Issue cover. Verify the exact issue, printing, and cover before buying.
Marvel · Bronze Age · 1972
Hero for Hire #1
Marvel · 1972
Noted for: Luke Cage
KEY ISSUEShop this issue
We may earn a commission from these links, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure.
What is Hero for Hire #1 worth?
The Hero for Hire #1 is a Marvel 1972 graded comic. Based on 6 verified eBay sold listings from the last 90 days, recent graded examples have sold for $300 to $1,249. CGC 6.5 examples are the most actively traded grade in this sample, with a recent median around $352.
Before you buy
Verify the issue and printing, check the grader certification, review restoration notes, and compare recent sold examples in the same grade.
The Hero for Hire #1 in context
Why collectors care
The first appearance of Luke Cage, introduced in June 1972 as the first Black superhero to headline his own Marvel title. The book is a cornerstone of the Bronze Age and of Marvel's early-70s move into street-level storytelling.
How to identify it
Hero for Hire #1, June 1972. The series is formally titled "Luke Cage, Hero for Hire," and listings use both forms, so search on either. It was retitled "Luke Cage, Power Man" with issue #17.
Common mistakes
Do not confuse it with Power Man #17 onward or with the later Power Man and Iron Fist run. A facsimile edition also exists; confirm the 1972 printing and the 20-cent cover price.
Grade considerations
The bright yellow cover elements show soiling and edge wear immediately, and 1972 newsprint tans readily. High-grade copies with white pages are genuinely scarce.
Sold price summary
6 verified eBay sales from the last 90 days, grouped by grade.
- Source
- eBay sold listings
- Sample
- 6 sales
- Window
- Last 90 days
- Last checked
- Aug 8, 2026
| Grade | Sales | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 9.0 | 1 | $1,249 | N/A |
| CGC 8.0 | 1 | $600 | N/A |
| CGC 6.5 | 2 | $352 | $333 to $370 |
| CGC 8.5 | 1 | $350 | N/A |
| CGC 7.0 | 1 | $300 | N/A |
How this summary is built+
Inclusion
All 6 eBay sold (completed) listings we have for this item from the last 90 days, grouped by grader and grade. Asking prices and active listings are never counted.
Outlier handling
Within any grade that has four or more sales, a price below one-third of, or above three times, the within-grade median is set aside before the median is taken. No sales were set aside for this item.
| Grade | Sales | Included | Set aside |
|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 6.5 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| CGC 7.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| CGC 9.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| CGC 8.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| CGC 8.5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Shipping and fees
Figures are the sale prices as recorded by the marketplace. They are not adjusted for shipping, taxes, or seller fees, so treat them as sale-price reference points, not net-to-seller or all-in buyer costs.
Provenance
Every sale in this summary traces to an individual eBay listing, shown in the sold-listings table lower on this page. Methodology version 2026.1. Read the full methodology.
Hero for Hire #1 value FAQ
What is Hero for Hire #1 worth?+
Based on 6 verified eBay sold listings from the last 90 days, graded examples have recently sold for $300 to $1,249.
What grade sells most often for Hero for Hire #1?+
CGC 6.5 is the most actively traded grade in the current sample, with 2 sales and a recent median around $352.
What is the highest median grade for Hero for Hire #1?+
CGC 9.0 has the highest median in the current sample at about $1,249. Treat this as a sold-comp snapshot, not a guaranteed sale price.
Is Hero for Hire #1 worth grading?+
For this comic, compare the likely raw value, grading fees, shipping, and the median for the grade you realistically expect. Grading usually makes sense only when the expected graded value clears those costs.
Part of these hubs
Incredible Hulk #181
Marvel · 1974
1st: Wolverine (full)
Werewolf by Night #32
Marvel · 1975
1st: Moon Knight
Iron Man #55
Marvel · 1973
1st: Thanos, Drax, and Starfox
Tomb of Dracula #10
Marvel · 1973
1st: Blade