Iron Man ##282
Marvel Comics • Iron Man Vol. 1
Writer
Len Kaminski
Interior Artist
Kevin Hopgood
Cover Artist
Kevin Hopgood
Publication Date
July 1992
Cover Variant
Newsstand Edition
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
This issue features the first full appearance of the Variable Threat Response Battle Suit, better known as the 'War Machine' armor. Tony Stark designs the suit to take on the Masters of Silence. While James Rhodes does not donor the suit in this specific issue to become War Machine until #284, this is the definitive first appearance of the iconic suit design.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Good/Fine (CGC 5.0)
Condition Details
Visible color-breaking spine stress ticks, significant blunting and wear on the upper and lower left corners, moderate surface scuffing on the black ink areas, and a price/grade sticker applied directly to the bag or cover (likely the bag, but obscures grading). The 'Newsstand' barcode is intact. General shelf wear and some minor color loss along the spine edge.
Estimated Market Value
Raw (5.0): $15-$25; Raw (9.8 potential): $150-$200; Graded (9.8): $400-$500
Recent Sales
High-grade 9.8 copies have sold between $400 and $550 recently. Mid-grade newsstand copies (5.0-7.0) typically range from $20 to $45 due to the popularity of the War Machine armor.
Grading Recommendation
In its current 5.0 condition, professional grading is not recommended as the cost of grading exceeds the value of the book. If the book was a candidate for a 9.6 or 9.8 after a press and clean, it would be highly worth it.
Notable Features
First full appearance of the War Machine armor. Newsstand edition (identified by the barcode in the lower left, which is scarcer than the Direct Edition for this era). Iconic 'War Machine' cover logo overlay.
Authentication Notes
The book appears to be an authentic 1992 newsstand copy. The paper stock and ink saturation are consistent with Marvel's early 90s production. No signs of restoration are visible from the external image.