The Mighty Thor ##302
Marvel Comics Group • The Mighty Thor Vol. 1
Writer
Mark Gruenwald / Ralph Macchio
Interior Artist
Keith Pollard / Chic Stone
Cover Artist
Keith Pollard
Publication Date
December 1980
Cover Variant
UK Price Variant
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Thor battles the villain Locus (making his first appearance) in the storyline 'The Arkon Agenda.' The plot involves Thor being trapped within a power-prism and losing his hammer, Mjolnir. Features appearances by Donald Blake and Arkon.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Fine (CGC 8.0)
Condition Details
Minor spine stress with small color-breaking ticks along the left edge. Slight blunting on the bottom right corner. Minor surface wear and potential light tanning along the edges. Paper appears white to off-white based on the top edge.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $5 - $15 | Graded (estimated 8.0): $40 - $60
Recent Sales
Standard direct/newsstand copies sell for $5-$10 in mid-to-high grade; UK 15p price variants often command a small premium (20-30%) for regional collectors but have a smaller market overall.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for professional grading. The costs of grading ($25-$40 plus shipping) exceed the current market value of the comic. It is best kept in a high-quality bag and board for preservation.
Notable Features
First appearance of Locus. Features the rare 15p UK Price Variant (intended for British distribution), which replaced the standard US cents price during production.
Authentication Notes
The 15p cover price is a verified variant for the UK market. The Spider-Man head in the UPC corner indicates a Direct/Variant distribution rather than a barcode newsstand edition. The print quality and paper stock are consistent with Bronze Age Marvel publications.