Star Wars ##42
Marvel Comics • Star Wars (1977 Series)
Writer
Archie Goodwin
Interior Artist
Al Williamson
Cover Artist
Al Williamson
Publication Date
December 1980
Cover Variant
Newsstand Edition (UPC in barcode box)
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Part 4 of 'The Empire Strikes Back' movie adaptation. This issue features the iconic meeting of Darth Vader and the bounty hunters aboard the Executor. Key characters include Boba Fett, Bossk, Dengar, IG-88, 4-LOM, and Zuckuss as they are tasked with finding Han Solo and the Millennium Falcon.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Fine- (CGC 7.5)
Condition Details
Moderate spine stress with color-breaking ticks; slight corner blunting on upper right; minor edge wear on the bottom left; light surface scuffing visible on the white areas of the cover.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $80 - $120; Graded (7.5-8.0): $180 - $250
Recent Sales
CGC 8.0 copies have recently sold between $220-$270. Raw mid-to-high grade copies frequently sell for $100+ due to the high demand for the Boba Fett cover appearance.
Grading Recommendation
Yes, if pressing and cleaning are performed first. This issue is a major key and values jump significantly at 9.0 and above. Professional cleaning of the white cover backgrounds could improve the eye appeal significantly.
Notable Features
First full appearance of Boba Fett in a standard comic book (not counting the prior UK Weekly or Treasury Edition). Iconic bounty hunter cover by Al Williamson. Newstand Edition with UPC.
Authentication Notes
Authentic 1980 Marvel production. Proper dot-matrix color registration on the Star Wars logo and accurate paper tanning for the era. The 50c price point and UPC placement are consistent with newsstand distribution for late 1980.