Approximate
Condition Profile
VALIANT COMICS · 5/93 · DIRECT EDITION
UNIT ECA-004083
SHADOWMAN #13
Standard Valiant Shadowman issue from the Bloodshot/Shadowman crossover era
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valiant Comics | May 1993 | Modern | Direct Edition | — | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows sharp corners and clean, unrolled spine with no visible ticks or stress marks. Colors appear bright with no noticeable fading, and the surface is free of major creases or stains. Slight softness at the top right corner is visible but does not break color. Interior 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 | $3 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $32 |
// Archive commentary
Shadowman #13, published by Valiant Comics in May 1993, falls within the company's early-1990s expansion of its shared superhero universe, featuring the supernatural vigilante Jack Boniface as Shadowman. The series was part of Valiant's broader line that included Bloodshot, X-O Manowar, and Harbinger, all built around a tightly interconnected continuity that appealed to speculator-driven collecting habits of the period. This issue does not represent a first appearance, origin story, or other landmark moment in the character's publication history, and its creative team, while professionally competent, did not produce work widely cited in price guides as a genre-defining or artistically singular achievement.
The market profile for this issue reflects its status as a mid-run Valiant title from the early 1990s speculator boom, a period during which print runs were exceptionally high and modern-day scarcity is essentially nonexistent for most issues in near-mint condition. Census data confirms this dynamic: only 28 Universal copies have been graded, with the majority clustered in high grades, and no certified sales exist below 9.0. Demand is concentrated almost entirely among CGC 9.8 buyers pursuing census-topping copies or completing full-run Shadowman sets, with sales activity in that top grade remaining thin but steady.
This book is best understood as a low-cost, high-availability title suited to Valiant Comics completists and readers building out early-1990s superhero runs rather than as a speculative investment vehicle. Raw copies in low and mid grades carry negligible value and are readily available in back-issue bins and online bulk lots, while CGC 9.8 examples command a modest premium tied to their relative scarcity within the graded population rather than any broader collector demand. Long-term appreciation prospects are limited absent a resurgence of interest in the Valiant Universe or renewed attention to the Shadowman character in other media.
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-004080 | ~9.0 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-004083 | ~9.0 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-004091 | ~9.0 | Direct Edition | AVAILABLE |
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