The Avengers ##293
Marvel Comics • The Avengers Vol. 1
Writer
Walter Simonson
Interior Artist
John Buscema
Cover Artist
Marshall Rogers
Publication Date
July 1988
Cover Variant
Direct Edition (Spider-Man head in UPC box)
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Part 3 of the 'Heavy Metal' saga and 'The Fate of Marrina.' The Avengers battle a Leviathan-sized Marrina (transformed into a sea monster) and the Sub-Mariner must make a tragic choice to stop her.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Fine- (CGC 7.5)
Condition Details
Visible color-breaking spine stress/ticks along the left edge. Minor blunting on the bottom-right corner. Light surface wear on the white areas of the cover. Slight horizontal ripple suggests possible minor moisture exposure or storage pressure.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $3 - $8; Graded (CGC 9.8): $40 - $60
Recent Sales
Recent raw copies in similar mid-to-high grade condition have sold between $4 and $10. High-grade CGC 9.8 copies occasionally reach $55.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for professional grading. The cost of grading exceeds the current market value for a mid-high grade copy of this issue. It is a common 'dollar bin' era book.
Notable Features
Features the Avengers team of Thor, She-Hulk, Sub-Mariner, Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau), and Doctor Druid. Death of Marrina (wife of Namor). Marshall Rogers cover art.
Authentication Notes
Standard 1980s newsprint interior with glossy cover stock. The Spider-Man face in the UPC box confirms it as a Direct Market edition. Print registration and staples appear consistent with late 80s Marvel manufacturing.