A pristine copy of “Superman” No. 1 has officially become the most expensive comic book ever sold, fetching an astonishing $9.12 million at Heritage Auctions on Thursday.
Historic Sale Sets New Record
The sale shattered the previous record held by Action Comics No. 1, another Superman-related issue, which sold for $6 million in 2024. According to Heritage Auctions, this remarkable copy of Superman No. 1 is now the crown jewel of comic collecting — and one of the rarest finds in pop culture history.
The issue was discovered by three brothers in Northern California as they were cleaning out their late mother’s attic. Hidden under piles of old newspapers and cobwebs, the collection contained several early Superman titles, including Action Comics Nos. 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21.
“It’s one of the greatest finds we’ve ever encountered,” said a Heritage Auctions representative. “The condition and historical significance of this comic make it a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.”
Why This Copy Is So Valuable
Graded 9.0 on the Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) scale, the comic is the highest-graded known copy of Superman No. 1 in existence. Only seven known copies of the 1939 issue have a CGC grade above 6.0, making this particular book extraordinarily rare.
Ironically, the stack of newspapers that concealed it for decades helped preserve its near-mint condition — a preservation twist that would likely make Daily Planet reporters Lois Lane and Clark Kent proud.
A Cultural Milestone in Comic History
Superman first appeared in Action Comics No. 1 in 1938, marking the birth of the superhero genre. His standalone comic series launched in 1939, written by Jerry Siegel and illustrated by Joe Shuster, cementing his place as one of the most enduring cultural icons of the 20th century.
The cover of Superman No. 1 features the Man of Steel striking a powerful pose above the city skyline — an image that has become symbolic of hope, heroism, and pop-culture history.
The Growing Value of Vintage Comics
The record-breaking sale underscores the explosive growth of the collectibles market, particularly for vintage comic books tied to iconic characters. Over the last decade, prices for Golden Age comics have climbed dramatically as collectors and investors compete for the few remaining high-grade editions.
With this $9.12 million sale, Superman has once again proven that even after 86 years, he remains the hero that started it all — both in comics and now, in the auction world.
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