Rangers Comics ##44
Fiction House Comics • Rangers Comics Vol. 1
Writer
Unknown (Standard for Golden Age Fiction House)
Interior Artist
Bob Lubbers, Maurice Whitman, George Evans
Cover Artist
Joe Doolin (attributed)
Publication Date
December 1948
Cover Variant
Regular/Direct
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Anthology featuring classic Fiction House adventure stories. Includes Firehair ('Firebrand Girl of the Golden West'), Skywolf, and several jungle/frontier themed shorts. The cover features Firehair defending against a giant eagle.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Good- (CGC 3.5)
Condition Details
Visible color-breaking spine stress, rounded and blunted corners (notably bottom right), possible slight centerfold rust based on age, a large price sticker on the top right cover which may cause residue or paper lift upon removal, and general edge wear. Darkening/tanning along the edges suggest aged paper stock.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $75.00 - $125.00; Graded (CGC 3.5): $175.00 - $225.00
Recent Sales
Recent mid-grade copies (VG range) have sold between $80 and $150. High-grade copies (VF/NM) are rare and can fetch over $500.
Grading Recommendation
Optional. While the comic has significant Golden Age appeal, the current condition (roughly 3.5) and the presence of a retail price sticker on the cover significantly impact the net value gain. Professional dry cleaning and cautious sticker removal would be necessary before submission to see a meaningful ROI.
Notable Features
Features Firehair, a key female protagonist of the Golden Age created by John Belcastro. Iconic Fiction House 'Good Girl Art' style cover. 52-page giant format common for the late 1940s.
Authentication Notes
Appears authentic with period-accurate 10-cent cover price, aged 'Fiction House Magazines' logo, and expected paper oxidation (browning) at the edges consistent with the high-acid paper used in 1948.