The Flash #163 Value Guide

Published in August 1966, The Flash #163 is a landmark Silver Age DC comic known for its innovative fourth-wall-breaking cover by Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella. This issue exemplifies the creative 'hook' covers of the Julius Schwartz era, featuring Barry Allen pleading with the reader to purchase the book to save his life.

What Is The Flash #163 Worth?

The typical price range for The Flash #163 is $10 - $15 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Overall grade and preservation of the newsprint, specifically looking for page yellowing or brittleness.
• The presence of spine stress marks, color breaks, or corner blunting which significantly impacts the $10-$15 price range.
• Completeness of the book, ensuring no coupons or 'Mails' have been clipped from the interior pages.
• The vibrancy of the red and yellow inks on the cover, which are prone to fading if exposed to light.

How to Identify The Flash #163?

• Verify the August 1966 publication date and the 12-cent original cover price.
• Look for the distinctive meta-fictional cover art showing The Flash fading away while speaking directly to the reader.
• Check for the 'The Flash Stakes His Life' story title prominently displayed on the splash page.
• Confirm the presence of original newsprint interior pages and dual staple binding characteristic of 1960s DC production.

History of The Flash #163

Published in August 1966, this issue is famous for its Fourth Wall breaking cover by Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella. The story, The Flash Stakes His Life, features Barry Allen pleading with the reader to buy the issue to save him from fading out of existence. This issue is a quintessential example of the creative and often bizarre cover hooks used by DC editor Julius Schwartz during the Silver Age to entice newsstand buyers.