Grendel ##1
Comico • Grendel Volume 1
Writer
Matt Wagner
Interior Artist
Matt Wagner
Cover Artist
Matt Wagner
Publication Date
March 1983
Cover Variant
Regular
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
First appearance of Hunter Rose as Grendel in his own title. This issue begins the legendary saga of the assassin, author, and criminal mastermind Hunter Rose, and his rivalry with Argent the Wolf.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Fine (CGC 6.0)
Condition Details
Visible color-breaking spine stress/ticks along the left edge, blunting on the top left and bottom left corners. General surface wear and minor scuffing typical of matte-finish black ink covers from this era.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $300 - $500; Graded (at 6.0): $600 - $800; Graded (at 9.8): $3,500+
Recent Sales
High-grade copies (9.8) have recently sold for over $4,000. Lower mid-grade copies (5.0-7.0) typically range from $400 to $850 due to the high scarcity of this 1983 independent title.
Grading Recommendation
Highly recommended for grading. This is a significant 'key' issue with a low print run. Even in mid-grade, the professional slab provides essential protection and authentication that significantly increases market liquidity for this specific title.
Notable Features
Major Key Issue: 1st Appearance of Hunter Rose (Grendel) in his own series. First appearance of Argent the Wolf. This is widely considered one of the most important independent comics of the 1980s. This is the Comico series which preceded the more common Mage and later Grendel series.
Authentication Notes
First printing features a $1.50 cover price. The paper stock is a non-glossy newsprint interior with a heavier cardstock cover. The printing registration on the Grendel logo is crisp. No known major counterfeits exist of this specific issue, though high-quality reprints exist (identifiable by barcode or price changes).