THE MONSTER OF FRANKENSTEIN #2

Cover shows strong gloss and vivid color with sharp corners and clean edges; no visible creases or tears. There is a faint vertical crease line near the left edge and minor whitening at the top left corner. The book is in a protective sleeve, which limits full assessment of spine stress and surface texture. Interior and back cover were not assessed.

The Monster of Frankenstein #2 continues Marvel's early-1970s black-and-white-to-color adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel, scripted by Gary Friedrich with atmospheric art by Mike Ploog, whose moody, expressionistic linework defined the title's early run before it was renamed Frankenstein with issue #6. The series arrived as part of Marvel's broader push into horror and monster-adjacent titles during the Bronze Age, capitalizing on the era's renewed appetite for gothic and macabre material following the loosening of the Comics Code. As a second issue in a continuing adaptation rather than a debut or landmark single issue, it carries interest as part of the Ploog/Friedrich Frankenstein run rather than as a stand-alone key.

Market data shows a large surviving certified population (245 Universal copies across 254 graded), with healthy representation across mid and high grades, indicating the book was well preserved by collectors from the outset. Values remain modest through the mid-grade range and rise sharply only at the top of the curve, with 9.8 copies commanding a clear premium over 9.6 and below, driven by relative scarcity at the highest grade against steady demand from Ploog completists and Bronze Age horror collectors. Recent short-term averages at 9.8 running above the standing FMV suggest mild upward momentum in top-grade demand.

This is a book collected primarily by readers assembling the Ploog Frankenstein/Man-Thing/Werewolf by Night run or Bronze Age horror sets rather than speculators chasing a single key moment. Raw copies in low and mid grade trade as inexpensive reading or filler copies for long-box collections, while pressure concentrates at CGC 9.8, where population remains comparatively thin and buyers pay a real premium for top-of-census examples. Expect steady, unspectacular movement in low-to-mid grade with periodic spikes at the 9.8 tier tied to auction appearances.