Approximate
Condition Profile
DARK HORSE COMICS · 1/03 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-010241
KISS #6
Direct-market KISS ongoing tie-in with the band as their comic-book alter egos
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Horse Comics | 2003 | Modern | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and sharp corners with no visible creases or color breaks. Slight spine stress is possible but not clearly visible under the protective sleeve; a small amount of glare obscures fine detail near the top edge. No stains, tears, or writing are visible. Interior and back cover were not assessed, and the book is in a protective sleeve which may mask minor edge wear.
// 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
Kiss #6 is part of Dark Horse Comics' early-2000s ongoing series built around the rock band's long-running comic personas: Starchild, Demon, Space Ace, and Catman, stand-ins for Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss. The series continued a licensing tradition stretching back to Marvel Comics' famous 1977 KISS one-shot, recasting the band as costumed adventurers for a new generation of readers, with Dark Horse's volume running from 2002 into 2004 as a direct-market-only title aimed at both comic collectors and KISS fandom.
As a mid-run issue of a licensed property with no first appearances, deaths, or landmark creative milestones attached, this book sits well outside the key-issue conversation. Its value is driven almost entirely by the enduring collectibility of KISS memorabilia rather than comic-specific demand, and by the relatively low print runs typical of direct-market licensed titles from this era, which keeps a modest premium on the rare high-grade slab even though raw copies remain inexpensive and plentiful.
This is a book most likely to interest KISS collectors assembling a complete run of the band's comic appearances rather than mainstream comic investors. Raw copies trade near cover price in the back-issue market and are easy to find in near-complete condition, while a small pool of graded submissions means a pristine CGC 9.8 can command a real premium purely on scarcity of high-grade census population, not on any narrative significance within the issue itself.
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-010241 | ~9.0 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
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