The Shadow Strikes! ##9
DC Comics • The Shadow Strikes!
Writer
Gerard Jones
Interior Artist
Eduardo Barreto
Cover Artist
Eduardo Barreto
Publication Date
May 1990
Cover Variant
Regular/Direct Edition
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Part two of the 'Fireworks' storyline. The Shadow (Kent Allard/Lamont Cranston) continues his investigation into a conspiracy involving explosives and underworld dealings in the late 1930s. Features appearances by Margo Lane.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Fine+ (CGC 6.5)
Condition Details
Visible color-breaking spine stresses, minor blunting on the top right corner, and a pink price sticker adhered directly to the top right of the cover which significantly impacts the grade. Gloss appears intact, but the bag shows heavy wrinkling reflecting underlying surface impressions.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $2 - $5 | Graded (9.8): $30 - $45
Recent Sales
Recent raw copies of this run typically sell in bulk lots or as dollar-bin items. High-grade 9.8 slabbed copies occasionally reach the $40 mark but have low liquidity.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for professional grading. The cost of the grading service (approx. $25-$40) far exceeds the market value of the book. The presence of the price sticker on the cover would also require careful professional removal or result in a lower grade/qualified label.
Notable Features
Features the signature realist art style of Eduardo Barreto. This series is known for being more faithful to the original 1930s pulp novels than other comic interpretations.
Authentication Notes
Standard copper age DC Direct Edition book. Features the DC logo box in the top left and a barcode box in the bottom left (obscured but typical for the era). Paper stock is standard newsprint/pulp of the 1990s.