Army Of Darkness #1 (1992, 1st Series) CGC 9.8 — Dark Horse Comics
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CGC 9.8 — Dark Horse Comics
A CGC-certified 9.8 copy of the very first issue of Dark Horse Comics’ official Army of Darkness movie adaptation — the debut chapter of what would become one of Dark Horse’s longest-running licensed comic franchises. Published to coincide with Sam Raimi’s 1992 cult classic, this issue kicks off the three-part adaptation with a striking painted John Bolton cover of Ash, chainsaw hand raised against the Deadite horde.
Description
Details
- Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
- Series / Title: Army of Darkness (1992, 1st Series)
- Issue: #1 (of 3)
- Cover Date: November 1992
- Story: Sam Raimi & Ivan Raimi
- Story, Cover & Art: John Bolton
- Feature: Movie adaptation; history article by Kurt Busiek
- Grading Company: CGC (Certified Guaranty Company)
- Grade: 9.8 NM/MT — Universal (Blue Label)
- Certification Number: 4254429017
Heritage & Detailing
Army of Darkness (1992) closed out Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead trilogy and became a horror-comedy touchstone in its own right, with Bruce Campbell’s Ash and his chainsaw hand and “boomstick” shotgun turning into enduring pop-culture icons. Dark Horse Comics licensed the film for a direct adaptation, released as this three-issue mini-series in late 1992 — scripted by the film’s own writers, Sam and Ivan Raimi, with British painter John Bolton providing the story pages, interior art, and covers.
This first issue set the template Dark Horse would return to for decades: the publisher went on to produce dozens of ongoing Army of Darkness series, mini-series, and crossovers (including with Marvel Zombies and Xena) throughout the 2000s and 2010s, all tracing back to this original 1992 adaptation. Bolton’s painted covers — moody, cinematic, and rendered rather than inked — remain a standout in early-90s licensed comics and are a large part of why this debut issue is sought after independent of the story inside.
Condition & Presentation
Encapsulated by CGC in a tamper-evident Universal (Blue Label) holder and graded 9.8 NM/MT — one tier below the top of the CGC scale and a very strong grade for a 30+ year old newsstand-era comic. The slab shows a clean, bright cover with sharp corners and square spine, consistent with the near-pristine 9.8 designation; label and holder are clean and undamaged.
Why RareFind Rates This Piece Rare & Collectable
A CGC 9.8 is among the highest grades achievable for this key first issue, making it a standout example for graded-comic collectors rather than a mid-grade reading copy. As the launch issue of Dark Horse’s entire Army of Darkness comics line, it holds appeal both to Evil Dead / Army of Darkness franchise fans and to collectors building out key first-issue and John Bolton cover-art runs.
