering by Jack Morelli, under editor Mark Gruenwald. The story places the Thing alongside Jack Kirby's prehistoric creations Devil Dinosaur and Moon-Boy in a Hollywood-flavored premise, one of the odder detours in a run better remembered for Grimm's Battleworld aftermath and his stint in the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation. It is a mid-run issue rather than a first appearance or origin, and standard references do not treat it as a key.

Market behavior follows the pattern for late-run Copper Age Marvel titles that were printed in quantity and saved in quantity: raw copies are plentiful across dealer inventories and online marketplaces, and pricing sits close to the floor for any complete, readable book. The one factor that gives the issue any distinct pull is the Devil Dinosaur and Moon-Boy content, which draws thematic collectors chasing Kirby-adjacent appearances well outside the 1978 series. Certified copies are the exception rather than the rule; the census at the top grade is measured in single digits, which means the high-grade bracket is driven by scarcity of submissions and occasional registry demand rather than by broad-based competition.

Buyers divide cleanly. Run collectors completing the 36-issue series and Devil Dinosaur specialists absorb raw copies at essentially bulk pricing, with condition mattering less than presence in a want list, and low-grade examples trading mainly as filler. The certified tier is a thin, episodic market where a single motivated bidder sets the result and long gaps between sales are normal, so a graded copy should be treated as an illiquid holding rather than a reliable comp. Newsstand designation is worth noting for cataloging accuracy but carries minimal premium at this point in the distribution timeline.