A July 9-12 event pairs original art from the birth of Iron Man with major Golden and Silver Age comics, giving sellers a clear read on where trophy material belongs.
By Intelligent Collector Staff | June 26, 2026
Heritage Auctions’ July 9-12 Comics & Comic Art auctions bring together the kind of material that defines collecting categories: first appearances, historic original art, Golden Age keys and top-grade census copies.
At the center of the Comic Art sale is Don Heck’s Tales of Suspense #39 Iron Man First Appearance Splash Page 1 Original Art, the opening page from the 1963 story that introduced Tony Stark and Iron Man. Original art from a major character’s first-appearance story is rarely available; the first page of that story is rarer still.
The overlapping Comic Books auction is led by Action Comics #1 CGC VG+ 4.5, an unrestored copy of the 1938 issue that introduced Superman and helped create the superhero genre. A second Action Comics #1 CGC Apparent FN+ 6.5 adds further depth to the event, while Tales of Suspense #39 CGC NM 9.4 serves as the natural comic-book companion to the Iron Man splash page.
The art sale also extends across eras. John Byrne and Terry Austin’s Secret Wars II #1 Cover Original Art represents Marvel’s Copper Age crossover moment, while Joe Shuster’s Superman #43 Complete 13-Page Story Preliminaries Original Art offers a rare look at Superman’s co-creator working through a complete story.
For sellers, the takeaway is straightforward: when material is tied to a major first appearance, a foundational character or a top census position, venue matters. This is the kind of auction that shows why Heritage is a best place to sell comic books and comic art when the goal is to reach the deepest pool of serious collectors.
Source: Heritage Auctions press release (June 26, 2026).