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Cover: Ron Frenz & Klaus Janson

The Amazing Spider-Man #252

Name: The Amazing Spider-Man #252
Brand: Marvel
Availability: InStock

May 1984 · Marvel · 0.60 USD; 0.25 GBP; 0.75 CAD

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“Homecoming”

★ Key event — Spider-Man's black costume debuts in continuity★ Key event — Spider-Man★ 1st appearance — Venom

In "Homecoming," Spider-Man returns to New York after his time on the Beyonder’s battlefield, adjusting to life with a mysterious new black-and-white symbiotic suit. Written by Roger Stern and Tom DeFalco, with art by Ron Frenz and inks by Brett Breeding, the issue captures the web-slinger’s emotional reunion with his world—complete with a cover by Ron Frenz and Klaus Janson that perfectly frames his triumphant return.

writer Roger Stern · writer Tom DeFalco · artist Ron Frenz · inker Brett Breeding · colorist Glynis Wein · letterer Joe Rosen · cover Ron Frenz, Klaus Janson

ComicBooks.com Value

Our Model is In Beta

Raw (VF) $110

CGC 9.8 · 2113 in census $998

CGC 9.6 · 4963 in census $365

CGC 9.4 · 4901 in census $292

CGC 9.2 · 3488 in census $217

CGC 9.0 · 3019 in census $205

CGC 8.5 · 2624 in census $179

Show all 19 grades ▾

CGC 8.0 · 1706 in census $159

CGC 7.5 · 1194 in census $130

CGC 7.0 · 849 in census $130

CGC 6.5 · 483 in census $130

CGC 6.0 · 394 in census $100*

CGC 5.5 · 190 in census $90*

CGC 5.0 · 157 in census $79*

CGC 4.5 · 108 in census $59*

CGC 4.0 · 82 in census $50*

CGC 3.5 · 37 in census $41*

CGC 3.0 · 24 in census $27*

CGC 2.5 · 7 in census $27*

CGC 2.0 · 3 in census $22*

* estimate — limited direct-sales data at this grade

Our model’s value — refined as new sales data arrives · CGC census counts shown where available

This exact issue on ebay

CGC 9.9 $33,000 1 listing

CGC 9.8 ▾ $1,475–$1,700 3 listings

CGC 9.8 $1475 CGC 9.8 · Newsstand $1599.99 CGC 9.8 · Newsstand $1699.99

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CGC 9.4 ▾ $346–$395 3 listings

CGC 9.4 $345.99 CGC 9.4 · Variant $395 CGC 9.4 · Newsstand $395

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CGC 9.2 $290 CGC 9.2 · Newsstand $299.95 CGC 9.2 · Newsstand $305.9 CGC 9.2 $350 CGC 9.2 · Newsstand $350 CGC 9.2 · Newsstand $354.98

CGC 9 ▾ $275–$327 4 listings

CGC 9 $274.99 CGC 9 $299.95 CGC 9 · Newsstand $299.95 CGC 9 $327

CGC 8.5 ▾ $225–$712 6 listings

CGC 8.5 · Newsstand $225 CGC 8.5 · Newsstand $225 CGC 8.5 $229.99 CGC 8.5 $230 CGC 8.5 · Newsstand $249.95 CGC 8.5 $711.5

CGC 8 $270 1 listing CGC 7 $200 1 listing CGC 6.5 $160 1 listing CGC 5 $285 1 listing

CGC ▾ $420–$1,450 2 listings

CGC $420 CGC · Newsstand $1450

Raw — MINT $1,299 1 listing Raw — NM $195 1 listing Raw — NM- $250 1 listing Raw — VF/NM $243 1 listing Raw — VF+ $214 1 listing

Raw — VF ▾ $175–$199 2 listings

VF $175 VF · Newsstand $199

Raw — FN/VF $150 1 listing Raw — F/VF $200 1 listing Raw — VG+ $180 1 listing Raw — VG $135 1 listing Raw — VERY GOOD $275 1 listing

Raw / ungraded ▾ $99.95–$390 35 listings

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Trivia · 8 facts

First published appearance of Spider-Man's black symbiote costume (cover date May 1984; on-sale January 31, 1984), predating the in-story origin in Secret Wars #8 by approximately seven months.
Plotted by Roger Stern (his final issue on the title) and scripted by Tom DeFalco, with interior pencils by Ron Frenz and inks by Brett Breeding; editor Danny Fingeroth, Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter.
Cover penciled by Ron Frenz and inked by Klaus Janson as a deliberate homage to the Steve Ditko cover of Amazing Fantasy #15, visually positioning the issue as a new beginning for the character.
The black costume concept originated with fan Randy Schueller, whose 1982 Marvel talent-search submission for a stealthy black suit was purchased by Jim Shooter; the alien/symbiote nature of the costume was a later creative addition by the Marvel editorial and creative team.
ASM #252 ties with Marvel Team-Up #141 (also cover-dated May 1984) and Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #90 as simultaneous first published appearances of the black costume across Marvel's Spider-Man titles.
The issue introduces the symbiote in-story as a costume that obeys Peter Parker's mental commands, morphs into street clothes, and stores his belongings — its alien, sentient nature is not revealed until Amazing Spider-Man #258.
The issue kicked off the 'Alien Costume Saga,' running through ASM #263, Spectacular Spider-Man #90–100, Marvel Team-Up #141–150, and Web of Spider-Man #1, later collected in The Amazing Spider-Man: The Complete Alien Costume Saga trade paperbacks.
The Alien Costume Saga was loosely adapted for screen in Spider-Man: The Animated Series (the three-part 'Alien Costume' arc, later released as the direct-to-video Spider-Man: The Venom Saga) and served as a primary source for the symbiote storyline in the 2007 film Spider-Man 3.