‘Action Comics No. 1’ Soars As World’s Most Valuable Comic Book, Worth Millions

Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions / HA.com, featured with permission; background generated on AI

The comic world is seeing some action in our universe as the most valuable comic book in the world just landed a super-sized price tag. A pristine copy of Action Comics No. 1, the 1938 issue that introduced Superman to the world, flew up, up, and away to a record-breaking US$6 million at a Heritage Auctions event on Thursday.

This particular copy, graded Very Fine+ 8.5 by the Certified Guaranty Company (CGC), is one of the finest in existence. Only two unrestored copies featuring Superman’s debut boast a higher grade. It also handily surpasses the previous record holder—another Superman comic, Superman No. 1, which sold privately for US$5.3 million in 2022.

Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions / HA.com, featured with permission

Action Comics No. 1’s status as a pop-culture landmark is undeniable. With only an estimated 100 surviving copies out of the original 200,000 printed, it’s no surprise these issues are collector’s gold. Even a lower-graded copy (CGC 0.5) sold for a staggering US$408,000 in September 2023.

It’s a bit surreal that the issue sold for just 10 cents back in the day, though its significance isn’t all about value—it’s a cornerstone of superhero evolution. While the Superman of today might be more mild-mannered, his 1938 counterpart was iron-willed when tackling severe issues like spousal abuse, drunken driving, and even unjust imprisonment. This debut story also laid the groundwork for Superman’s enduring mission: helping those in trouble.

“He was more violent than the Big Blue Boy Scout of the 1950s and 60s,” explains Heritage Auctions in an email to DesignTAXI. That’s because creators intended for him to be “very serious about helping people in trouble and distress,” Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel once shared.

The record-breaking sale wasn’t the only Kryptonite-powered moment of the auction. Siegel’s 1934 letter detailing a different concept for Superman (a time traveler!) fetched US$264,000, while a professionally restored copy of Action Comics No. 1 (graded Apparent 8.0) brought in a cool US$576,000—the highest price ever paid for a restored comic book.

Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions / HA.com, featured with permission

[via Heritage Auctions, images courtesy of Heritage Auctions / HA.com, featured with permission]