Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 5/91 · NEWSSTAND
UNIT ECA-003595
DARKHAWK #3
Early issue in the Darkhawk launch series featuring Chris Powell's fledgling armored vigilante
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | May 1991 | Copper | Newsstand | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows sharp corners and strong gloss with no visible creases, spine stress, or color breaking; the spine appears tight and flat. Slight glare from the protective sleeve obscures fine detail assessment in a few areas, and the book is currently bagged, which limits full evaluation of edges. No visible staining, writing, or tears on the front cover. Interior pages 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 | $75 |
// Archive commentary
Darkhawk #3 continues the 1991 Marvel series launched by writer Danny Fingeroth, following teenager Chris Powell as he adjusts to the amulet-granted armored form of Darkhawk. The character debuted in issue #1, which carries the origin and remains the recognized key of the run; issue #3 is a continuation chapter that develops supporting cast and the hero's early conflicts without introducing a notable first appearance, death, or landmark creative milestone.
Market activity for this issue is thin and typical of a non-key Copper Age Marvel title produced in high print runs. Most recorded sales cluster at the top of the census, with CGC 9.8 copies trading in the mid-double-digit range on a modest but steady sales count, while raw and lower-graded copies see little transactional data, reflecting minimal demand outside of registry completion. The book benefits only tangentially from Darkhawk's cult following, which concentrates collector interest on the character's first appearance rather than subsequent issues.
This issue is best understood as a filler or completion piece for Darkhawk series runs rather than a standalone investment target. Raw copies in low and mid grades trade for nominal sums reflecting bulk long-box supply, while CGC 9.8 examples draw modest premiums from registry collectors seeking top-census representation. Demand is driven almost entirely by series completists and Darkhawk fans rather than broader Copper Age speculation.
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-003298 | ~9.2 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-003595 | ~9.2 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-003597 | ~9.2 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-003590 | ~9.0 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-003593 | ~9.0 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-003601 | ~9.0 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
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