Superman No. 1 Breaks Records, Sells for $9.12 Million

A copy of Superman No. 1, which was discovered in a California attic, has made history by selling for US$9.12 million (£6.96 million, A$14.14 million). The sale, which took place on March 2024, marks the highest price ever paid for a comic book, surpassing previous records.

Published in 1939, Superman No. 1 was the first solo title of the iconic character, a significant milestone in comic book history. This particular copy was found by three unnamed brothers while clearing out their late mother’s attic in northern California. They stumbled upon the comic hidden beneath a stack of old newspapers in a cardboard box.

The brothers revealed that their mother had purchased the comic at the age of nine while living in San Francisco. Over the years, she had mentioned possessing “rare comics,” but the brothers had never discovered their whereabouts until now. Despite its age, the comic book remains in pristine condition, achieving a remarkable score of 9.0 on the 10-point grading scale, making it the highest-graded copy of Superman No. 1 known to exist.

Record-Breaking Sale and Comic Book Rarity

Only seven copies of Superman No. 1 have a grade of 6.0 or higher, underscoring its rarity. The sale price of $9.12 million, including fees, eclipsed the previous record set in 2022 when an 8.5-graded copy of Action Comics No. 1, which featured Superman’s first appearance, sold for $6 million. Originally, 500,000 copies of Superman No. 1 were printed, with subsequent print runs of 250,000 and 150,000, but well-preserved copies are now exceedingly rare. The comic’s original design invited children to cut the cover off for use as a poster, contributing to its scarcity.

The sale took place through Heritage Auctions, where Lon Allen, the vice president, described the event as “a momentous day.” He emphasized the significance of Superman No. 1 within pop culture history, noting that the condition of the comic and its compelling backstory played a crucial role in reaching such a high price.

The Legacy of Superman

Created in 1933 by teenagers Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster from Cleveland, Superman was sold to DC Comics for just $130, with the creators receiving $10 for each page illustrated. This transaction laid the foundation for a character that would evolve into a cultural icon, influencing the comic book industry and popular media for decades.

The sale of this particular copy of Superman No. 1 not only highlights the enduring popularity of comic books but also showcases the potential value of rare collectibles. As the comic book market continues to thrive, collectors and enthusiasts alike remain eager to discover hidden treasures, just as the brothers did in their mother’s attic.