CAPTAIN AMERICA #256

Cover shows strong gloss and sharp corners with no visible creasing or color break. Spine appears tight with no stress lines visible in this view. There is minor waviness/sheen from the protective sleeve that may be obscuring subtle surface texture. Interior and back cover were not assessed, so grade is based solely on the front cover as photographed.

Captain America #256 (April 1981, Marvel Comics) arrived just after Roger Stern and John Byrne concluded their well-regarded stint on the title with issue #255. The story is credited to writer J.M. DeMatteis with art by Mike Zeck and John Beatty, part of the creative transition that would carry the series through the early 1980s. This issue continues the ongoing adventures of Steve Rogers as Captain America, including his relationship with supporting character Bernie Rosenthal, introduced a few issues earlier under Stern's run.

The issue carries no first appearance, death, or landmark creative milestone, and it does not register a published fair-market value in standard guide data, placing it squarely among the vast majority of Bronze Age Marvel output that trades near cover price. Demand for the book is driven almost entirely by completists building a run of Captain America rather than by speculative or crossover interest. Zeck's art, later prized on titles like Secret Wars and later Captain America storylines, lends the issue some incidental appeal to fans tracking his early Marvel work, but this does not translate into meaningful premium pricing for the issue itself.

Collecting interest in Captain America #256 comes chiefly from readers assembling complete runs of the Bronze Age series rather than from key-issue investors. Raw copies in low and mid grades move steadily but modestly through back-issue bins, quarter boxes, and online lots, while a certified 9.8 example, though scarce on record, would appeal mainly to registry-set builders seeking a high-grade filler for their Captain America run. It is best understood as a solid, unpretentious entry in a long-running superhero title rather than a book with independent collector demand.