Star Trek ##39
Gold Key / Whitman (Western Publishing) • Star Trek Vol. 1
Writer
Arnold Drake
Interior Artist
Alden McWilliams
Cover Artist
George Wilson
Publication Date
August 1976
Cover Variant
Whitman Edition
Printing
First Printing (Whitman Variant)
Comic Description
Title: 'Frozen Sleep'. Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise discover a pre-warp civilization's sleeper ship in deep space. The story explores the ethical dilemmas of waking biological life from stasis and the dangers of ancient technology. Features Spock, McCoy, and Kirk.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Fine (CGC 6.0)
Condition Details
Visible spine stress and minor ticks along the left edge. Small color-breaking marks. Corner blunting on the bottom right and top right. Minor surface wear and potential edge wear typical of late 70s paper stock. Cover gloss appears decent but has slight fading in the dark blue areas.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $30 - $60 | Graded (9.0+): $150 - $250. Note: Whitman variants of this era are often more scarce than Gold Key editions, impacting value.
Recent Sales
Raw copies of issue #39 Whitman variants in mid-grade typically sell for $35-$50. Higher grade (VF/NM) copies can fetch $100+ due to the franchise's fanbase.
Grading Recommendation
Generally not recommended for professional grading unless the interior is exceptionally pristine and you believe it can achieve a 9.2 or higher. The cost of grading often outweighs the market value for mid-grade copies of this issue.
Notable Features
Whitman logo (W with smiley face) in the top left corner. This is a Whitman 'pre-pack' or 'multi-pack' variant, which had lower distribution than the standard Gold Key newsstand versions. Photo-style painted cover.
Authentication Notes
Authentic Whitman branding, correct 25-cent price point for the 1976 period. The Paramount Pictures Corporation copyright is visible at the bottom of the cover art. Paper stock appears to be the standard newsprint of the era with expected aging.