BLACKHAWK #183
DC's Silver Age Blackhawk squadron in a standard mid-run adventure issue
// Unit specification
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows significant wear typical of a Silver Age book: heavy spine stress with multiple ticks and small splits visible along the left edge, a vertical crease running through the lower left corner with associated color loss, and rounded/worn corners especially at top left and bottom left. There is noticeable surface soiling and darkening at the top edge and along the spine, plus a small tear near the mid-left edge. The book is in a protective sleeve which adds some glare; interior pages and back cover were not assessed.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $4 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $15 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $300 |
// Archive commentary
Blackhawk #183 arrived in February 1963 as part of DC Comics' long stewardship of the title after acquiring it from Quality Comics in the late 1950s. By this point in the run, the book had settled into its formula of paramilitary aviation adventure, with the international Blackhawk Squadron – Blackhawk himself alongside Chuck, Olaf, Andre, Stanislaus, Hendrickson, and the perennially controversial Chop-Chop – taking on saboteurs, rogue scientists, and Cold War-inflected threats. Dick Dillin's pencils, a mainstay of the DC Blackhawk era, gave the series its clean, dynamic house style during these years. The issue does not carry a first appearance, origin, or other event typically flagged by price guides; it represents the steady mid-1960s output of the series rather than a landmark chapter.
Market data for the issue is sparse, reflecting the modest collector demand typical of mid-run Blackhawk issues from this period relative to the earlier Quality-era books or the later Silver Age superhero output that dominates guide attention. The only substantiated fair-market value sits in the low three figures at the 8.5 grade tier, with higher grades showing recorded census population and occasional sales but insufficient transaction volume to establish reliable pricing. This thin, inconsistent sales record across the upper end of the grade spectrum is characteristic of a title collected primarily by Blackhawk and war-adventure completists rather than by broad crossover demand.
This issue is best suited to Blackhawk series runs and Silver Age war/adventure specialists rather than speculative buyers chasing key-issue upside. Lower and mid-grade raw copies move steadily but inexpensively as run-fillers, while high-grade certified examples command a real but restrained premium given the absence of any 9.8 on record – a buyer seeking the finest known copy is effectively bidding into unclaimed territory at the top of the census rather than competing against an established high-grade market.
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-008316 | ~3.5 | — | AVAILABLE |
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