THOR #193

Pre-1977 book so no direct/newsstand distinction applies. Cover shows moderate wear consistent with a mid-grade copy: soft rounded corners, some edge and spine wear with visible spine stress lines, a small crease near the lower left, and light surface soiling/handling marks. There appears to be a small pencil price notation ('25c') at bottom left margin, and slight color rub along the spine. Interior and back cover were not assessed from this photo.

Cover-dated November 1971, this Bronze Age issue of Thor was scripted by Stan Lee with pencils and cover by John Buscema, the definitive Thunder God artist of the era. The story caps the run in which Loki seizes the Odinpower and turns Asgard on its head, and it brings the Silver Surfer into direct conflict with Thor before resolution. As a giant-size format issue of the period it paired the main feature with reprint material drawn from the character's Journey into Mystery origins, giving the book added heft for readers of the day.

The market profile here is that of a well-collected Bronze Age Marvel run book rather than a marquee key. The certified population is broad, exceeding five hundred Universal copies, and mid-grade demand is steady but modest, with prices holding flat across the 5.5 through 8.0 band. The decisive value driver is high grade: copies at the top of the census carry a substantial premium, with the 9.8 tier commanding many multiples of the 9.6 result on limited sales, a reflection of how few pristine survivors reach the highest slabs.

This is a collector's book bought to fill a Thor run or to secure a clean high-grade Buscema/Lee example, and its Silver Surfer content adds crossover appeal for that character's followers. Across grades it trades predictably: affordable and plentiful in reader condition, with a sharp step up only at 9.6 and a pronounced leap at 9.8. Buyers chasing registry-quality copies drive the ceiling, while mid-grade examples remain accessible and liquid.