THE THING #9

Cover shows sharp corners, strong glossy surface, and no visible creases or spine stress lines. Colors appear bright and unfaded with clean edges; a faint vertical crease/glare line near the right edge may be a plastic sleeve reflection rather than an actual defect. The book is protected in a plastic sleeve, which limits close inspection of edge chipping. Interior pages and back cover were not assessed.

The Thing #9 continues the character's short-lived solo Marvel series from the mid-1980s, with John Byrne handling scripting duties over Ron Wilson's pencils and Joe Sinnott's inks. The issue centers on the Thing's relationship with Alicia Masters, a storyline the series returned to often as it explored Ben Grimm's life outside the Fantastic Four. The creative pairing of Byrne's writing with Wilson's long-standing visual take on the character gives the issue a measure of craft interest, though the series itself never achieved significant sales or lasting collector attention.

Market data for this issue is thin, with only a handful of certified sales recorded across the grading spectrum and no transactions at the top census grade of 9.8. The available sales at 9.2 and 9.4 point to modest values even in high grade, consistent with a title that generates little speculative demand. Pricing across raw grades trends accordingly low, reflecting the book's status as a common presence in back-issue bins rather than a sought-after Copper Age release.

This issue appeals mainly to Fantastic Four and Thing completists filling out a run, along with John Byrne bibliography collectors rather than character-first buyers. Given the shallow sales history, pricing at all grade levels remains soft, and even a pristine 9.8 slab would likely command only a modest premium over mid-grade material rather than a dramatic multiple. It is a book acquired for completeness rather than investment potential.