At a recent auction, the very first comic book with Superman's debut sold for a record-breaking $6 million. It is the original "Action Comics" No. 1 from 1938, now the priciest comic ever sold.

Enduring Impact on Popular Culture

Through Heritage Auctions, the sale underlines the timeless value of Superman as a cultural icon. The auction house described it as 'the most important comic ever published.' Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created the comic. In three pages, the comic reveals Superman's genesis story, depicting him as an immigrant from the catastrophic planet Krypton who finds refuge on Earth. This debut comic set a precedent for the genesis of all other comic books, movies, merchandise, and many others, placing Superman at the top of American contemporary culture.

The importance of this sale goes beyond mere comic book collection, as the effect that Superman has had on the cultural legacy of our time is not to be underestimated. As Heritage Auctions Vice President Barry Sandoval rightly pointed out, the historical importance of Superman and "Action Comics" No.1 cannot be overstated. The impact they had on the history of the industry could firmly have been the very factor that determines what we know today as its golden age.

Preservation Rarity and Collectibility

The comic book is well-preserved and in excellent condition despite its age, graded 8.5 out of 10 by CGC. As reported by CNN, the comic has retained its vibrant colors and shows minimal signs of wear, mainly at the top. This level of preservation is remarkable given the age of the comic and underscores its rarity and desirability among collectors. Heritage Auctions noted that only two other unrestored copies are in superior condition.

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At the auction, another notable item was a professionally restored copy of "Action Comics" No. 1, graded as Apparent 8.0. Sandoval highlighted the appeal of this comic, acknowledging its estimated value of $300,000 and up. Sandoval emphasized the opportunity for collectors to acquire a high-quality copy at a fraction of the cost compared to other highly sought-after editions, such as the Kansas City copy.

This comic is rare because there are only about 78 copies of "Action Comics" No. 1 listed out of the original 200,000 made. People want these comics, as shown by Heritage's September auction, where one sold for $408,000, a new record.

Previous Milestones

This sale of "Action Comics" No. 1 eclipses previous records in comic book history, notably surpassing the sale of another seminal Superman comic, "Superman" No. 1 from 1939, which fetched $5.3 million in a private sale in 2022. Prior to that, the title of the most expensive comic book belonged to a nearly flawless copy of "Amazing Fantasy" No. 15, the debut of Spider-Man.

According to the report by NBC News, the copies of the latest edition of "Action Comics" that were sold just recently are from the collection of the famous Kansas City Pedigree that was seen during the late 1960s. This collection boasts 250 first edition issues from 1937 to the early 1940s.

Details regarding the buyer were not immediately disclosed. The auction took place in Dallas, and online bidding was also accessible. As of Saturday, the cumulative value of comics sold was already more than $25 million, and the auction was set to wrap on April 7.

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