Comic Books
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
Chronology : 1941
Chronology : 1941
1938 first Superman
Intro
The appearance of the superheroes is a key step in the history of comics and a point of no return. Action Comics # 1 was published on April 18, 1938 by the recently created Detective Comics company with a nominal date of June 1938.
This issue is the undisputed holy grail of the hobby, with the incredible strength of Superman illustrated by Joe Shuster on cover page. As of 2022, about 75 surviving copies have been certified by CGC (Certified Guarantee Company) of which only 43 are unrestored.
Superman is a character with supernatural powers. By adapting it to the comic book format, its inventors Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster had the fruitful idea of transforming their monster originally derived from the Frankenstein story into a propagator of good, tireless defender of widows and orphans. Detective Comics agreed to exploit that innovative conception.
This issue is the undisputed holy grail of the hobby, with the incredible strength of Superman illustrated by Joe Shuster on cover page. As of 2022, about 75 surviving copies have been certified by CGC (Certified Guarantee Company) of which only 43 are unrestored.
Superman is a character with supernatural powers. By adapting it to the comic book format, its inventors Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster had the fruitful idea of transforming their monster originally derived from the Frankenstein story into a propagator of good, tireless defender of widows and orphans. Detective Comics agreed to exploit that innovative conception.
1
6.0 White
2022 SOLD for $ 3.2M by Heritage
An Action Comics # 1 graded 6.0 by CGC was sold for $ 3.2M by Heritage on January 13, 2022, lot 91030. 8 copies have a higher grade.
This example is referred by CGC as the Rocket Copy for the image of a red spaceship imprinted on its cover by its 13 year old original purchaser. Appreciating the importance of that issue, that owner kept it in an envelope. It is now consigned by his family. All its pages have been preserved in a highly enjoyable perfect white, and the rocket stamp is included in the lot.
This example is referred by CGC as the Rocket Copy for the image of a red spaceship imprinted on its cover by its 13 year old original purchaser. Appreciating the importance of that issue, that owner kept it in an envelope. It is now consigned by his family. All its pages have been preserved in a highly enjoyable perfect white, and the rocket stamp is included in the lot.
2
9.0
2011 SOLD for $ 2.16M with no applied buyer premium by Comic Connect
For CGC (Comics Guaranty Corporation), 9.2 describes a volume kept flat, clean, with supple and not yellowed paper, vibrant colors, undamaged staples. 9.0 means that some qualities required for the 9.2 are not quite reached.
At the top of the CGC scale of the unrestored Action Comics # 1 as visited in August 2021, two are graded 9.0 with none higher, followed by one 8.5, two 8.0, one 7.5 and no 7.0. The grades identified below were announced at the time of the sales and are possibly not current.
A book graded 9.0 was sold for $ 2.16M on November 30, 2011 by Comic Connect. The auction house does not charge the buyer. The company authenticated by three tiny printing defects that it was the copy stolen from the actor Nicolas Cage in 2000, paid back to him in the mean time by the assurances. Please watch the video shared by Associated Press.
Among other high results outside auctions, ComicConnect reported on April 7, 2021 that a copy graded 8.5 VF+ by CGC was sold by them for $ 3.25M. Another result had been reported by them in the same grade at $ 1.5M on March 29, 2010. A copy graded 9.0 with white pages was purchased on the eBay bidding platform in 2014 for $ 3.2M by the two owners of ComicConnect.
At the top of the CGC scale of the unrestored Action Comics # 1 as visited in August 2021, two are graded 9.0 with none higher, followed by one 8.5, two 8.0, one 7.5 and no 7.0. The grades identified below were announced at the time of the sales and are possibly not current.
A book graded 9.0 was sold for $ 2.16M on November 30, 2011 by Comic Connect. The auction house does not charge the buyer. The company authenticated by three tiny printing defects that it was the copy stolen from the actor Nicolas Cage in 2000, paid back to him in the mean time by the assurances. Please watch the video shared by Associated Press.
Among other high results outside auctions, ComicConnect reported on April 7, 2021 that a copy graded 8.5 VF+ by CGC was sold by them for $ 3.25M. Another result had been reported by them in the same grade at $ 1.5M on March 29, 2010. A copy graded 9.0 with white pages was purchased on the eBay bidding platform in 2014 for $ 3.2M by the two owners of ComicConnect.
1939 first Batman
Intro
In June 1938, Siegel and Shuster created the well known comics superhero, Superman. To this end, DC Comics created the magazine Action Comics. Published by the same company, Detective Comics magazine existed since the previous year.
It was clever : the two journals are alike, and are offering a competition for the benefit of their unique editor.
In 1938 Superman took readers by surprise with his supernatural powers. DC Comics immediately surfed on that success and commissioned the young artist Bob Kane to design a more human crime fighter.
The Batman does not have a superpower. He is instead anchored in the contemporary wotld. To terrorize the bad guys, he wears a black cloak inspired by Zorro. This garment is so wide that it allows him to fly. Its bat wings are also reminiscent of the most famous of vampires, Dracula, who was making havoc with moviegoers at that time.
Sure of the success of the first Batman story, DC Comics releases the 27th issue of Detective Comics on March 31, 1939 with a cover date of May 1939 which would allow booksellers to keep it for several weeks before returning the unsold items. The cover is a masterpiece by Kane. The six page book was printed on cheap paper in the line of the pulp books.
It was clever : the two journals are alike, and are offering a competition for the benefit of their unique editor.
In 1938 Superman took readers by surprise with his supernatural powers. DC Comics immediately surfed on that success and commissioned the young artist Bob Kane to design a more human crime fighter.
The Batman does not have a superpower. He is instead anchored in the contemporary wotld. To terrorize the bad guys, he wears a black cloak inspired by Zorro. This garment is so wide that it allows him to fly. Its bat wings are also reminiscent of the most famous of vampires, Dracula, who was making havoc with moviegoers at that time.
Sure of the success of the first Batman story, DC Comics releases the 27th issue of Detective Comics on March 31, 1939 with a cover date of May 1939 which would allow booksellers to keep it for several weeks before returning the unsold items. The cover is a masterpiece by Kane. The six page book was printed on cheap paper in the line of the pulp books.
1
6.5 Cream to Off-White
2022 SOLD for $ 1.74M by Goldin
A copy of the Detective Comics # 27 graded 6.5 by CGC with cream to off white pages was sold for $ 1.74M by Goldin on May 21, 2022, lot 2. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
2
7.0 Off White
2020 SOLD for $ 1.5M by Heritage
Readers rushed to the first Batman. Unrestored copies of this Detective Comics which have remained in perfect condition are very rare. CGC has certified a copy at 9.2, two 8.0, two 7.5 and two 7.0.
A VF 8.0 with off-white-to-white pages was sold for $ 1.08M by Heritage on February 25, 2010, lot 91126.
An example graded VF- 7.5 with off-white paper by CGC was sold for $ 660K by Heritage on August 5, 2010, lot 91055.
A Detective Comics # 27 graded VG/FN 5.0 with white pages by CGC was sold for $ 1.13M by Heritage on June 17, 2021, lot 91005. The auction house indicates that the CGC census in June 2021 is 2 in 5.0 and 17 higher. The pages remaining in perfect white made this copy highly desirable.
A copy has a nice story. The boy who was interested in geography and mechanics magazines was a friend of the son of the owner of a newspaper house who informed him of novelties. Appealed by the cover design, he bought and kept this # 27, taking great care not to soil it, and which will remain the only comic book in his collection. Without having changed hands, this off-white copy graded FN/VF 7.0 was sold for $ 490K by Heritage on November 18, 2010.
Another copy graded 7.0 by CGC, also off-white, was sold for $ 1.5M from a lower estimate of $ 1M by Heritage on November 19, 2020, lot 91044. It is well centered and very clean with very fresh colors, without any mark added in ink or pencil.
A VF 8.0 with off-white-to-white pages was sold for $ 1.08M by Heritage on February 25, 2010, lot 91126.
An example graded VF- 7.5 with off-white paper by CGC was sold for $ 660K by Heritage on August 5, 2010, lot 91055.
A Detective Comics # 27 graded VG/FN 5.0 with white pages by CGC was sold for $ 1.13M by Heritage on June 17, 2021, lot 91005. The auction house indicates that the CGC census in June 2021 is 2 in 5.0 and 17 higher. The pages remaining in perfect white made this copy highly desirable.
A copy has a nice story. The boy who was interested in geography and mechanics magazines was a friend of the son of the owner of a newspaper house who informed him of novelties. Appealed by the cover design, he bought and kept this # 27, taking great care not to soil it, and which will remain the only comic book in his collection. Without having changed hands, this off-white copy graded FN/VF 7.0 was sold for $ 490K by Heritage on November 18, 2010.
Another copy graded 7.0 by CGC, also off-white, was sold for $ 1.5M from a lower estimate of $ 1M by Heritage on November 19, 2020, lot 91044. It is well centered and very clean with very fresh colors, without any mark added in ink or pencil.
1939 first Human Torch
2022 SOLD for $ 2.43M by ComicConnect
The price of a comic book of the golden age depends on its prestige and condition. The first appearance of a superhero is acclaimed : Superman in 1938 in Action Comics # 1, Batman in 1939 in Detective Comics # 27, Green Lantern in 1940, Captain America in 1941. The greatest hits have generated dedicated titles : 'Superman' with a # 1 in 1939 and 'Batman' in 1940.
Superman and Batman are the flagships of Detective Comics. Their main competitor is Timely Publications, which publishes Marvel Comics with a # 1 in October 1939 and Captain America Comics from 1941. Marvel's first superhero is The Human Torch. The first Marvel Comics has 68 pages.
Greedy readers have stained the pages. Otherwise, the manufacture was not free from defects and time has yellowed the paper. Unrestored pristine copies are extremely rare.
The reference is provided by the 10-point rating scale used by CGC. VF/NM 9.0 still accepts minor defects. The higher grades are much more demanding. Up to NM 9.4, only small defects remain accepted. 9.2 and 9.4 are differentiated by the wear. At 9.6 minor defects must be few, without wear. Above the defects are negligible (9.8), imperceptible (9.9) or absent (10.0). No trace of handling is accepted at 9.9.
A Marvel Comics # 1 graded NM 9.4 off-white pages by CGC was sold for $ 1.26M by Heritage on November 21, 2019, lot 91090.
This copy referred with a Windy City pedigree on the CGC label was later sold for $ 2.43M on March 17, 2022 by ComicConnect. The post sale release of the auction house indicates that it is a "pay copy" where the payments attributed to the artists have been recorded by hand by the publisher on some pages including the cover page.
This copy has the highest grade attributed by CGC in this edition. Two copies were graded 9.0. One of them, whose cover and 7 pages had been used by the printer for its accounting of the artists' payment, was sold for $ 227K by Heritage on February 25, 2010.
Superman and Batman are the flagships of Detective Comics. Their main competitor is Timely Publications, which publishes Marvel Comics with a # 1 in October 1939 and Captain America Comics from 1941. Marvel's first superhero is The Human Torch. The first Marvel Comics has 68 pages.
Greedy readers have stained the pages. Otherwise, the manufacture was not free from defects and time has yellowed the paper. Unrestored pristine copies are extremely rare.
The reference is provided by the 10-point rating scale used by CGC. VF/NM 9.0 still accepts minor defects. The higher grades are much more demanding. Up to NM 9.4, only small defects remain accepted. 9.2 and 9.4 are differentiated by the wear. At 9.6 minor defects must be few, without wear. Above the defects are negligible (9.8), imperceptible (9.9) or absent (10.0). No trace of handling is accepted at 9.9.
A Marvel Comics # 1 graded NM 9.4 off-white pages by CGC was sold for $ 1.26M by Heritage on November 21, 2019, lot 91090.
This copy referred with a Windy City pedigree on the CGC label was later sold for $ 2.43M on March 17, 2022 by ComicConnect. The post sale release of the auction house indicates that it is a "pay copy" where the payments attributed to the artists have been recorded by hand by the publisher on some pages including the cover page.
This copy has the highest grade attributed by CGC in this edition. Two copies were graded 9.0. One of them, whose cover and 7 pages had been used by the printer for its accounting of the artists' payment, was sold for $ 227K by Heritage on February 25, 2010.
1940 Batman magazine
1
2021 SOLD for $ 2.2M by Heritage
The golden age of comic books is dominated by two superheroes, Superman and Batman. Their adventures are told in magazines published by DC Comics, but they do not play together. Superman is the modern Hercules who fights against the weaknesses of the world. Batman is the avenger.
Batman is more promising because he has an easier capability to remain human. His superpowers are gadgets, with humor and diversity. His performances in Detective Comics magazine appeal to readers. After creating Superman magazine in 1939, DC relies also on Batman.
The new magazine, Batman, is advertised as a quarterly. The number 1, dated Spring 1940, already brings significant changes. The teenagers will love to find again the secondary characters in the next issues of the magazine. Batman will stop killing his enemies. An effort is also made to vary the stories.
This new cohort includes two super-villains, the crime maniac named The Joker and the superwoman named The Cat soon-to-be Catwoman. It also includes a super-nice, Robin the Boy Wonder. The cover pages feature the two young buddies, Batman and Robin, on front side hovering together above the city, and on back side urging readers not to miss their future thrills.
Comic books from that era have been handled with enthusiasm and have not remained in perfect condition. A Batman No. 1 graded NM- 9.2 Off White, sold for $ 570K by Heritage on August 1, 2013, was at that time CGC's highest ranking for this edition.
A true Near Mint Batman No. 1 has just surfaced after being kept for 38 years in a collection. It is graded 9.4 White by CGC. It was sold for $ 2.2M from a lower estimate of $ 1M on January 14, 2021 by Heritage, lot 91027.
Batman is more promising because he has an easier capability to remain human. His superpowers are gadgets, with humor and diversity. His performances in Detective Comics magazine appeal to readers. After creating Superman magazine in 1939, DC relies also on Batman.
The new magazine, Batman, is advertised as a quarterly. The number 1, dated Spring 1940, already brings significant changes. The teenagers will love to find again the secondary characters in the next issues of the magazine. Batman will stop killing his enemies. An effort is also made to vary the stories.
This new cohort includes two super-villains, the crime maniac named The Joker and the superwoman named The Cat soon-to-be Catwoman. It also includes a super-nice, Robin the Boy Wonder. The cover pages feature the two young buddies, Batman and Robin, on front side hovering together above the city, and on back side urging readers not to miss their future thrills.
Comic books from that era have been handled with enthusiasm and have not remained in perfect condition. A Batman No. 1 graded NM- 9.2 Off White, sold for $ 570K by Heritage on August 1, 2013, was at that time CGC's highest ranking for this edition.
A true Near Mint Batman No. 1 has just surfaced after being kept for 38 years in a collection. It is graded 9.4 White by CGC. It was sold for $ 2.2M from a lower estimate of $ 1M on January 14, 2021 by Heritage, lot 91027.
2
2021 SOLD for $ 1.48M by Goldin
A copy of Batman # 1 graded 8.0 by CGC with white pages was sold for $ 1.48M by Goldin on September 18, 2021, lot 1. It is signed on the cover page by the early collector Larson. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
1941 Captain America
2022 SOLD for $ 3.1M by Heritage
Throughout the economic crisis of the 1930s, movie-goers temporarily forget their difficulties with the horror films of Universal Pictures. For the same public, Martin Goodman becomes in 1933 editor of pulp magazines. He is 25 years old.
In 1938 and 1939 DC Comics achieve a gigantic success with their superheroes including Superman and Batman. Goodman becomes their main competitor by creating Timely Publications which becomes Timely Comics in April 1941. The first Timely magazine, Marvel Comics # 1, is so successful that its circulation is increased from 80,000 to 800,000 copies in November 1939.
The son of Lithuanian Jewish emigrants, Goodman is sensitive to events in Europe. In addition to his androids, he promotes a super military leader named Captain America, endowed with the physical and intellectual perfection and wearing very prominently the stars and stripes of the US flag.
This super patriot staged by Simon and drawn by Kirby appears for the first time in the # 1 dated March 1941 of the new magazine Captain America. On the cover page, he shoots in a devastating right hook a very recognizable character who is nominally designated as Hitler in the text.
With nearly 1 million copies sold, Captain America # 1 is a great success, showing that it already meets the expectations of young Americans nearly one year before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The best unrestored copies graded by CGC are one almost perfect NM/MT 9.8 and two NM 9.4. One of these 9.4 was sold by Heritage for $ 920K by Heritage on August 1, 2019, lot 91053, and for $ 3.1M on April 7, 2022, lot 91053. Its pages are described between Off-white and White.Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
In 1938 and 1939 DC Comics achieve a gigantic success with their superheroes including Superman and Batman. Goodman becomes their main competitor by creating Timely Publications which becomes Timely Comics in April 1941. The first Timely magazine, Marvel Comics # 1, is so successful that its circulation is increased from 80,000 to 800,000 copies in November 1939.
The son of Lithuanian Jewish emigrants, Goodman is sensitive to events in Europe. In addition to his androids, he promotes a super military leader named Captain America, endowed with the physical and intellectual perfection and wearing very prominently the stars and stripes of the US flag.
This super patriot staged by Simon and drawn by Kirby appears for the first time in the # 1 dated March 1941 of the new magazine Captain America. On the cover page, he shoots in a devastating right hook a very recognizable character who is nominally designated as Hitler in the text.
With nearly 1 million copies sold, Captain America # 1 is a great success, showing that it already meets the expectations of young Americans nearly one year before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The best unrestored copies graded by CGC are one almost perfect NM/MT 9.8 and two NM 9.4. One of these 9.4 was sold by Heritage for $ 920K by Heritage on August 1, 2019, lot 91053, and for $ 3.1M on April 7, 2022, lot 91053. Its pages are described between Off-white and White.Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
1961 Fantastic Four
2022 SOLD for $ 1.5M by Heritage
In 1961 DC dominates the market of the comic book. Marvel Comics of course does not want to remain behind. Its editor Stan Lee look for fantastic themes that could appeal the modern more mature young readers. Spider-Man will be their huge success in the next year.
By creating the new title Fantastic Four in 1961, they are featuring a gang of four weird characters instead of a classical super-hero. They are Mr. Fantastic, The Thing, Human Torch and Invisible Girl. The cover drawing for the # 1 was prepared by Jack Kirby.
A copy graded NM- 9.2 white pages by CGC was sold for $ 1.5M by Heritage on April 7, 2022, lot 91059.
At the end of the day that title will be one of the most lasting successes of the comic book industry, terminated at Marvel with the # 588 after half a century.
There is no identified connection between these Fantastic Four and the Fab Four nickname attributed to The Beatles from 1964.
By creating the new title Fantastic Four in 1961, they are featuring a gang of four weird characters instead of a classical super-hero. They are Mr. Fantastic, The Thing, Human Torch and Invisible Girl. The cover drawing for the # 1 was prepared by Jack Kirby.
A copy graded NM- 9.2 white pages by CGC was sold for $ 1.5M by Heritage on April 7, 2022, lot 91059.
At the end of the day that title will be one of the most lasting successes of the comic book industry, terminated at Marvel with the # 588 after half a century.
There is no identified connection between these Fantastic Four and the Fab Four nickname attributed to The Beatles from 1964.
1962 first Spider-Man
2021 SOLD for $ 3.6M by Heritage
At the height of the American dream era, our grandfathers' superheroes became super-tacky. Batman will survive but not Superman.
Marvel Comics can't find the solution. Their new magazine Amazing Adventures takes with # 7 a new title, Amazing Adult Fantasy. The subtitle, The Magazine that respects your intelligence, shows with a great naivety the distress of the publishers facing the profound changes in society.
This magazine is not viable. In August 1962 for # 15, Stan Lee, responsible for preparing the stories, tries something decidedly new. The hero is no longer a mere humanoid monster. He behaves like an ordinary teenager, with his shyness and his money problems. He simultaneously embodies the all-powerful and fully responsible superhero that all children dream of becoming : he is Spider-Man.
For this appeal to children, the word Adult is deleted from the title of the magazine. The success is immediate and considerable. Amazing Fantasy is closed after this issue. The monthly magazine The Amazing Spider-Man will be launched by Marvel in March 1963 with a new # 1.
Nowadays the future of Spider-Man is still assured, with an increasing quantity of derivative products. The rating of the Amazing Fantasy # 15 in excellent condition follows this new craze. The grades identified below have been awarded by CGC.
The population of the unrestored certified by CGC is 6 in NM 9.4, 4 in NM+ 9.6 and none higher.
In 2011 a copy graded Near Mint + 9.6 was sold for $ 1.1M by ComicConnect in private sale. On February 18, 2016, Heritage sold for $ 450K an NM 9.4 with off-white pages, which had just spent 35 years in a bank vault. On March 5, 2020, Heritage sold for an Amazing Fantasy # 15 graded NM 9.4 with off white to white paper, lot 91050.
An Amazing Fantasy # 15 graded NM+ 9.6 by CGC with off-white pages was sold for $ 3.6M by Heritage on September 9, 2021, lot 93001.
The magazine had been sold for 12 cents in 1962.
Marvel Comics can't find the solution. Their new magazine Amazing Adventures takes with # 7 a new title, Amazing Adult Fantasy. The subtitle, The Magazine that respects your intelligence, shows with a great naivety the distress of the publishers facing the profound changes in society.
This magazine is not viable. In August 1962 for # 15, Stan Lee, responsible for preparing the stories, tries something decidedly new. The hero is no longer a mere humanoid monster. He behaves like an ordinary teenager, with his shyness and his money problems. He simultaneously embodies the all-powerful and fully responsible superhero that all children dream of becoming : he is Spider-Man.
For this appeal to children, the word Adult is deleted from the title of the magazine. The success is immediate and considerable. Amazing Fantasy is closed after this issue. The monthly magazine The Amazing Spider-Man will be launched by Marvel in March 1963 with a new # 1.
Nowadays the future of Spider-Man is still assured, with an increasing quantity of derivative products. The rating of the Amazing Fantasy # 15 in excellent condition follows this new craze. The grades identified below have been awarded by CGC.
The population of the unrestored certified by CGC is 6 in NM 9.4, 4 in NM+ 9.6 and none higher.
In 2011 a copy graded Near Mint + 9.6 was sold for $ 1.1M by ComicConnect in private sale. On February 18, 2016, Heritage sold for $ 450K an NM 9.4 with off-white pages, which had just spent 35 years in a bank vault. On March 5, 2020, Heritage sold for an Amazing Fantasy # 15 graded NM 9.4 with off white to white paper, lot 91050.
An Amazing Fantasy # 15 graded NM+ 9.6 by CGC with off-white pages was sold for $ 3.6M by Heritage on September 9, 2021, lot 93001.
The magazine had been sold for 12 cents in 1962.
