SUPERMAN’S DEBUT SELLS FOR $6 MILLION, LEADS HERITAGE’S RECORD-SETTING COMICS AUCTION TO MORE THAN $28 MILLION
By Robert Wilonsky
A copy of Action Comics No. 1, the 1938 comic book featuring Superman’s first appearance, became the most valuable comic in the world when it sold for $6 million during Heritage Auctions’ April 4-7 Comics & Comic Art Signature® Auction. Graded CGC Very Fine+ 8.5, this issue from the Kansas City Pedigree is one of the world’s finest copies. Only two other unrestored issues featuring Superman’s first flight – or, at least, his first leap over a tall building – have ever graded higher.
This copy of ‘Action Comics’ No. 1, the comic book that introduced Superman to the world, soared to $6 million in Heritage’s April 4-7 Comics & Comic Art Signature® Auction.
Superman leaps over the world record previously held by … Superman. According to CGC’s list of the most expensive comic books ever reported sold, a copy of Superman No. 1 sold privately for $5.3 million in 2022. The previous auction record was held by the CGC Near Mint+ 9.6 copy of Amazing Fantasy No. 15, featuring the debut of Spider-Man, that sold for $3.6 million at Heritage in September 2021.
There are just 78 copies of Action Comics No. 1 in CGC’s population report, with the grading service estimating there are a scant 100 survivors of the comic book that launched superheroes into popular culture. Little wonder copies are so coveted by collectors when they appear at auction. Look no further than Heritage’s September 2023 sale of an issue graded CGC 0.5 for $408,000, which leaped over the previous record in a single bound.
Action Comics No. 1 wasn’t the only record-setter in Heritage’s blockbuster auction. The event itself, which realized $28,204,583, shattered the record for any comic book and comic art auction. The previous record of $26.5 million was set at Heritage in September 2021.
One of the five best copies of 1963’s ‘The Avengers,’ featuring Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, Ant-Man and Wasp, realized $432,000, a new record for the beloved title.
There are two copies of ‘Justice League of America’ No. 1 graded CGC Near Mint+ 9.6 – and none higher. That’s why this stunning copy of the Super Friends’ first outing in their own title realized a record-setting $348,000.
Several key titles in high grades soared to unprecedented heights during the auction, including a CGC NM+ 9.6 copy of The Avengers that realized $432,000 and a Justice League of America No. 1 in the same grade that sold for $348,000.
The auction saw even more highwater marks hit for fabled offerings, among them a page that would have been the singular centerpiece of any other auction: Don Heck’s original artwork from Tales of Suspense No. 39 that features Tony Stark donning the Iron Man armor for the first time. This monumental Marvel moment realized $552,000 – a new Heck (of a) world record – and is now the most valuable page from Tales of Suspense No. 39, a copy of which graded CGC Near Mint/Mint 9.8 realized $840,000 during the auction. That copy is just one of the auction’s nine new additions to CGC’s list of the most expensive comic books ever reported sold.
This original art featuring Tony Stark donning the Iron Man suit for the first time sold for $552,000, becoming the most expensive page from ‘Tales of Suspense’ No. 39.
The single highest-graded copy of 1963’s ‘Tales of Suspense’ No. 39, featuring Iron Man’s first appearance and origin, realized $840,000.
Frank Miller rose to prominence in the early 1980s after resurrecting Daredevil as a meaningful character and a profitable title. From that brief, brilliant 30-ish-issue run came the cover to issue No. 190 and the “Resurrection,” in which Miller dove headlong into the mystical – deemed by Comic Book Resources as the fourth-best tale from Miller’s tenure. That explains why Miller and Klaus Janson’s Elektra-fying cover of Daredevil No. 190 realized $252,000 to become the most valuable Miller-drawn Daredevil original sold at auction. Daredevil’s debut was another record-setting star in the event – and another newcomer to CGC’s most-expensive list. The Man Without Fear’s first appearance in Daredevil No. 1 realized $360,000 with a CGC Near Mint/Mint 9.8 copy. Matt Murdock is indeed born again.
One of the world’s highest-graded copies of ‘Captain America No. 1,’ featuring the origin and first appearance of Captain America, realized $750,000.
This copy of ‘Sensation Comics’ No. 1, the comic book that featured Wonder Woman’s second appearance, sold for a record-setting $420,000.
Eight comics in the auction stretched toward – or well beyond – the half-million-dollar mark, including one of the world’s highest-graded copies of one of comicdom’s most influential books, a Captain America No. 1 graded CGC Near Mint- 9.2 that realized $750,000. And Action Comics No. 1 wasn’t done after its $6 million day: A professionally restored copy of Superman’s 1938 debut with the CGC grade of Apparent 8.0 realized $576,000 to set an all-time high for any restored comic book.
There was also a new sensation for this CGC Near Mint+ 9.6 Sensation Comics No. 1, which features Wonder Woman’s second appearance. It’s not only the highest-graded copy in the world, but it’s also now the most valuable after realizing $420,000.
The 275 pieces offered by legendary comix publisher Denis Kitchen also served as a centerpiece of the event. One of the auction’s most sought-after items came from that vaunted collection: Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel’s 1934 letter to comic strip artist Russell Keaton describing The Man of Steel who could have been. The historic letter sold for $264,000.
A bidding war drove this 1947 original art from Will Eisner’s ‘The Spirit’ to $156,000.
Another highlight from Kitchen’s collection was Robert Crumb’s original cover art for 1976’s SNARF No. 3, which realized $240,000. Kitchen’s assemblage also resulted in new auction records for scores of Crumb’s Underground contemporaries, as well as a comics legend, Will Eisner, whose The Spirit Kitchen resurrected at just the time when Eisner was starting to be taken for granted. Collectors tussled over an original work featuring P’Gell, which appeared on the cover of the Sunday comics supplement on May 25, 1947. A bidding war drove its final price to $156,000.
Bidding war might as well be the auction’s motto; that’s to be expected during an all-time record-setter featuring no shortage of must-owns.
Everyone has their favorite The Far Side – OK, favorites. The one in which Gary Larson visits the Boneless Chicken Ranch was a hit among collectors, as it became the most valuable original Far Side ever sold at auction, realizing $51,600.
Frank Frazetta sparks bidding wars whenever Heritage offers one of his original paintings; his cover of 1996’s Vampirella: 25th Anniversary Special was no exception. After a tense tussle, the stunning work realized $276,000 to become the most valuable Vampirella work in the world.
Silver Surfer and Fantastic Four are gearing up to crash the big screen, but collectors fought over the real thing: Rich Buckler and Joe Sinnott’s cover of Fantastic Four No. 155, which realized $192,000. Collectors also fought over Ron Frenz’s original art from The Amazing Spider Man No. 252, in which Peter Parker donned the famous Black Costume for the first time. It realized $174,000.
Collectors also lined up to take a bite out of Mike Mignola and John Nyberg’s original wraparound art for the Bram Stoker’s Dracula trade paperback published in 1993. It opened live bidding at $14,000 – but it was neck and neck with the final price coming in at $144,000.
Go here for complete results from Heritage’s April 4-7 Comics & Comic Art Signature® Auction.
ROBERT WILONSKY is a staff writer at Intelligent Collector.