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Action Comics #340 front cover

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~4.0 AI-Estimated
Approximate
Condition Profile
ACTION COMICS #340
DC COMICS · 8/66
UNIT ECA-040324

ACTION COMICS #340

Jim Shooter and Al Plastino's "Power of the Parasite!", the first appearance of the Parasite, with a double-page Superman pin-up

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// Unit specification

PublisherCover dateEraVariantKey attributeStatus
DC Comics August 1966 Silver — 1st appearance of the Parasite (Maxwell Jensen) LISTED ON EBAY

// Copies in archive

// Run position

Part of an unbroken run · #338–#340 · 3 issues View all 99 available issues of ACTION COMICS →

// Condition analysis

⚠ AI-Estimated / Approximate Condition Profile

Graded at 4.0 (VG) on 2026-10-18, from new photos taken out of the sleeve: front, back, interior page and spine. Bright cover with good gloss. Spine edge frayed and chipped along its length. Light diagonal crease near the right edge. Worn lower-left corner. Cream pages, centre pin-up intact.

// Valuation — market reference

⚠ AI-Estimated values — approximate, not an appraisal
BracketGradeEst. market valueMarker
LOW_RAW 0.5 – 1.5 $48
MID_RAW 4.0 – 6.0 $101
HIGH_CERT 9.8 SLAB $9,000

// Archive commentary

Action Comics #340 (DC Comics, August 1966) leads with "Power of the Parasite!", a 14-page story written by Jim Shooter and drawn by Al Plastino that introduces the Parasite, Maxwell Jensen, a villain who drains the energy and powers of anyone he touches. He went on to become one of Superman's recurring foes.

The backup is "The Supergirl Identity Hunt!", a 10-page Supergirl story drawn by Jim Mooney, and the issue carries a double-page pin-up of Superman, which is missing from many used copies. The cover is by Curt Swan and George Klein.

It is collected as the Parasite's debut, a Silver Age Superman key, and copies with the pin-up still in place are the ones buyers look for.

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Listed on eBay. This unit is for sale on eBay: view the listing ↗ (opens eBay in a new tab). Questions about it are welcome here too.