Dagar the Invincible ##8
Gold Key (Western Publishing Company, Inc.) • Dagar the Invincible (Tales of Sword and Sorcery)
Writer
Don Glut
Interior Artist
Jesse Santos
Cover Artist
Jesse Santos
Publication Date
October 1974
Cover Variant
Regular Edition
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Sword and sorcery adventure featuring Dagar. In this issue, titled 'The Sword of Justice,' Dagar battles spirits of the dead and skeletal warriors in an attempt to save Graylin. Features classic 1970s fantasy tropes intended to compete with Marvel's Conan the Barbarian.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Good (CGC 4.0)
Condition Details
Visible heavy spine stress and color-breaking ticks along the left edge. Significant corner blunting, particularly at the top right and bottom right. Surface wear and scuffing visible on the cover art. General 'rounding' of corners and mild edge tanning. Possible subscription crease down the center or light vertical bends.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $5 - $10; Graded (9.0+): $45 - $75. In current VG condition, value is approximately $6 - $8.
Recent Sales
Recent sales for mid-grade copies of this issue range from $5 to $12. Higher grade copies (NM- 9.2+) occasionally reach $50+ due to the painted cover artist's popularity.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for professional grading. The cost of the grading service (approx. $25-$40) exceeds the current market value of a 4.0 copy. Only high-grade (9.6+) examples of this series are typically worth the investment of encapsulation.
Notable Features
Includes a fully painted cover by Jesse Santos. Features the recurring character Graylin. Part of Gold Key's 'Tales of Sword and Sorcery' branding. Non-code approved (Gold Key did not use the Comics Code Authority seal).
Authentication Notes
The comic displays authentic Gold Key paper stock and the typical 'Whitman' style production quality of the mid-70s. The 25-cent price point and logo placement are consistent with October 1974 releases from Western Publishing.