Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 4/88 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-003693
ALF #2
Marvel's Star Comics adaptation of the hit NBC sitcom, direct edition
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | April 1988 | Copper | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and vivid color with sharp corners and no visible creases or spine stress. Spider-Man corner box (direct edition indicator) is clean and intact. Slight edge wear cannot be ruled out due to the protective sleeve reflecting light, and the book is bagged so precise edge/spine assessment is limited. Interior and back cover were not assessed.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $1 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $4 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $45 |
// Archive commentary
ALF #2 continues Marvel's licensed comic tie-in to the popular NBC sitcom about the wisecracking alien from Melmac, published under the company's Star Comics imprint aimed at younger readers. The series translated the show's household-sitcom humor into comic form, with Michael Gallagher handling scripts across much of the run and Marie Severin contributing art in the line's early issues. The book carries no first appearances or landmark creative moments beyond its role as a licensed tie-in property from the late 1980s.
Market data for the title is sparse, reflecting its status as a low-print-run, low-demand humor book rather than a heavily tracked superhero or horror key. Sales activity in the certified population is limited to a handful of transactions across the grade spread, with only modest premiums separating mid and high grades, indicating a shallow but stable collector base built around ALF nostalgia and Star Comics completism rather than speculative investment.
The book is best understood as a nostalgia and completist purchase for collectors of 1980s licensed television comics or Star Comics imprint runs, rather than a mainstream investment vehicle. Raw copies in low and mid grades trade cheaply and are readily available, while top-census CGC 9.8 examples command a modest premium reflecting genuine scarcity at the highest tier rather than broad demand. Pricing across the grade spectrum should be expected to remain flat and thinly traded for the foreseeable future.
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-003472 | ~9.2 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-003693 | ~9.0 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
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