Captain America ##344
Marvel Comics • Captain America Vol. 1
Writer
Mark Gruenwald
Interior Artist
Kieron Dwyer
Cover Artist
Kieron Dwyer
Publication Date
August 1988
Cover Variant
Direct Edition (Spider-Man head UPC box)
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Giant-Sized Issue. Features 'The Captain' (John Walker, who later becomes U.S. Agent) as he battles Viper and the Serpent Society. The story focuses on the Viper's plot to poison the D.C. water supply with snake venom to mutate the population.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Fine (CGC 6.0)
Condition Details
Visible vertical production/subscription crease running through the middle of the 'CAPTAIN' logo and primary character art. Notable spine roll or misalignment where the interior pages extend beyond the cover edge. Multiple spine stress marks (ticks) and softening of the bottom-left corner.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $3 - $6; Graded (CGC 6.0): $20 - $30 (grading fees exceed value).
Recent Sales
Recent raw copies in similar condition sell for approximately $5.00 on platforms like eBay. High-grade (9.8) copies sell for $75 - $100.
Grading Recommendation
Not worth grading. The prominent vertical crease and spine alignment issues significantly lower the grade cap. Professional fees would exceed the market value of the slabbed book.
Notable Features
Features John Walker as Captain America; includes the 'Spider-Man 25th Anniversary' UPC box logo characteristic of late 80s Marvel Direct Editions.
Authentication Notes
Appears to be an authentic 1988 copper-age Marvel production based on the paper stock appearance, age-appropriate tanning of the overlapping interior pages, and industry-standard UPC graphic placement.