Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 11/88
UNIT ECA-008682
DOCTOR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME #1
Launch issue of the Peter B. Gillis/Jackson Guice Doctor Strange ongoing series
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | November 1988 | Copper | — | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and vibrant color with sharp corners and no visible creasing or spine stress. There is no barcode box visible on the front, consistent with the era's variable cover format, and the book appears to be bagged/sleeved which suggests careful preservation. A faint printing line or minor surface mark is visible in the title area but does not appear to be physical damage. Interior and back cover were not assessed, so grade is capped conservatively.
// 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 | $75 |
// Archive commentary
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #1 (November 1988) launched Marvel's second ongoing Doctor Strange title, following the character's long Strange Tales and Doctor Strange (Vol. 2) history. Writer Peter B. Gillis and artist Jackson Guice took over the mantle, reframing Stephen Strange's adventures with a heavier emphasis on cosmic and metaphysical stakes befitting the "Sorcerer Supreme" title. The issue is a continuation rather than an origin or first appearance; Doctor Strange had already been established for over two decades by the time this series began, and no new characters of lasting significance debut here.
Market data reflects a book produced in the high-volume, well-preserved output of the late Copper Age, with a large certified population and correspondingly modest pricing across the grading spectrum. Demand is driven almost entirely by completists building the Sorcerer Supreme run and by collectors seeking a affordable, high-grade slab rather than by any speculative first-appearance premium. The pronounced value jump only appears at the 9.6-to-9.8 tier, consistent with a common book where pristine, unblemished copies are scarce relative to the overall census despite the book's ready availability in mid and lower grades.
This issue trades as a bulk-bin or long-box staple in raw grades, with negligible premium for condition below near-mint, making it a low-cost addition for readers and Doctor Strange character collectors rather than a target for investment-grade acquisition. The primary collector interest lies at the top of the grading scale, where a clean CGC 9.8 commands a meaningful multiple over lesser copies simply due to relative scarcity in that top slot. Expect steady, unspectacular demand tied to ongoing-series completism rather than to any landmark status.
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-008678 | ~9.4 | — | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-008680 | ~9.0 | — | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-008682 | ~9.0 | — | AVAILABLE |
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