Key Comic Book First Appearances: Values & How to Spot Them

Swamp Thing First Appearance: House of Secrets #92 Value by Grade

Quick answer

Swamp Thing first appeared in House of Secrets #92; CGC copies sell from $591 to $13,200. How to confirm an original and spot reprints.

Updated 2026-09-25 · Sources: pricecharting.com, DC Comics, kleinletters.com, CGC Comics

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What are the key facts?

  • Character: Swamp Thing
  • Publisher: DC
  • First appearance: House of Secrets #92
  • Cover date: 1971
  • On sale: 1971
  • Creators: Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson
  • Value range (CGC, PriceCharting): $591 (CGC 2.0) to $13,200 (CGC 9.4)

Where Swamp Thing first appeared

Swamp Thing first appeared in House of Secrets #92 (cover date 1971), published by DC, by Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson. The source puts it this way: "First Appearance: HOUSE OF SECRETS #92 (1971)".

How much is House of Secrets #92 worth?

PriceCharting values for House of Secrets #92 (1971) by CGC grade, based on recorded sales and updated September 25, 2026:

  • CGC 2.0: $591
  • CGC 3.0: $818
  • CGC 4.0: $900
  • CGC 5.0: $1,232
  • CGC 6.0: $1,700
  • CGC 7.0: $2,600
  • CGC 8.0: $3,400
  • CGC 9.0: $3,950
  • CGC 9.2: $6,526
  • CGC 9.4: $13,200

The spread from CGC 2.0 ($591) to CGC 9.4 ($13,200) shows how much condition matters on a key issue. Restored, trimmed or incomplete copies sell far below these figures, and reprints and facsimiles (see below) are worth a small fraction. Grade and restoration are confirmed by a grading service such as CGC or CBCS; prices move with the market and the character's popularity.

How to tell you have House of Secrets #92

  • Cover art: this 1971 cover, drawn by Bernie Wrightson, depicts the first appearance of Swamp Thing.
  • Creator credit: Bernie Wrightson co-created the iconic Swamp Thing character for DC Comics, alongside writer Len Wein.

Checks that apply to any key issue

  • Indicia: the small print on the first page or inside cover gives the issue number, date and publisher; reprints usually say so there.
  • Cover price and barcode: a price or barcode format that did not exist in the year printed means a later edition.
  • Paper and staples: decades-old newsprint is tan at the edges; bright white pages on an old date are a warning sign.
  • Restoration: color touch, trimmed edges and married covers are common on expensive keys; a grading service can detect them.

How to photograph it for identification

Shoot the front cover flat, straight on, in even light, then the indicia page and the back cover. Include the top edge and staples in one frame. The app reads the title, issue number and cover and matches it against the checks above; the indicia photo settles most reprint questions.

FAQ

What comic is Swamp Thing's first appearance?

House of Secrets #92, cover-dated 1971, from DC.

How do I know if my House of Secrets #92 is an original?

Cover art: this 1971 cover, drawn by Bernie Wrightson, depicts the first appearance of Swamp Thing.

Should I get it graded?

If it is genuinely this issue and in decent shape, a grading service authenticates it and detects restoration. Read the comic grading guide first so you know what the grade will mean.

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Sources

  • pricecharting.comwww.pricecharting.com/game/comic-books-house-of-secrets/house-of-secrets-92-1971
  • DC Comicswww.dc.com/characters/swamp-thing
  • kleinletters.comkleinletters.com/Blog/house-of-secrets-92-how-the-cover-was-made/
  • CGC Comicswww.cgccomics.com/news/article/13345/featured-registry-bernie-wrightson/

Compiled by the ComicLens editorial team

Every fact on this page is taken from the sources listed above; numbers and prices are copied from the source, and prices name the guide or auction and its date. Research and drafting were assisted by AI, and each claim was then checked against the cited sources. Checked 2026-09-25. We do not buy, sell or grade items; the app identifies what you photograph and points you to these references.

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