Approximate
Condition Profile
DC COMICS · 12/91 · NEWSSTAND
UNIT ECA-001563
ACTION COMICS #672
Superman meets Lex Luthor II face-to-face, with the 16-page Sega Sonic the Hedgehog promotional insert
// Unit specification
| Publisher | Cover date | Era | Variant | Key attribute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC Comics | December 1991 | Copper | Newsstand | — | AVAILABLE |
// Copies in archive
| Unit | Grade | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA-001563 | ~9.2 | Newsstand | AVAILABLE |
// Run position
// Condition analysis
Cover shows strong gloss and vibrant color with sharp corners and no visible creases or spine stress lines. Slight edge wear may be present but is largely obscured by the plastic sleeve and light glare. No stains, tears, or color breaking are visible on the front cover. Interior pages and back cover were not assessed, and the book is bagged which limits full surface inspection.
// Valuation — market reference
| Bracket | Grade | Est. market value | Marker |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW_RAW | 0.5 – 1.5 | $1 | |
| MID_RAW | 4.0 – 6.0 | $3 | |
| HIGH_CERT | 9.8 SLAB | $60 |
// Archive commentary
Action Comics #672 arrived in late 1991 as a fairly conventional issue in Superman's ongoing battle with the post-Byrne era Lex Luthor II, distinguished chiefly by two elements: Superman's first direct, face-to-face confrontation with the younger Luthor incarnation, and the inclusion of a 16-page Sega-sponsored Sonic the Hedgehog promotional insert featuring Dr. Robotnik and the Badniks. Dan Jurgens and Bob McLeod share cover and penciling credit, with Denis Rodier inking and Francis Mao contributing additional writing, penciling, and inking work under editors Mike Carlin and Dan Thorsland. The issue sits within the dense, multi-title Superman continuity of the early 1990s, a period defined by tightly serialized crossover storytelling across Action Comics, Superman, Adventures of Superman, and Superman: The Man of Steel.
Market data for this issue is thin, reflecting its status as a bulk-bin newsstand Copper Age comic rather than a recognized key. Certified population remains small, with only a handful of 9.8s and no verified sales below the 9.2 tier, meaning demand is concentrated almost entirely at the top of the grading scale among crossover-collectible completionists rather than traditional Superman-first-appearance buyers. The modest but persistent premium for 9.8 copies, despite the low absolute dollar figures, is driven less by the Luthor confrontation and more by nostalgic interest in the Sonic the Hedgehog insert, a novelty tie-in from Sega's earliest console-era marketing push that occasionally draws attention from video game collectors adjacent to comic buyers.
This issue is best understood as an inexpensive, easily sourced Copper Age Superman title with a mild crossover-appeal hook rather than a true key. Raw copies in low and mid grades are widely available and trade for minimal sums, generally moved in bulk lots or dollar bins rather than individually marketed. Certified 9.8 copies attract a small, dedicated pool of buyers interested in pristine census-top examples or the Sonic insert specifically, but the ceiling on value remains low across the board. Collectors of complete Lex Luthor II appearances, Superman office-crossover runs, or Sega/Sonic ephemera represent the primary audience, with most transactions occurring well below the threshold of serious auction-house interest.
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