Superman in Action Comics ##587
DC Comics • Action Comics Vol. 1
Writer
John Byrne
Interior Artist
John Byrne
Cover Artist
Jerry Ordway
Publication Date
May 1987
Cover Variant
Direct Edition
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
A classic John Byrne era story titled 'The Shoemaker's Elves'. The plot involves Superman dealing with sentient, dangerous toys controlled by an antagonist known as the Toyman (Winslow Schott). This era of Action Comics was notable for John Byrne's post-Crisis on Infinite Earths relaunch of the Superman mythos.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Good (CGC 2.0)
Condition Details
Severe defect: large triangular piece missing from the bottom right corner of the front cover affecting both the cover and likely the internal NFL advertisement. Visible spine stress with color breaking, blunted corners, and minor edge wear on the left side. Overall foxing and tanning appear minimal, but the structural damage is catastrophic to the grade.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $0.50 - $2.00 / Graded (CGC 2.0): Discretionary, but likely less than the cost of grading ($30-$40). High grade NM copies (9.8) typically sell for $40-$60.
Recent Sales
High-grade copies of this issue have sold for approximately $10-$15 raw in VF/NM condition. Poor/Good copies like this are generally sold in dollar bins or used as 'reader' copies.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for professional grading. The significant missing piece on the front cover limits the grade to the 2.0 range regardless of other qualities. The cost of grading exceeds the market value of the book in this condition.
Notable Features
Features the Toyman. Notable for being part of the 'Superman' branding era of Action Comics following the 1986 reboot. No Barcode (Direct Edition). Sub-box in the bottom left promoting 'Superman No. 48'.
Authentication Notes
The book appears to be an authentic 1987 US release. Correct period-appropriate DC 'Bullet' logo, 75-cent price point, and newsprint paper stock characteristics visible in the tear area.