A remarkably well-preserved copy of Superman #1 has broken the record for the most expensive comic book ever sold, fetching $9.12 million at Heritage Auctions.
Last Christmas, three brothers were sorting through their late mother’s things in a northern California attic when they stumbled upon a 1939 magazine. They found it tucked away in a cardboard box beneath a pile of old newspapers.
Attic Find Becomes a Historic Sale
The previous owner purchased the comics as a child in San Francisco during the years between the Great Depression and World War II. She often mentioned to her sons that she had some “rare comics” stored away, but they didn’t discover them until they were cleaning out the attic.
Along with five of the earliest issues of Action Comics, they also found the very first dedicated Superman comic book—marking Clark Kent’s first appearance as the title character after the publisher evolved into DC Comics.
Even though it wasn’t well-preserved, this copy of Superman #1 received a CGC 9.0 – the best grade ever given to the comic. Fewer than 100 copies of this issue are known to exist, and this one is exceptionally rare. It’s one of only seven copies that have been graded 6.0 or higher, making it even rarer than copies with famous ownership histories like the Mile High and Davis Crippen collections.
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Why the Value Skyrocketed
Heritage Auctions explained that the comic’s excellent condition and traceable history make it exceptionally rare. It was originally part of a first printing of 500,000 copies from DC, but very few remain because readers were encouraged to remove the cover and use it as a poster. Lon Allen, VP at Heritage, described the sale as a significant moment for pop culture, adding that the comic’s compelling story—almost like something from a movie—helped drive up the price (according to Deadline).
This sale breaks the previous record for comic book sales, exceeding the $6 million paid for an Action Comics #1 last year. Before that, a Superman #1 held the top spot in 2022, selling for $5.3 million.
A Family Story Behind the World’s Most Valuable Comic
One of the brothers explained that the discovery was more than just a financial windfall; it was a surprising connection to their family’s past. The comics had been a cherished escape for them as children, especially since they didn’t have much money. The box of comics had been stored away in the attic and completely forgotten until after their mother passed away (according to CNN).
The buyer’s name hasn’t been released, but Heritage Auctions believes this sale could signal a trend of top-tier pop-culture items achieving increasingly high prices at auction.
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2025-11-22 22:01