This 1939 memento is now the most expensive comic book on Earth—and probably on Krypton, too.
An ultra-rare copy of Superman No. 1, the highest ever graded, just smashed auction records to become the priciest comic book to go under the hammer. The treasure sold via Heritage Auctions for $9.12 million on Thursday, as part of the house’s Comic Books Signature event.
Much like the Man of Steel, this collector’s item has quite the backstory. A family in Northern California discovered the keepsake in their late mother’s attic just last year, where it was protected only by a stack of old newspapers in a box. Those gazettes did a fantastic job, though: This copy of Superman No. 1 snagged a 9.0 on a 10-point grading by CGC, a third-party grading service. That means it’s one of just seven known iterations to have a rating of 6.0 or more.
Besides its astounding origins, the comic book itself marks a specific moment in history. Superman No. 1 is the first time that a character that debuted in a comic received their own title completely devoted to them, according to Heritage Auctions. The practice is rather common in today’s world, but this comic book was a first step in helping that singular super-hero focus become more mainstream.
“What a momentous day,” Lon Allen, Heritage Auctions’s vice president, said in a press statement. “I’m thrilled for our consignor. Superman No. 1 is a milestone in pop culture history, and this copy is not only in unprecedented condition, but it has a movie-worthy story behind it. I was glad to see the price reflect that and am honored Heritage was entrusted with this iconic book.”
Clark Kent has quite the penchant for hitting milestones on the block. The previous auction recorder holder was an 8.5-graded copy of Action Comics No. 1, where Krypton’s favorite hero appears on the page for the first time. That 1938 collector’s item sold for $6 million via Heritage Auctions in April 2024. It seems like the only person who can beat the Man of Steel is, well, himself.
