A 1938 version of the comic that first showed Superman to the world has been sold for a record-breaking $6 million, according to the auctioneer who managed the sale.
The rare copy of Action Comics No. 1 was purchased by an anonymous buyer for $6 million, making it the most expensive comic ever sold at auction, according to Heritage Auctions, the auction house involved.
Heritage Auctions regards Action Comics No. 1 as the most significant comic ever published, highlighting that the original Superman from the 1938 spring edition still greatly resembles the current version seen in comic strips and movies. Additionally, the book introduced the central character of Lois Lane.
A report from comic book grading service Certified Guaranty Co., cited by Heritage Auctions, suggests that only 100 surviving copies of Action Comics No. 1 exist today, out of the 200,000 initially printed by National Allied Publications, the forerunner to DC Comics.
The copy sold last week, originating from the Kansas City Pedigree, has a CGC rating of 8.5, described as “Very Fine+”. Heritage Auctions pointed out that only two other unaltered issues have a higher grade.
Although not reaching $6 million, other rare copies of Action Comics No. 1 have also fetched millions at recent auctions, such as a 6.0-rated issue that sold last year for $3.56 million through ComicConnect.
The recent record-breaking sale surpasses the previous holder of the most expensive comic book ever sold— a privately sold copy of another Superman-centric comic, Superman No. 1, which went for $5.3 million in 2022, according to CGC.
The sale of Action Comics No. 1 was part of a four-day comic auction event showcasing various popular superheroes and their rare comics. The event concluded on Sunday, generating over $28 million, according to Heritage Auctions.
