Superman Vol. 2 #100 - The Death of Clark Kent

This is a physical copy of the Superman Vol. 2, issue #100 comic book, published by DC Comics with a cover date of May 1995. The book features a multi-layered cover design typical of the 1990s speculator era, specifically a translucent vellum or plastic 'overlay' cover featuring the title 'THE DEATH OF CLARK KENT' in bold, silver-textured block lettering over a black background. Beneath this overlay, a blue silhouette of Superman carrying his civilian clothes is visible. This issue is notable for being an oversized '100th Issue Spectacular' and features creative credits to Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding, and Joe Rubinstein. The corner box displays the DC logo and a special gold-toned '100' wreath emblem. Regarding condition, the comic is currently stored in a protective plastic poly-bag, which appears somewhat wrinkled and clouding, potentially obscuring fine surface details. However, visible through the plastic, some vertical creasing is apparent on the black background of the overlay, likely reflecting 'handling wear' which is common for this type of delicate plasticized cover material. The colors remain bold with no significant sun-fading visible. There are other comics visible behind this primary item, suggesting it is part of a bulk collection. This issue is a key installment in the 'Death of Clark Kent' storyline during the Modern Age of comic books.

Based on my visual examination of this copy of Superman Vol. 2 #100 (May 1995), I have assessed it as an ungraded, raw comic book from the Modern Age. This issue, marking the conclusion of 'The Death of Clark Kent' storyline, features the distinct chromium-style or heavy cardstock overlay cover common to mid-90s 'speculator era' increased production runs. Authenticity appears genuine, as the cover trade dress, including the $2.95 price point and the gold '100' wreath, matches standard DC publications from this period. The condition is the primary limiting factor for value. While the book is bagged, I can observe significant handling stress through the plastic. The black background of the cover material is notorious for showing every fingerprint and spine tick. The prompt notes vertical creasing on the overlay, and this type of defect breaks the color and significantly lowers technical grading, likely placing this copy in the Fine (FN) to Very Fine (VF) range at best, rather than Near Mint. While the colors remain bold, the 'collector's edition' nature of this book means finding high-grade copies is not difficult, as many were preserved immediately upon release. Market conditions for 1990s Superman comics, outside of the actual 'Death of Superman' (Superman #75), are flat. This is a high-print-run book easily found in bargain bins. Recent sales for raw copies generally hover between $3 and $10, with slightly higher realized prices for pristine, unread copies. Given the visible wear, I place the value in the $5-$15 range, leaning toward the lower end unless the interior is immaculate. For a definitive grade, I would need to remove the book from the bag to inspect the spine for stress lines, check page quality for yellowing, and ensure the centerfold is secure.