A piece of superhero history just shattered records and made headlines around the world. A rare 1938 copy of Action Comics No. 1, the comic that introduced the one and only Superman, sold for a jaw-dropping $6 million at auction. Can you believe it?
This isn’t just any old comic book, folks. Action Comics No. 1 is the holy grail of comics, the issue that started it all. Not only did it bring us the Man of Steel, but it also introduced his love interest, Lois Lane.
The scarcity of this comic book adds to its value and allure. Certified Guaranty Company, a comic book grading service, estimates that out of the 200,000 copies originally printed by National Allied Publications (now known as DC Comics), only about 100 have survived the test of time. The copy sold last week, part of the Kansas City Pedigree, boasts a “Very Fine+” CGC rating of 8.5, with only two unrestored issues grading higher.
In recent years, other copies have fetched hefty sums at auction, including a 6.0-rated issue that sold for $3.56 million through ComicConnect last year. However, this latest sale surpasses the previous record held by a copy of Superman No. 1, which sold privately for $5.3 million in 2022.
However, this new sale broke a record.
The record-breaking sale was part of a four-day comic auction. By the time the dust settled on Sunday, the total sales had reached a staggering $28 million. That’s the power of nostalgia.
In the meantime, if you’ve got a copy of Action Comics No. 1 lying around, you could be sitting on a gold mine!
The Associated Press contributed to this article.