The Mighty Thor ##396
Marvel Comics • Thor Vol. 1
Writer
Tom DeFalco
Interior Artist
Ron Frenz
Cover Artist
Ron Frenz and Joe Sinnott
Publication Date
October 1988
Cover Variant
Newsstand Edition
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
In 'Into the Realm of Death!', Thor and the Black Knight (Dane Whitman) team up to battle the Egyptian God of Death, Seth. This issue is part of the 'Earth on the Verge of Destruction' storyline, leading toward the landmark issue #400. It features classic 80s artwork by Ron Frenz.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Fine- (CGC 7.5)
Condition Details
Visible moderate spine stress and color-breaking ticks along the spine. Slight blunting on the top-left and bottom-right corners. Minor surface wear on white areas of the cover. Appears flat with good color saturation.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $5 - $10; Graded 9.8: $45 - $60
Recent Sales
Raw copies typically sell for under $10. High-grade (9.8) slabbed copies have sold recently in the $50 range.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for professional grading unless for sentimental reasons. The cost of CGC/CBCS grading exceeds the market value of the comic in this mid-to-high grade condition.
Notable Features
Features the Black Knight. Presence of a UPC barcode identifies this as a Newsstand Edition, which is often rarer than Direct Editions for late 80s Marvel comics, though not significantly more valuable for this specific issue.
Authentication Notes
The comic displays authentic 1980s newsprint paper aging and period-accurate cover gloss. Staple placement and Ben-Day dots in the coloring are consistent with Marvel's 1988 production standards.