The Invincible Iron Man ##8
Marvel Comics • Iron Man Vol. 1
Writer
Archie Goodwin
Interior Artist
George Tuska
Cover Artist
John Buscema
Publication Date
December 1968
Cover Variant
Regular
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
The storyline is 'A Duel Must End!' featuring Iron Man battling the Gladiator (Melvin Potter) on a movie set. Gladiator is a recurring villain from the Daredevil series.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Good (CGC 4.0)
Condition Details
Visible color-breaking spine stress, rounded corners, minor surface wear, and potential color rub. Bottom right corner shows significant blunting. The cover shows moderate creasing near the bottom left and some edges show minor chipping.
Estimated Market Value
$40.00 - $60.00 (Raw); $90.00 - $120.00 (Graded)
Recent Sales
Recent sales for raw VG (4.0) copies range from $35 to $55. CGC 4.0 copies generally sell for $95 to $115 depending on eye appeal and page quality.
Grading Recommendation
Likely not worth professional grading due to current market value vs. cost of grading fees. This issue is a mid-tier silver age book without a high-demand key feature (such as a major first appearance). If pressed and cleaned, it may reach a 4.5 or 5.0, but still lacks significant value upside.
Notable Features
Features a battle with the Gladiator. Contains a pin-up of the Iron Man armor. Part of the early solo series run after Iron Man moved from Tales of Suspense.
Authentication Notes
Consistent with late 1960s Marvel print quality. The 12-cent price tag, 1968 publication date, and dot-matrix color patterns are consistent with authentic copies. Gloss level appears appropriate for the era.