{"product_id":"devil-dinosaur-5-marvel-comics-august-1978-jack-kirby-story-art-kingdom-of-the-ants-raw-vf-nm","title":"Devil Dinosaur #5 — Marvel Comics (August 1978) — Jack Kirby Story \u0026 Art — Kingdom of the Ants — Raw VF\/NM","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDevil Dinosaur #5 — Raw\/Ungraded Copy\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e Marvel Comics Group\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIssue:\u003c\/strong\u003e #5\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCover Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e August 1978\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Raw\/Ungraded — estimated VF to NM (8.0–9.2 range) — see photos\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCover Price:\u003c\/strong\u003e 35¢\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComics Code Authority:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approved — stamp visible on cover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDistributor Code:\u003c\/strong\u003e No. 5, Aug., 02614\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCopyright:\u003c\/strong\u003e ©1978 Marvel Comics Group\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStorage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bagged and boarded in acrylic slab case\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCreative Team\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStory \u0026amp; Art:\u003c\/strong\u003e Jack Kirby\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCover Art:\u003c\/strong\u003e Jack Kirby\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCover Details — Kingdom of the Ants\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA magnificent Jack Kirby cover — bold, dynamic, and instantly recognizable. The cover banner reads: \u003cem\u003e\"In an age of monsters, HE was mightiest of all!\"\u003c\/em\u003e The story blurb announces: \u003cem\u003e\"Neither man nor monster can long survive in The Kingdom of the Ants!\"\u003c\/em\u003e The composition depicts the massive red \u003cstrong\u003eDevil Dinosaur\u003c\/strong\u003e — a T-Rex-like creature rendered in Kirby's signature explosive style — rearing up with jaws wide open and teeth bared, dominating the upper two-thirds of the cover. In the lower foreground, two primitive human figures — including the long-haired \u003cstrong\u003eMoon Boy\u003c\/strong\u003e — struggle against a swarm of giant ant-like creatures in shades of brown and purple. The white background with the bold blue \u003cem\u003eDevil Dinosaur\u003c\/em\u003e masthead and the red dinosaur create a striking, high-contrast composition. The Devil Dinosaur corner box (red dinosaur on yellow) appears upper left alongside the Marvel Comics Group banner. Comics Code Authority stamp and distributor code (No. 5, Aug., 02614) appear upper right. A UPC barcode is visible in the lower left — one of the first Marvel issues to carry the new UPC format introduced in 1977.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFeatured Characters\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDevil Dinosaur\u003c\/strong\u003e — the massive red T-Rex-like creature, protagonist\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMoon Boy\u003c\/strong\u003e — Devil Dinosaur's primitive human companion, long-haired figure in foreground\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGiant Ant Creatures\u003c\/strong\u003e — the antagonists of the \"Kingdom of the Ants\" story\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eJack Kirby — The King of Comics\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJack Kirby\u003c\/strong\u003e is the single most important creator in American comic book history. \u003cem\u003eDevil Dinosaur\u003c\/em\u003e was one of Kirby's final Marvel creations, launched in 1978 during his second Marvel tenure. The series — featuring a red Tyrannosaurus Rex and his primitive human companion Moon Boy in a prehistoric world — is pure, unfiltered Kirby imagination. Though the original series ran only 9 issues, Devil Dinosaur has become a beloved cult character, appearing in \u003cem\u003eMoon Girl and Devil Dinosaur\u003c\/em\u003e (2015–2019) and the Disney+ animated series \u003cem\u003eMoon Girl and Devil Dinosaur\u003c\/em\u003e (2023–2024), which has significantly boosted collector interest in the original Kirby issues.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhy Collect Devil Dinosaur Now\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Disney+ animated series \u003cem\u003eMoon Girl and Devil Dinosaur\u003c\/em\u003e (2023–2024) brought Devil Dinosaur to a new generation of fans, driving renewed collector demand for the original 1978 Kirby issues. Issue #5 in high grade is increasingly difficult to find — these were printed on newsprint in modest quantities and rarely survive in VF or better. The UPC barcode on this issue also makes it a transitional artifact of Marvel publishing history.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBack Cover — Spalding \"Street Ball\" — Rick Barry \u0026amp; Dr. J\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeatures one of the most spectacular and collectible sports-themed back cover advertisements of the Bronze Age — \u003cstrong\u003eSpalding presents \"Street Ball\" with Rick Barry and Dr. J\u003c\/strong\u003e, presented in full comic strip format. The ad depicts NBA legends \u003cstrong\u003eRick Barry\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eJulius \"Dr. J\" Erving\u003c\/strong\u003e playing street basketball with neighborhood kids, promoting Spalding rubber autograph basketballs. Key dialogue includes:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Hey look! It's Rick Barry and Dr. J!!\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Glad to see you're playing with a Spalding Rubber Ball like I grew up with.\" \"Yeah, those vinyl balls are just too slick!\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\"My man, for real ball handling, you need that… Spalding Touch!!!\"\u003c\/em\u003e [SLAMDUNK!]\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\"Now it's MY turn, Julius!\"\u003c\/em\u003e [SWISH!] \"What a magic touch!\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"You don't need magic — just practice with a Spalding Autograph Ball. It's got a rubber cover so you can really get a grip on it.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"I believe it! I believe it!!\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eBottom copy: \u003cem\u003e\"If you want the ball with the sure-handed feel, look for our signatures at your sporting goods dealer. Other autograph balls are signed by Wilt Chamberlain, 'Pistol Pete' and George McGinnis.\"\u003c\/em\u003e Published by Questor. This ad also references \u003cstrong\u003eWilt Chamberlain\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003e\"Pistol Pete\" Maravich\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003eGeorge McGinnis\u003c\/strong\u003e — making it a remarkable snapshot of 1978 NBA royalty. An absolutely iconic piece of 1970s sports and pop culture history.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCondition Notes \u0026amp; Market Pricing\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a \u003cstrong\u003eraw (ungraded) copy\u003c\/strong\u003e estimated in the \u003cstrong\u003eVF to NM (8.0–9.2) range\u003c\/strong\u003e based on photo review. The cover displays with exceptionally strong, vibrant colors, sharp corners, flat presentation, and minimal visible wear. Please review all provided photos carefully before purchasing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMarket pricing for raw Devil Dinosaur #5:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRaw FN (6.0): $15–22\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRaw VF (8.0): $28–40\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRaw VF\/NM (9.0): $45–60\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRaw NM (9.2): $55–75\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCGC 8.0: $40–55\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCGC 9.0: $65–85\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCGC 9.4+: $100–150+\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis copy is priced to reflect its estimated high-grade raw condition. Submitting for CGC grading is recommended — a 9.0+ return could significantly increase value, especially given renewed Disney+ interest in the character.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eShipping\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eShipped as an 8 oz. package in a rigid comic mailer with additional protective packaging. Fully insured and tracked. Ships within 1–2 business days of payment.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"E-TICKET CARDS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44098750218305,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0734\/2437\/1777\/files\/kvv78mfg39q40v5lz2ub6snpclt7.jpg?v=1782759018","url":"https:\/\/eticketcards.com\/products\/devil-dinosaur-5-marvel-comics-august-1978-jack-kirby-story-art-kingdom-of-the-ants-raw-vf-nm","provider":"E-TICKET CARDS","version":"1.0","type":"link"}