AI Appraisal Estimate

This is a vintage comic book titled 'The Demon' (Issue No. 9), published by DC Comics in June 1973. It features iconic artwork by the legendary Jack Kirby, who created the character Etrigan the Demon during his transition to DC. The cover showcases a bold, 20-cent price point and the 'Approved by the Comics Code Authority' stamp. The character is depicted in his signature color palette of yellow skin, red tunic, and light blue/grey cape, set against a dark, atmospheric castle background with a striking shadow of an entity wielding a trident. The physical condition appears moderate, showing signs of shelf wear and age appropriate for a 1970s Silver/Bronze Age переход book. Visible wear includes spine stress marks (color breaking ticks), minor creasing on the right-hand side, blunted corners, and some edge wear along the bottom. The newsprint pages visible at the edge show characteristic yellowing due to oxidation. Despite these flaws, the cover colors remain relatively vibrant with the large, red-and-yellow 'DEMON' masthead standing out. This issue is part of the original 16-issue run and represents a key piece of Jack Kirby's 'Fourth World' era style influence at DC.

I have examined the provided image of The Demon #9 (1973). This issue is a significant example of Jack Kirby’s 'King' era at DC Comics. Based on visual inspection, the book appears to be in 'Very Good' (VG 4.0) to 'Very Good/Fine' (VG/FN 5.0) condition. I observed several spine ticks that break color, blunting at the corners, and noticeable edge wear along the bottom right. The yellowing of the visible page edges and slight tanning of the cover indicate standard oxidation for early 1970s newsprint. The cover gloss is mostly intact, and the registration of the inks remains strong despite the shelf wear. This specific issue is not a top-tier key (like issue #1), but it maintains steady demand among Kirby completists and Bronze Age collectors. Market comparables for raw copies in mid-grade condition typically range from $35 to $70, depending on the presence of interior defects not visible here. High-grade CGC-slabbed copies (9.0+) fetch significantly more, but this specimen’s visible spine stress and creasing preclude that category. Limitation Note: This appraisal is based solely on digital images. A physical inspection is necessary to check for 'hidden' defects such as missing coupons, interior stains, or professional restoration (e.g., color touch-ups or cleaned edges) which can drastically reduce value. Verification of the 'off-white' vs. 'white' page quality requires a physical light-box test. For definitive authentication and valuation, submission to a third-party grading service like CGC or CBCS is recommended.