Tarzan Lord of the Jungle ##20
Marvel Comics • Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle Vol. 1
Writer
Bill Mantlo
Interior Artist
John Buscema
Cover Artist
John Buscema
Publication Date
January 1979
Cover Variant
Regular (Direct Edition - Note UPC barcode with strike-through)
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Story title 'Blood Bond!'. Tarzan continues his adventures in the Land of the Lost (Pellucidar). This issue features David Innes and a battle against a saber-tooth cat-like creature as Tarzan seeks to reach the Earth's core.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Fine/Near Mint (CGC 9.0)
Condition Details
Minor spine stress visible on left edge. Slight blunting on the top-right corner. Overall excellent color vibrancy and surface gloss. Alignment appears slightly canted to the left but within acceptable production limits.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $10.00 – $20.00; Graded 9.0+: $45.00 – $75.00
Recent Sales
Recent sales for high-grade raw copies range between $12 and $18. CGC 9.8 copies have sold for approximately $150-$200, though lower grades (9.0-9.4) rarely exceed $60.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for professional grading unless the interior is pristine and you believe it could hit a 9.6 or higher. The cost of grading exceeds the market value of mid-to-high grade raw copies for this specific issue.
Notable Features
Bronze Age Marvel issue. Features a 'Still Only 35c' price banner. Cover art by legendary artist John Buscema. Includes a 1-page host advertisement for Twinkies featuring Captain America.
Authentication Notes
The comic exhibits standard late-1970s Marvel newsprint and ink saturation. The UPC barcode contains a diagonal line through it, which is the early 'Direct Edition' indicator used by Marvel to prevent newsstand returns.