Approximate
Condition Profile
DC COMICS · 11/90 · NEWSSTAND
UNIT ECA-001610
ACTION COMICS #659
Roger Stern-era Superman title issue from the twilight of the Copper Age
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC Comics | November 1990 | Copper | Newsstand | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-001610 | ~9.0 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and sharp corners with no visible creasing or spine stress; colors appear vibrant and unfaded. The book is protected in a plastic sleeve which shows minor surface wrinkling but this does not appear to affect the comic itself. No visible edge chipping, tears, or writing on the front cover. Interior pages and back cover were not assessed, so grade is conservatively capped just below near-mint-plus range.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $2 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $4 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $60 |
// Archive commentary
Action Comics #659 arrived in November 1990, part of the long Roger Stern run that steered the Superman titles through the final stretch of the Copper Age before John Byrne-era reforms gave way to the crossover-heavy 1990s. Stern's tenure on the Superman family of books emphasized continuity-conscious plotting and a steady rotation of art teams, and this issue is a standard chapter within that run rather than a storyline milestone. It features no first appearance, death, or origin material, and is best understood as a workmanlike entry in Superman's ongoing Copper Age publishing history.
The issue trades as bulk stock, reflecting the broad availability of late-1980s and early-1990s Superman comics from a period of high print runs and heavy newsstand distribution. Demand is driven almost entirely by series completists and Superman collectors filling out Action Comics runs rather than by any speculative or crossover interest. Raw copies are common in the secondary market at nominal prices, and the book sees little attention outside of long-box browsing or discounted online lots.
Collectors most likely to seek this issue are those assembling a complete Roger Stern Action Comics run or building out a broader Superman Copper Age collection at low cost. Mid-grade raw copies remain easy and inexpensive to source, while a top-graded CGC 9.8 slab appeals mainly to registry-set builders chasing census population rather than to buyers drawn by the issue's content. Across all grades, the book functions as a supporting piece of Superman's publishing history rather than a standalone collectible in its own right.
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