Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom ##3
Gold Key Comics • Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom Vol. 1
Writer
Paul S. Newman
Interior Artist
Bob Fujitani
Cover Artist
Richard Powers
Publication Date
March 1963
Cover Variant
Regular
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Phil Solar battles a secret organization called 'The Hidden Hands' while dealing with a nuclear meltdown. This issue continues the early development of Doctor Solar's powers after his atomic transformation.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Good (CGC 2.0)
Condition Details
Visible heavy wear including significant spine roll and stress lines, numerous color-breaking creases across the cover, blunted corners, and several large pieces of adhesive tape applied across the top edge and top-right corner. Substantial edge wear and potential moisture staining; price stickers/dots adhered directly to the cover surface.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $10 - $20 | Graded (2.0): $40 - $60
Recent Sales
High-grade copies (CGC 9.0+) have sold for over $300, while low-grade copies in the 2.0 range typically sell in the $15-25 range on eBay as of late 2023.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for professional grading. The presence of tape on the cover and heavy creasing severely limits the numerical grade (likely 1.8 - 2.5). The cost of grading would exceed the market value of the comic in this condition.
Notable Features
Early Silver Age appearance of Doctor Solar. Painted cover by Richard Powers. Features the 'Now Only 12c' price point. Notable high-density 'Gold Key' trade dress.
Authentication Notes
Authentic Silver Age Gold Key publication. Characterized by the lack of a traditional UPC barcode (standard for 1963), specific 'Gold Key' logo in the top left, and slightly higher paper quality/stock compared to period Marvel/DC books. Interior pages for this era are typically off-white to yellowish.