Item Report
Silver Age DC Superman Comic Book Issue #167
By: DC Comics (cover art by Curt Swan, inks George Klein, writer Cary Bates)
Style: Silver Age Comic Book
Origin: United States
Materials: paper, ink
Age: Published February 1964
Condition: Very Good (minor surface wear, faint creases, bottom right corner soft, not slabbed or officially graded)
Value: $80–$150 (raw copy, grade: very good or lower; higher grade or slabbed copies can command higher prices)
Maker's Marks / Writing: Cover text: SUPERMAN (logo), 12¢, Feb. No. 167, DC, National Comics, Approved by The Comics Code Authority, dialogue bubbles, and story blurb: 'THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A MENACE LIKE THIS! BRAINIAC and LUTHOR team up to destroy SUPERMAN!'
Date: 2025-06-29 05:11:54.616562
Description:
This is the February 1964 issue of Superman, published by DC Comics (issue #167). The cover features Superman shrunken inside a cage, with Brainiac on the left holding a shrinking ray and Lex Luthor on the right with a serum. Dialogue balloons depict a rivalry between Brainiac and Luthor about destroying Superman. Notable cover elements include the Superman logo, the DC and Comics Code Authority stamps, and the price of 12 cents, signaling its place in Silver Age comic history. This issue is well-known among collectors as an early collaboration between Superman's top villains.
Curator Questions
Curated by Jade
Assessment:
A classic and collectible Silver Age Superman issue, featuring important appearances by both Brainiac and Lex Luthor. This issue is well-regarded for its cover art, story, and villain combination. The specific grade appears to be in the 'very good' range based on general cover wear, but not officially graded. The comic is unslabbed and shows minor creases and discoloration, lowering its value compared to near mint or slabbed copies. A word about fakes: Reprints or facsimiles of Silver Age comics do exist, often with a modern reprint logo or finer paper/printing. No immediate indicators of reproduction are visible here, but buyers should always confirm there are no hidden 'reprint' markings or modern barcodes. So sayeth Comics Lass!
Individual Images:
- The only image shows the full front cover
- offering clear views of color vibrance
- spine detail
- and corner/edge wear. Notable are soft lower corners
- faint vertical stress lines near the spine
- minor surface dirt
- and slight foxing along the cover edge which indicate general handling and age – consistent with a non-mint
- but collectible
- Silver Age comic. No interior or back cover image to verify page quality or presence of restoration.
Provenance:
No provenance or noting of prior sales/ownership was provided.
Condition:
Very Good (minor surface wear, faint creases, bottom right corner soft, not slabbed or officially graded)
Identification Score: 100%
All identifying features, including the Superman logo, issue number, month, publisher (DC), and storyline details, match known records for Superman #167 (1964).
Authenticity Score: 85%
This appears to be an authentic vintage copy based on cover price, color and paper aging, and absence of modern features such as barcodes or reprint logos. However, without interior inspection or professional grading, complete certainty is just short of perfect.
Image Memory Note
Front cover depicts Superman #167, published by DC Comics in February 1964 (issue number in upper right). Cover price is 12 cents. Superman is shown miniaturized and locked in a golden birdcage suspended by a chain; Brainiac (green skin, pink shirt) is holding a shrinking ray and says: 'Luthor, I should have the right to kill Superman. I made him tiny with my shrinking ray!'. Lex Luthor (bald, right side, visible from behind) is holding a blue serum and says: 'No, Brainiac! I should have the honor. I took away his super-powers with this serum!'. Bottom right yellow text box reads: 'THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A MENACE LIKE THIS! BRAINIAC and LUTHOR team up to destroy SUPERMAN!'. The spine shows creasing, lower right corner has a soft fold, and the cover edge has minor aging/foxing. No evident restoration, but no interior or back cover visible.
Keywords
Superman, Silver Age, DC Comics, comic book, Lex Luthor, Brainiac, 1964, USA, collectible, superheroes
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