Publishers / Archie / The Mighty Crusaders (1983) / #3
3July 1983
$1.00; 1.25 CAD

The Mighty Crusaders #3

Archie · July 1983 · on sale 1983-04-14

First appearance: The DarklingFirst appearance: Joe Higgins, Jr.First appearance: The Shield
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How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
The Mighty Crusaders (Archie, 1983 series)
Issue
#3
Publication date
July 1983
Key date
1983-07-00
On-sale date
1983-04-14
Indicia publisher
Red Circle Productions Inc.
Price
$1.00; 1.25 CAD
Pages
36

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of The Darkling - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Joe Higgins, Jr. - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of The Shield - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0-cover1pencils: Rich Buckler; inks: Rich Buckler, Rudy NebresKim Brand, The Darkling First, Fly Girl, The Fly, Ralph Hardy, Joe Higgins, The Jaguar, The Shield, Tommy Troy
1-letters page1.6script: Robin Snyder
2Atlantis Rising Final Chapter: The Darkling Ingredientcomic story19script: Rich Buckler; pencils: Rich Buckler; inks: Ricardo Villagrán; colors: Barry Grossman; letters: O'ShawKim Brand, The Comet, The Darkling First, John Dickering, Fly Girl, The Fly, Joe Higgins, John Raymond, The Shield, Tommy Troy, The Web
4Chapter 1 American Shieldcomic story12script: Martin L. Greim; pencils: Dick Ayers; inks: Tony DeZuniga; colors: Barry Grossman; letters: Victor GorelickKim Brand, The Comet, John Dickering, Fly Girl, The Fly, Ralph Hardy, Joe Higgins, The Jaguar, John Raymond, The Shield, Tommy Troy, The Web
5The Darkling Ingredientillustration1pencils: Rich Buckler; inks: Rudy Nebres; colors: Barry GrossmanKim Brand, The Darkling First, Fly Girl, The Fly, Joe Higgins, Jr. First, The Shield First, Tommy Troy

Before you buy

  • Check the price box: Marvel ran 30-cent and 35-cent test-market price variants in 1976-77.
  • Canadian and Whitman editions exist for many bronze books; match the barcode area to the plate.
  • Look for Mark Jewelers inserts and date stamps - they affect collector preference, not authenticity.

Series context

‹ #23 of 13#4 ›

Sources

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