A rare copy of Superman No. 1 has shattered records. On Friday, it sold for an astounding US$9.12 million (£6.96 million, A$14.14 million)! The sale now makes this comic the most pricey comic ever sold. Fast forward to 2024, when a California collector found the coveted error edition tucked away in an attic in far northern California. It was hidden beneath a pile of crumbling newsprint that was packed in a cardboard crate.
Superman No 1 is the first solo title of the groundbreaking Man of Steel. It’s part of the “big three” comics. This highly exclusive club includes Action Comics No 1 and Detective Comics No 27. Superman No. 1 celebrates a truly pivotal moment in comic book history. It was the first time an African American superhero character created in a comic book universe received their own dedicated ongoing series.
Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster had drawn Superman No.1. It was first published in a print run of 500,000 copies. Later print runs went up to 250,000 and then 150,000 copies per print run. That aside, intact copies of Superman No 1 have gotten more and more available over the decades. That’s quite likely why the copy that sold scored an astounding 9.0 on the 10-point scale used for grading condition on comics. This perfect 100 rating propelled its value through the roof.
Siegel and Shuster’s original sale agreement to DC Comics was a very small upfront payment. She and her husband only sold the rights for $130, and they were paid a mere $10 for each page they illustrated. The comic even encouraged kids to tear out the cover and hang it up as a poster. These two facts probably account for the lack of well-preserved recension extant today.
The recent auction turned heads of collectors and enthusiasts everywhere. Lon Allen, a representative from Heritage Auctions couldn’t have been more excited about the sale.
“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.” – Lon Allen
This sale makes a clear case for Superman’s continued cultural relevance in comic book history. It speaks to his importance in popular media. Collectors are already on the prowl for the most rarest of these special editions. Superman No. 1 is a fitting capstone tribute to the legacy that Siegel and Shuster started almost a century ago.