Marvel 30 cent Price Variants

Below is a complete list of all the 1976 Marvel comics which had 30 cent variant covers. Much of the information included was first gathered by Jon McClure, and was published in several issues of Comic Book Marketplace (which I highly recommend to all serious Golden, Silver, and Bronze age collectors). I've included not only every issue, but also the cover date, the style of the price blurb, the estimated degree of scarcity of each issue, and whether or not I need it to complete my set.

There is some uncertainty about the general frequency in which 30 cent variants occurred. Some have estimated that up to 5% of an issue were variants, while others have contended that only 1% or less were. The reality is that there is probably not a set percentage across titles, or even across issues within a title. For example, all three X-men issues are more difficult to find than, say, the five Fantastic Four issues. However, X-men 100 is even more difficult to come across than 98 or 99. The case of Ironman is even more dramatic: the first four issues are relatively common, while issue 89 is one of the hardest to find. Just to confuse matters even more, there are significant regional differences in scarcity. I'll describe these in greater detail, especially as people let me know about their experiences looking for variants. In general, though, it's easiest to find the variant versions of the superhero titles, simply because their print run was much higher. Marvel's horror titles are significantly more difficult than superhero books, largely because they had smaller print runs and were not enthusiastically collected. Finally, the western titles appear to be scarcest. They not only had low print runs, but many of them were nothing but reprint titles in the final months of publication. With sales sagging and westerns going out of style, the majority of western variants were probably returned to the distributors unread, where they were likely destroyed. I've actually known of three large collections of variants (over 100 issues each) which did not have a single western book among them. I've attempted to reflect the relative scarcity of the variants below by placing them on a scale of 1, or the easiest to find, to 5, or the most difficult to find. These rankings have been derived from my own experience scouring comic books stores in the Northeast and Mid- Atlantic, as well as talking to collectors around the country.

I've also included in the table the style of the cover price. Why? Some of the 30 variants are conspicuous because the price appears either in the "Still only 25c" starbust, or even the strange circle and large square price and date logos Marvel used in August, 1976. However, many variants appear identical to the regular issues and have the typical double price and month boxes (click here for cover pictures showing examples of price logos). On several occassions, I've seen people searching for variants pull out only the obvious ones. In fact, my second large variant find was made when I was at a toy show and saw a dealer pull out about 40 NM variants from several long boxes. I went right after him and pulled out about 10 others which appeared to be regular issues. So keep an eye out for all styles, and pay attention to the actual price, not the logo. And have fun hunting.

TITLE AND ISSUE COVER DATE PRICE STYLE ESTIMATED SCARCITY NEED

Adventures on the Planet of the Apes 5 April Starburst 4 Have

Adventures on the Planet of the Apes 6 June Starburst 4 Have

Adventures on the Planet of the Apes 7 August Square 4 Have

Amazing Adventures 36 May Starburst 1 Have

Amazing Adventures 37 July Starburst 1 Have

Amazing Spiderman 155 April Starburst 4 Have

Amazing Spiderman 156 May Starburst 3 Have

Amazing Spiderman 157 June Starburst 3 Have

Amazing Spiderman 158 July Starburst 3 Have

Amazing Spiderman 159 August Circle 3 Have

Astonishing Tales 35 May Starburst 2 Have

Astonishing Tales 36 July Starburst 2 Have

Avengers 146 April Starburst 3 Have

Avengers 147 May Regular 3 Have

Avengers 148 June Starburst 3 Have

Avengers 149 July Starburst 3 Have

Avengers 150 August Square 3 Need

Black Goliath 2 April Starburst 1 Have

Black Goliath 3 June Starburst 2 Have

Black Goliath 4 August Circle 1 Have

Captain America 196 April Regular 2 Have

Captain America 197 May 2 Have

Captain America 198 June Starburst 2 Have

Captain America 199 July Starburst 2 Have

Captain America 200 August Circle 3 Have

Captain Marvel 44 May Starburst 2 Have

Captain Marvel 45 July Starburst 2 Have

Chamber of Chills 22 May Starburst 4 Have

Chamber of Chills 23 July Starburst 5 Have

Champions 5 April Starburst 2 Have

Champions 6 June Starburst 3 Have

Champions 7 August Circle 3 Have

Conan 61 April Starburst 2 Have

Conan 62 May Starburst 2 Have

Conan 63 June Regular 2 Have

Conan 64 July Starburst 2 Have

Conan 65 August Square 2 Have

Daredevil 132 April Regular 4 Have

Daredevil 133 May Starburst 3 Have

Daredevil 134 June Starburst 3 Have

Daredevil 135 July Starburst 3 Have

Daredevil 136 August Starburst 3 Have

Defenders 34 April Regular 1 Have

Defenders 35 May Starburst 1 Have

Defenders 36 June Regular 1 Have

Defenders 37 July Regular 1 Have

Defenders 38 August Circle 1 Have

Doctor Strange 13 April Regular 3 Have

Doctor Strange 14 May Starburst 2 Have

Doctor Strange 15 June Starburst 2 Have

Doctor Strange 16 July Starburst 1 Have

Doctor Strange 17 August Circle 1 Have

Eternals 1 June Starburst 1 Have

Eternals 2 August Starburst 1 Have

Fantastic Four 169 April Starburst 3 Have

Fantastic Four 170 May Starburst 3 Have

Fantastic Four 171 June Starburst 3 Have

Fantastic Four 172 July Starburst 3 Have

Fantastic Four 173 August Square 3 Have

Ghost Rider 17 May Regular 3 Have

Ghost Rider 18 June Starburst 3 Have

Ghost Rider 19 August Starburst 3 Have

Howard the Duck 3 May Starburst 1 Have

Howard the Duck 4 May Starburst 2 Have

Incredible Hulk 198 April Regular 2 Have

Incredible Hulk 199 May Starburst 2 Have

Incredible Hulk 200 June Starburst 3 Have

Incredible Hulk 201 July Starburst 2 Have

Incredible Hulk 202 August Circle 2 Have

Inhumans 4 April Starburst 3 Have

Inhumans 6 August Circle 3 Have

Invaders 6 May Starburst 3 Have

Invaders 7 July Starburst 3 Have

Ironfist 4 April Regular 3 Have

Ironfist 5 June Starburst 3 Have

Ironfist 6 August Circle 3 Have

Ironman 85 April Starburst 2 Have

Ironman 86 May Starburst 2 Have

Ironman 87 June Starburst 2 Have

Ironman 88 July Starburst 3 Have

Ironman 89 August Regular 4 Have

Jungle Action 21 May Starburst 3 Have

Jungle Action 22 July Starburst 3 Have

Kazar 15 April Regular 3 Have

Kazar 17 August Starburst 3 Have

Kid Colt Outlaw 205 April Regular 4 Have

Kid Colt Outlaw 206 May Starburst 5 Need

Kid Colt Outlaw 207 June Starburst 5 Have

Kid Colt Outlaw 208 July Starburst 5 Have

Kid Colt Outlaw 209 August Circle 5 Have

Kull 16 August Circle 1 Have

Marvel Adventures 3 April Regular 3 Have

Marvel Adventures 4 June Starburst 3 Have

Marvel Adventures 5 August Circle 3 Have

Marvel Chillers 4 April Regular 3 Have

Marvel Chillers 5 June Starburst 3 Have

Marvel Chillers 6 August Circle 3 Have

Marvel Double Feature 15 April Regular 3 Have

Marvel Double Feature 16 June Starburst 3 Have

Marvel Double Feature 17 August Circle 3 Have

Marvel Feature 4 May Starburst 3 Have

Marvel Feature 5 July Starburst 3 Have

Marvel Premiere 29 April Regular 3 Have

Marvel Premiere 30 June Starburst 3 Have

Marvel Premiere 31 August Circle 3 Have

Marvel Presents 4 April Starburst 1 Have

Marvel Presents 5 June Starburst 1 Have

Marvel Presents 6 August Square 1 Have

Marvel's Greatest Comics 63 May Starburst 4 Have

Marvel's Greatest Comics 64 July Starburst 4 Have

Marvel Spotlight 27 April Regular 3 Have

Marvel Spotlight 28 April Starburst 3 Have

Marvel Spotlight 29 April Circle 2 Have

Marvel Superheroes 57 May Starburst 3 Have

Marvel Superheroes 58 July Starburst 4 Need

Marvel Tales 66 April Regular 3 Have

Marvel Tales 67 May Starburst 3 Have

Marvel Tales 68 June Starburst 4 Have

Marvel Tales 69 July Starburst 3 Have

Marvel Tales 70 April Starburst 3 Have

Marvel Team-Up 44 April Regular 3 Have

Marvel Team-Up 45 May Starburst 3 Have

Marvel Team-Up 46 June Starburst 3 Have

Marvel Team-Up 47 July Starburst 3 Have

Marvel Team-Up 48 April Square 3 Have

Marvel Triple Action 29 May Starburst 4 Need

Marvel Triple Action 30 July Starburst 4 Need

Marvel Two-In-One 15 May Starburst 3 Have

Marvel Two-In-One 16 June Starburst 3 Have

Marvel Two-In-One 17 July Starburst 3 Have

Marvel Two-In-One 18 August Circle 3 Have

Master of Kung-Fu 39 April Regular 4 Have

Master of Kung-Fu 40 May Starburst 3 Have

Master of Kung-Fu 41 June Starburst 3 Have

Master of Kung-Fu 42 July Starburst 3 Have

Master of Kung-Fu 43 August Circle 3 Have

Mighty Marvel Western 45 July Starburst 5 **HAVE**

Omega 2 May Starburst 1 Have

Omega 3 May Starburst 1 Have

Powerman 30 April Regular 3 Have

Powerman 31 May Starburst 3 Have

Powerman 32 June Starburst 3 Have

Powerman 33 July Starburst 3 Have

Powerman 34 August Circle 3 Have

Rawhide Kid 133 May 4 Have

Rawhide Kid 134 July 4 Need

Ringo Kid 27 May Starburst 4 Have

Ringo Kid 28 May Starburst 5 Have

Sergeant Fury 133 May Starburst 4 Need

Sergeant Fury 134 July Starburst 4 Have

Skull 5 May Starburst 3 Have

Skull 6 May Starburst 3 Have

Son of Satan 3 April Regular 3 Have

Son of Satan 4 June Starburst 3 Have

Son of Satan 5 August Circle 3 Have

Strange Tales 185 May Starburst 3 Have

Strange Tales 186 July Starburst 3 Have

Super-villian Team-Up 5 April Regular 3 Have

Super-villian Team-Up 6 June Starburst 3 Have

Super-villian Team-Up 7 August Circle 2 Have

Thor 246 April Regular 3 Have

Thor 247 May Starburst 3 Have

Thor 248 June Starburst 3 Have

Thor 249 July Starburst 3 Have

Thor 250 August Starburst 3 Have

Tomb of Darkness 20 May Starburst 4 Have

Tomb of Darkness 21 July Starburst 4 Have

Tomb of Dracula 43 April Regular 3 Have

Tomb of Dracula 44 May Starburst 3 Have

Tomb of Dracula 45 June Starburst 3 Have

Tomb of Dracula 46 July Starburst 3 Have

Tomb of Dracula 47 August Circle 3 Have

Two-Gun Kid 129 April 4 Have

Two-Gun Kid 130 June Starburst 4 Have

Two-Gun Kid 131 August Starburst 4 Have

Warlock 12 April Regular 3 Have

Warlock 13 June Starburst 3 Have

Warlock 14 August Square 3 Have

Weird Wonder Tales 15 April Regular 5 Have

Weird Wonder Tales 16 June Starburst 4 Have

Weird Wonder Tales 17 August Starburst 4 Have

Werewolf by Night 38 May Starburst 4 Have

Werewolf by Night 39 July Starburst 4 Have

X-men 98 April Starburst 4 Have

X-men 99 June Starburst 4 Have

X-men 100 August Circle 5 Have

TITLE AND ISSUE	COVER DATE	PRICE STYLE	ESTIMATED SCARCITY	NEED
Adventures on the Planet of the Apes 5	April	Starburst	4	Have
Adventures on the Planet of the Apes 6	June	Starburst	4	Have
Adventures on the Planet of the Apes 7	August	Square	4	Have
Amazing Adventures 36	May	Starburst	1	Have
Amazing Adventures 37	July	Starburst	1	Have
Amazing Spiderman 155	April	Starburst	4	Have
Amazing Spiderman 156	May	Starburst	3	Have
Amazing Spiderman 157	June	Starburst	3	Have
Amazing Spiderman 158	July	Starburst	3	Have
Amazing Spiderman 159	August	Circle	3	Have
Astonishing Tales 35	May	Starburst	2	Have
Astonishing Tales 36	July	Starburst	2	Have
Avengers 146	April	Starburst	3	Have
Avengers 147	May	Regular	3	Have
Avengers 148	June	Starburst	3	Have
Avengers 149	July	Starburst	3	Have
Avengers 150	August	Square	3	Need
Black Goliath 2	April	Starburst	1	Have
Black Goliath 3	June	Starburst	2	Have
Black Goliath 4	August	Circle	1	Have
Captain America 196	April	Regular	2	Have
Captain America 197	May		2	Have
Captain America 198	June	Starburst	2	Have
Captain America 199	July	Starburst	2	Have
Captain America 200	August	Circle	3	Have
Captain Marvel 44	May	Starburst	2	Have
Captain Marvel 45	July	Starburst	2	Have
Chamber of Chills 22	May	Starburst	4	Have
Chamber of Chills 23	July	Starburst	5	Have
Champions 5	April	Starburst	2	Have
Champions 6	June	Starburst	3	Have
Champions 7	August	Circle	3	Have
Conan 61	April	Starburst	2	Have
Conan 62	May	Starburst	2	Have
Conan 63	June	Regular	2	Have
Conan 64	July	Starburst	2	Have
Conan 65	August	Square	2	Have
Daredevil 132	April	Regular	4	Have
Daredevil 133	May	Starburst	3	Have
Daredevil 134	June	Starburst	3	Have
Daredevil 135	July	Starburst	3	Have
Daredevil 136	August	Starburst	3	Have
Defenders 34	April	Regular	1	Have
Defenders 35	May	Starburst	1	Have
Defenders 36	June	Regular	1	Have
Defenders 37	July	Regular	1	Have
Defenders 38	August	Circle	1	Have
Doctor Strange 13	April	Regular	3	Have
Doctor Strange 14	May	Starburst	2	Have
Doctor Strange 15	June	Starburst	2	Have
Doctor Strange 16	July	Starburst	1	Have
Doctor Strange 17	August	Circle	1	Have
Eternals 1	June	Starburst	1	Have
Eternals 2	August	Starburst	1	Have
Fantastic Four 169	April	Starburst	3	Have
Fantastic Four 170	May	Starburst	3	Have
Fantastic Four 171	June	Starburst	3	Have
Fantastic Four 172	July	Starburst	3	Have
Fantastic Four 173	August	Square	3	Have
Ghost Rider 17	May	Regular	3	Have
Ghost Rider 18	June	Starburst	3	Have
Ghost Rider 19	August	Starburst	3	Have
Howard the Duck 3	May	Starburst	1	Have
Howard the Duck 4	May	Starburst	2	Have
Incredible Hulk 198	April	Regular	2	Have
Incredible Hulk 199	May	Starburst	2	Have
Incredible Hulk 200	June	Starburst	3	Have
Incredible Hulk 201	July	Starburst	2	Have
Incredible Hulk 202	August	Circle	2	Have
Inhumans 4	April	Starburst	3	Have
Inhumans 6	August	Circle	3	Have
Invaders 6	May	Starburst	3	Have
Invaders 7	July	Starburst	3	Have
Ironfist 4	April	Regular	3	Have
Ironfist 5	June	Starburst	3	Have
Ironfist 6	August	Circle	3	Have
Ironman 85	April	Starburst	2	Have
Ironman 86	May	Starburst	2	Have
Ironman 87	June	Starburst	2	Have
Ironman 88	July	Starburst	3	Have
Ironman 89	August	Regular	4	Have
Jungle Action 21	May	Starburst	3	Have
Jungle Action 22	July	Starburst	3	Have
Kazar 15	April	Regular	3	Have
Kazar 17	August	Starburst	3	Have
Kid Colt Outlaw 205	April	Regular	4	Have
Kid Colt Outlaw 206	May	Starburst	5	Need
Kid Colt Outlaw 207	June	Starburst	5	Have
Kid Colt Outlaw 208	July	Starburst	5	Have
Kid Colt Outlaw 209	August	Circle	5	Have
Kull 16	August	Circle	1	Have
Marvel Adventures 3	April	Regular	3	Have
Marvel Adventures 4	June	Starburst	3	Have
Marvel Adventures 5	August	Circle	3	Have
Marvel Chillers 4	April	Regular	3	Have
Marvel Chillers 5	June	Starburst	3	Have
Marvel Chillers 6	August	Circle	3	Have
Marvel Double Feature 15	April	Regular	3	Have
Marvel Double Feature 16	June	Starburst	3	Have
Marvel Double Feature 17	August	Circle	3	Have
Marvel Feature 4	May	Starburst	3	Have
Marvel Feature 5	July	Starburst	3	Have
Marvel Premiere 29	April	Regular	3	Have
Marvel Premiere 30	June	Starburst	3	Have
Marvel Premiere 31	August	Circle	3	Have
Marvel Presents 4	April	Starburst	1	Have
Marvel Presents 5	June	Starburst	1	Have
Marvel Presents 6	August	Square	1	Have
Marvel's Greatest Comics 63	May	Starburst	4	Have
Marvel's Greatest Comics 64	July	Starburst	4	Have
Marvel Spotlight 27	April	Regular	3	Have
Marvel Spotlight 28	April	Starburst	3	Have
Marvel Spotlight 29	April	Circle	2	Have
Marvel Superheroes 57	May	Starburst	3	Have
Marvel Superheroes 58	July	Starburst	4	Need
Marvel Tales 66	April	Regular	3	Have
Marvel Tales 67	May	Starburst	3	Have
Marvel Tales 68	June	Starburst	4	Have
Marvel Tales 69	July	Starburst	3	Have
Marvel Tales 70	April	Starburst	3	Have
Marvel Team-Up 44	April	Regular	3	Have
Marvel Team-Up 45	May	Starburst	3	Have
Marvel Team-Up 46	June	Starburst	3	Have
Marvel Team-Up 47	July	Starburst	3	Have
Marvel Team-Up 48	April	Square	3	Have
Marvel Triple Action 29	May	Starburst	4	Need
Marvel Triple Action 30	July	Starburst	4	Need
Marvel Two-In-One 15	May	Starburst	3	Have
Marvel Two-In-One 16	June	Starburst	3	Have
Marvel Two-In-One 17	July	Starburst	3	Have
Marvel Two-In-One 18	August	Circle	3	Have
Master of Kung-Fu 39	April	Regular	4	Have
Master of Kung-Fu 40	May	Starburst	3	Have
Master of Kung-Fu 41	June	Starburst	3	Have
Master of Kung-Fu 42	July	Starburst	3	Have
Master of Kung-Fu 43	August	Circle	3	Have
Mighty Marvel Western 45	July	Starburst	5	HAVE
Omega 2	May	Starburst	1	Have
Omega 3	May	Starburst	1	Have
Powerman 30	April	Regular	3	Have
Powerman 31	May	Starburst	3	Have
Powerman 32	June	Starburst	3	Have
Powerman 33	July	Starburst	3	Have
Powerman 34	August	Circle	3	Have
Rawhide Kid 133	May		4	Have
Rawhide Kid 134	July		4	Need
Ringo Kid 27	May	Starburst	4	Have
Ringo Kid 28	May	Starburst	5	Have
Sergeant Fury 133	May	Starburst	4	Need
Sergeant Fury 134	July	Starburst	4	Have
Skull 5	May	Starburst	3	Have
Skull 6	May	Starburst	3	Have
Son of Satan 3	April	Regular	3	Have
Son of Satan 4	June	Starburst	3	Have
Son of Satan 5	August	Circle	3	Have
Strange Tales 185	May	Starburst	3	Have
Strange Tales 186	July	Starburst	3	Have
Super-villian Team-Up 5	April	Regular	3	Have
Super-villian Team-Up 6	June	Starburst	3	Have
Super-villian Team-Up 7	August	Circle	2	Have
Thor 246	April	Regular	3	Have
Thor 247	May	Starburst	3	Have
Thor 248	June	Starburst	3	Have
Thor 249	July	Starburst	3	Have
Thor 250	August	Starburst	3	Have
Tomb of Darkness 20	May	Starburst	4	Have
Tomb of Darkness 21	July	Starburst	4	Have
Tomb of Dracula 43	April	Regular	3	Have
Tomb of Dracula 44	May	Starburst	3	Have
Tomb of Dracula 45	June	Starburst	3	Have
Tomb of Dracula 46	July	Starburst	3	Have
Tomb of Dracula 47	August	Circle	3	Have
Two-Gun Kid 129	April		4	Have
Two-Gun Kid 130	June	Starburst	4	Have
Two-Gun Kid 131	August	Starburst	4	Have
Warlock 12	April	Regular	3	Have
Warlock 13	June	Starburst	3	Have
Warlock 14	August	Square	3	Have
Weird Wonder Tales 15	April	Regular	5	Have
Weird Wonder Tales 16	June	Starburst	4	Have
Weird Wonder Tales 17	August	Starburst	4	Have
Werewolf by Night 38	May	Starburst	4	Have
Werewolf by Night 39	July	Starburst	4	Have
X-men 98	April	Starburst	4	Have
X-men 99	June	Starburst	4	Have
X-men 100	August	Circle	5	Have