Approximate
Condition Profile
MARVEL COMICS · 12/85 · NEWSSTAND
UNIT ECA-008393
THE THING #30
Secret Wars II tie-in featuring the Beyonder, Sharon Ventura, and Ron Wilson art from the Carlin/Wilson Thing run
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | December 1985 | Copper | Newsstand | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-008395 | ~9.2 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-008398 | ~9.0 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-008400 | ~9.0 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-008402 | ~9.0 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
| ECA-008393 | ~8.5 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and vibrant color with sharp corners overall, but there is a visible diagonal crease/fold line running through the upper right quadrant near the 'Secret Wars II' banner, and slight softening at the bottom left and bottom right corners. No major spine stress lines or color breaks are apparent, and the image is clear of stains or tears. Interior pages and back cover were not assessed from this photo.
// 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 | $90 |
// Archive commentary
The Thing #30 arrived during the tail end of Marvel's 1985 Secret Wars II crossover event, drawing the Beyonder into the pages of Ben Grimm's solo title alongside Sharon Ventura, Ethan Thurm, and the returning Demolition Man. Written by Mike Carlin with art by Ron Wilson, who had become closely associated with the character across his mid-1980s solo run, the issue reflects the era's heavy inter-title crossover structure under editors Jim Shooter and Mark Gruenwald. It holds no first appearances or origin significance and is best understood as a representative chapter of a well-regarded but commercially modest solo series.
Market data reflects a book with limited certified population and thin sales activity even at the top of the census, with only a handful of 9.8s and 9.6s recorded and no meaningful transaction history in the higher-population mid grades. Demand is driven almost entirely by Secret Wars II completists and Thing/Sharon Ventura collectors rather than any landmark content, keeping raw copies inexpensive across the grading spectrum. The gap between the top FMV data points illustrates how thin population reporting exaggerates apparent premiums at the pinnacle grade relative to the book's otherwise modest desirability.
This is a book for run-builders and Secret Wars II crossover completists rather than speculative buyers. Raw copies in low and mid grades trade for pocket change and are readily available in dealer discount bins and online lots; the primary value proposition sits almost entirely at the CGC 9.8 tier, where scarcity of high-grade newsstand survivors, rather than character or story significance, supports the price. Outside of that top slab tier, the issue functions as inexpensive filler for Thing or Beyonder-themed collections.
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