ACTION COMICS #656

Cover shows sharp corners, strong glossy surface, and bright unfaded colors with no visible creases or spine stress lines. Barcode box is intact and clean, and edges appear free of chipping or wear. Book is protected in a plastic sleeve which limits full assessment; interior and back cover were not examined.

Action Comics #656 continues the Roger Stern-written "Soul Search" storyline, notable chiefly for the first appearance of Lady Blaze in her demonic form, following her debut as Angelica Blaze in the previous issue. The issue also features a guest appearance by the New God Black Racer, alongside regular supporting cast members Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, and Lex Luthor. Kerry Gammill and Brett Breeding handle the cover and interior art, with Breeding also contributing inks and colors, typical of the era's Superman-family creative teams under editors Mike Carlin and Jon Peterson.

As a late Copper Age newsstand issue, the book sits within a low-demand tier of the broader Action Comics run, reflected in its thin CGC census of only ten universal copies with sales data limited almost entirely to the 9.8 grade. The $95 FMV for 9.8 slabs indicates modest but persistent collector interest, likely driven by completists tracking Blaze's transformation arc and Black Racer appearances rather than any major first-appearance premium. Lower-grade raw copies carry little independent demand, trading near cover price or slightly above, consistent with unremarkable back-issue-bin material from this period.

This issue appeals primarily to Superman-title completists and Black Racer or New Gods crossover collectors rather than general key-issue investors. Given the low print-run scarcity typical of 1990 newsstand copies and the shallow certified population, high-grade examples may see gradual appreciation, but the book is unlikely to command significant premiums outside the 9.8 tier. Most transactions will continue to occur in raw condition at minimal cost, with certified sales remaining sporadic and driven by census rarity rather than storyline significance.