Strange Tales Featuring: Brother Voodoo ##169
Marvel Comics Group • Strange Tales Vol. 1
Writer
Len Wein
Interior Artist
Gene Colan
Cover Artist
John Romita Sr.
Publication Date
September 1973
Cover Variant
Regular/Direct Edition (20 Cent Price Variant)
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
First appearance and origin of Jericho Drumm as Brother Voodoo. He returns to Haiti to find his brother, Daniel Drumm, dying at the hands of a voodoo priest. Jericho undergoes training to become the new Houngan to avenge his brother.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Good (CGC 4.0)
Condition Details
Visible spine stress and multiple color-breaking ticks along the left edge. Significant corner blunting on all four corners. Visible crease on the bottom right corner. Edge wear/chipping along the bottom and top margins. Minor surface scuffing and small indentations on the cover art. Fraying along the spine's top and bottom ends.
Estimated Market Value
Raw (as-is): $75 - $110; Graded (CGC 4.0): $125 - $160; High Grade (9.2+) can exceed $600.
Recent Sales
Recent sales for mid-grade raw copies vary between $80 and $130 depending on precise shelf wear. CGC 5.0 copies have recently sold for approximately $175-$200.
Grading Recommendation
Recommended only if personal collection preservation is the goal. For resale, the cost of grading plus shipping may exceed the value added for a 4.0/4.5 grade. A professional cleaning and press could potentially raise it to a 5.0, but the deep spine creases and corner wear are permanent limiters.
Notable Features
Major Bronze Age Key Issue. 1st appearance of Brother Voodoo (Jericho Drumm). 1st appearance of Daniel Drumm (as a spirit). 1st appearance of Damballah. Start of Brother Voodoo's solo series within Strange Tales.
Authentication Notes
The 20-cent price point conforms to 1973 standards. Ink density on the masthead and character coloring shows authentic age-appropriate oxidation. Paper stock appears to be the standard newsprint of the era with expected off-white aging.