Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith #1 (Limited Signed Edition 160/5000)

This is a first issue comic book of the 2005 four-part adaptation of 'Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith,' published by Dark Horse Comics. The glossy cover features high-quality painted artwork by Doug Wheatley, depicting key characters including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padm Amidala, Chancellor Palpatine, and Count Dooku against a backdrop of space battle and Coruscant. Notable features include the Dark Horse Comics logo, LucasBooks branding, and a hand-written limited edition numbering of '160/5000' in black ink near the bottom of Anakin's figure. Adjacent to the numbering is a bold signature in black marker, presumably by a member of the creative team such as Miles Lane or Doug Wheatley, or a cast member. The item is preserved in a plastic bag and board; the visible corners appear sharps and the colors are vibrant with no significant fading or paper browning, though slight glare on the plastic indicates standard storage. This Modern Age comic represents a high-production-value tie-in released to coincide with the film's premiere.

I have conducted a visual examination of this Limited Signed Edition of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith #1 (160/5000). The item presents in excellent aesthetic condition, exhibiting sharp corners, vibrant color saturation, and a lack of visible spine stress or color breaking. The Dark Horse 'Limited Edition' series was a specific marketing initiative for the 2005 film release, making this a distinct collectible from the standard newsstand or direct market editions. The signature, while bold and placed correctly according to the series' production standards, requires closer scrutiny. In the modern comic market, unverified signatures (those not witnessed by a third-party grader like CGC or CBCS) often carry a 'qualified' status. While the numbering '160/5000' aligns with the expected hand-inked aesthetic of this release, the value is heavily dictated by the confirmation of the signer—likely artist Doug Wheatley or writer Miles Lane. Market demand for Modern Age Star Wars tie-ins is steady but sensitive to saturation. Comparables for this specific 5,000-copy run fluctuate based on the presence of a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) and the specific autograph. Without a physical inspection, I cannot verify ink depth, the presence of 'autopen' mechanical patterns, or internal page acidity. To achieve the higher end of the valuation range, I would recommend professional grading and authentication. A full authentication would require comparing the signature against known exemplars and verifying any accompanying provenance documentation from Dark Horse Comics or LucasBooks.