Approximate
Condition Profile
DARK HORSE COMICS · 1/01 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-010443
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #39
Dark Horse's ongoing Buffy series continues its mid-run storyline
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Horse Comics | 2001 | Modern | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover in a protective sleeve shows sharp corners, glossy unbroken surface, and no visible spine stress or color breaking along the fold. No creases, tears, or stains are apparent, and edges appear clean and square. Interior pages and back cover were not visible for assessment, so grade is based solely on the front cover's condition.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $2 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $4 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $55 |
// Archive commentary
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #39 is part of Dark Horse Comics' licensed ongoing series based on the television show, launched in 1998 and running past sixty issues before the title transitioned to a new numbering scheme later in the decade. By 2001, the book had settled into a steady rhythm of original stories set within the show's continuity, drawing on the core Scooby Gang cast of Buffy Summers, Willow Rosenberg, Xander Harris, Rupert Giles, and the ensouled vampire Spike. Cliff Richards served as the series' primary artist through much of this stretch, giving the comic a consistent visual identity that closely tracked the show's tone during its fifth-season era.
This issue does not carry any notable first appearance, death, or landmark creative milestone, and it trades accordingly as an ordinary mid-run installment of a long licensed series. Demand for Dark Horse's Buffy comics is driven primarily by completists building full runs of the ongoing series and by fans of the show seeking tie-in material, rather than by speculative key-issue collecting. The absence of a published fair-market value reflects this: the book circulates in quantity and rarely commands more than a few dollars above cover price in raw form.
Collectors of this issue are typically series completists, licensed-comics enthusiasts, or Buffy franchise collectors rather than investment-driven buyers. Raw copies remain widely available and inexpensive across grades, with modest premiums only for higher-grade examples. Certified 9.8 copies see occasional interest from grading enthusiasts assembling complete high-grade runs, but the book is not scarce in any grade and should be valued and acquired as a common, accessible piece of the broader Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics history rather than as a standout key.
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-010443 | ~9.2 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
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