In June 1938, author Jerry Siegel and illustrator Joe Shuster introduced readers to Superman, the beloved caped hero who came to Earth from the planet Krypton. In the 86 years since, the Man of Steel has become a cultural touchstone, appearing in movies, novels, television series, video games, and more.
Well, it's a copy of the original 1938 Superman comic book. Action Comics No.1— sold for $6 million. The artifact was purchased by an unidentified buyer during the Heritage Auctions sale on April 4 and is now the most valuable comic book in the world.
“Thursday is a historic day for historic comic books, and we were expecting it,” said Barry Sandoval, vice president of Heritage Auctions. PentaI'm Eric Grossman.
This manga is an unrestored version Action Comics No.1 It has been given a “Very Good” grade of 8.5 out of 10 by CGC, a third-party grading service for pop culture collectibles. According to , only two of the unrestored versions have ever received a higher rating. hollywood reporterAaron Couch.
This is one of only 78 copies graded by CGC, but the company believes about 100 copies still exist.Only 200,000 copies Action Comics No.1 They were published in 1938, according to Christopher J. Brooks of CBS News.
The $6 million price tag beat the previous record holder, a magazine published in 1939. Superman No.1 The record was sold privately in 2022 for $5.3 million.Until then, this record Amazing Fantasy No.15The painting that introduced readers to Spider-Man in 1962 sold for $3.6 million in 2021.
Action Comics No.1 This is the story of a boy born on a faraway planet that is dying. His father puts him in a space capsule and sends him out just before his home planet explodes.
Eventually, the capsule lands on Earth, where a passing motorist discovers the sleeping baby and takes him to an orphanage. That child, Clark Kent, grows up and discovers that he has superhuman strength and abilities. Action Comics No.1 Also appearing are Superman's girlfriend Lois Lane and the sorcerer Zatara.
Superman's popularity skyrocketed in the following decades. action comics It continues to this day. (The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History has his 1955 edition of this series.)
Mr. Siegel and Mr. Shuster, both children of Jewish immigrants, first dreamed of being Superman in their early 20s. Therefore, the storyline is “ [Superman’s] “The Creator’s Experience, and the American Dream,” the lot listing states.
“If there was no Superman, Action Comics No.1“No one knows if there was a golden age of comics or if the medium would have become what it is today,” Sandoval said in a statement ahead of the auction.
The record-breaking sales occurred during the filming of director James Gunn's new Superman movie, scheduled for release in July 2025. Actor David Corenswet plays the lead role, with Rachel Brosnahan starring as Lois Lane.