What If... Featuring Daredevil and Captain America #38
Marvel Comics Group • What If... Vol. 1
Writer
Bill Mantlo, David Michelinie, Alan Zelenetz
Interior Artist
Luke McDonnell, Paty Cockrum, Greg LaRocque
Cover Artist
Luke McDonnell and Klaus Janson
Publication Date
April 1983
Cover Variant
Direct Edition (Spiderman head in UPC box)
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Anthology-style issue featuring three stories: What if Daredevil had joined S.H.I.E.L.D.? What if Captain America were elected President? What if the Vision and the Scarlet Witch had stayed members of the Avengers? Key characters include Uatu the Watcher, Nick Fury, Matt Murdock, and Steve Rogers.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Fine- (CGC 7.5) to Very Fine (CGC 8.0)
Condition Details
Minor spine stress marks (color-breaking ticks visible along the left edge). Slight corner blunting on the top right. Some surface scuffing visible on the black ink of the cover through the polybag. Cumulative reflection makes precise surface assessment difficult, but overall structure appears flat.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $10 - $20; Graded (CGC 9.8): $120 - $150; Graded (CGC 8.0): $35 - $45
Recent Sales
Recent raw copies in similar mid-to-high grade condition have sold between $12.00 and $18.50 on secondary markets. High-grade 9.8 copies remain the primary driver for collectors.
Grading Recommendation
Not highly recommended for professional grading unless for personal collection purposes. The costs of grading ($25+) plus shipping exceed the market value of a raw copy in this condition (~8.0). It would only be financially viable if it were a guaranteed 9.8.
Notable Features
Features the popular 'Captain America for President' storyline by Roger Stern. Direct Edition with Spiderman logo. This issue is part of the original Bronze Age run of What If... which explored alternate realities of the Marvel Universe.
Authentication Notes
The item shows correct 1983 Marvel trade dress, including the $1.00 cover price (standard for the double-sized What If series at the time). Paper aging on the edges is consistent with 1980s newsprint stock.