The World’s Most Expensive Comic Books

They fly, glide and fight crime — and sometimes their stories are worth several million dollars.

The World’s Most Expensive Comic Books

Ever since Superman’s first appearance in 1938, comic books have captured the hearts and minds of children — and adults — with stories of heroes and the evil doers they vanquish. And some of these comics are so beloved — and so rare — that they can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars or even several million dollars at auction. From Superman to Captain Marvel (the original, decidedly less-cool one), these comics are the most valuable ones on the planet.

'Marvel Comics' No. 1

Value: $227,050

The first issue of “Marvel Comics” features the first appearance of Sub-Mariner, the Human Torch and Angel. The issue that sold for $227,050 is a pay copy, meaning it was used to record how much each contributor was paid. For instance, there’s a note on the cover that says Frank R. Paul, who drew the cover, received $25 for his work (about $460 today). The pay copy was graded 9.0 on the Certified Guaranty Company’s 0.5 - 10 comic book grading scale and sold for $227,050 in 2015 at Heritage Auctions. A regular, 6.0-graded copy sold for $215,000 in2017 at Comic Connect.

‘Fantastic Comics’ No. 3

Value: $243,000

“Fantastic Comics” No. 3 is a coveted item among collectors because of its amazing cover by Lou Fine, which depicts a giant named Samson beating iron monsters to death with a spiked flail. There are no first appearances or really anything of importance within the comic’s plot, but the book’s cover is so beloved that some people will pay a huge premium for a nice-looking version. A 9.4-graded comic sold for a $243,000 in 2017.

‘Action Comics’ No. 10

Value: $258,000

There doesn’t appear to be anything notable about “Action Comics” No. 10. It features the third cover appearance of Superman, and a story involving an abusive prison warden that Superman has to bring to justice. Three other stories not including Superman are included in the 64-page book from 1939. However, the 9.0-grading might have been the 80-year-old comic’s selling point whenit sold in 2011 at auction.

‘Pep Comics’ No. 22

Value: $252,100

You wouldn’t know it just by looking at its cover, but “Pep Comics” No. 22 contains the first appearance of Archie. One year after his debut in 1941, publisher MLJ created “Archie Comics,” which is still running to this day, albeit with a more mature story. This 8.0-graded comicfetched $252,100 in 2017, the same year that the hit series “Riverdale” debuted on the CW network.

'The Avengers' No. 1

Value: $274,850

The comic that arguably started the entire Marvel Comics Universe arc that dominates the box office, “The Avengers” No. 1 began with only Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, Ant-Man and the Wasp as its founding members. A near-mint, 9.6-graded copy of the 1963 book sold for amighty $274,850 in 2012.

‘Journey Into Mystery’ No. 83

Value: $275,000

Thor made his first appearance in 1962 within the “Journey Into Mystery” series. Thor didn’t even know he was Thor at first — he was sent to Earth by his father, Odin, in order to teach him humility. To do so, Odin temporarily wipes Thor's memory and turns him into a nerdy scientist while Earth is under attack by stone-men from Saturn. A 9.4-graded copy of this iconic comic sold for $275,000 at auction in 2014.

'Whiz Comics' No. 2

Captain Marvel was originally created not by Marvel, but by the comic publisher M.F. Enterprises. He — yes, originally the character was male — made his first appearance in 1940 within the pages of “Whiz Comics” No. 2. He was similar to Superman — perhaps a little bit too similar. DC sued M.F. Enterprises for copyright infringement (and perhaps a bit of saltiness, since Captain Marvel would go on to outsell Superman), and Captain Marvel ceased to exist by 1953. By the 1960s, the actual Marvel comic publisher created its own trademarked Captain Marvel. So when DC went to revive the character, they couldn’t use the name, and turned him into Shazam.

This book is therefore the first real appearance of Captain Marvel and also Shazam. A 9.0-graded copysold for $281,001 in 2012.

‘Wonder Woman’ No. 1 with Promotional Materials

Value: $291,100

Wonder Woman received her first line of comic books in the summer of 1942, not long after the United States entered World War II. But it was still 1942, and a female superhero might not have been to appealing as young boys as Captain America or Superman. So DC sent out a press packet of hand-typed letters detailing the awesomeness of America’s first super heroine.

“In a recent poll of child readers, 80 percent chose ‘Wonder Woman’ as their favorite over seven male characters,” reads one letter. The press materials also tout that the book was penned by William Moulton Marston, a psychologist who would later invent the prototype to the modern-day lie detector.

'Fantastic Four' No. 1

Value: $300,000

They stretch, go invisible and build bridges of ice and fire. They’re the Fantastic Four, a Stan Lee and Jack Kirby creation that quickly became a fan favorite. One issue from 1961 that was graded a 9.4 sold for $300,000 cash. But in 2008, a copy sold for around $450,000 in a cash/trade deal,according to Bleeding Cool.

A 9.4 copy is currently for sale on Comic Linkfor $650,000 — maybe the seller is hoping for a renewed interest in the series. Marvel’s First Familycame back in 2018 after a three-year hiatus from the comic book pages, and Disney recently purchased the franchise rights back from Fox.

'The Incredible Hulk' No. 1

Value: $326,000

Bruce Banner first transformed into the Incredible Hulk in May 1962. But he wasn’t green, at least not on the cover. Stan Lee wanted Hulk to be a big grey monster, but an issue with the printing ink turned Hulk varying hues of green on the inside pages. Eventually the green color was decided on, and eventually the 12-cent comicsold for $326,000 fifty years later, in 2014. It was graded in a near-mint, 9.2 condition.

‘Captain America’ No. 1

Value: $343,057

The first appearance of Captain America — featuring him gloriously punching Hitler on the cover — sold for a whopping$343,057 in 2011. It was a near-mint 9.2-graded copy, and is said to be the second-highest graded version known to exist. The 68-page comic originally released in 1941 with a 10-cent cover price.

‘Tales of Suspense’ No. 39

Value: $375,000

Iron Man made his first appearance in this 1963 comic book written by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Of course, Tony Stark looks a bit less like he does now, and a bit more like a golem made out of steel. And instead of putting together a suit in the caves of Afghanistan as he does in the 2008 “Iron Man” movie, this Tony Stark built his crude metal armor in a Vietnam POW camp. A 9.6-graded copysold for $375,000 in 2012, although a 7.0 version can go foraround $17,500.

‘Flash Comics’ No. 1

Value: $450,000

A near-mint 9.6 copy of “Flash Comics” sold for $450,000 at auction in 2010. The comic book, which originally sold for 10 cents in 1940, also features a one-page history lesson about postage stamps and a comic strip about an evil ventriloquist dummy. Oh, and then there’s the whole first appearance of the Flash and Hawkman.

‘X-Men’ No. 1

Value:$492,937

An extremely well-kept copy of “X-Men” No. 1 with an incredible 9.8 grading sold for over $490,000in July 2012. This comic book marks the first appearance of iconic X-Men, including Charles Xavier, Magneto Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast and Iceman. Copies with as low as a 0.5 grading can fetch over $2,000on eBay, and the most recent sale on the auction site was a 7.0 which sold for $19,000 in May 2019.

‘Superman’ No. 1

Value: $507,500

A “Superman” No. 1 sold for $507,500 in 2017, and it was only graded as a 5.5. So why was it so expensive?According to Bleeding Cool, the first “Superman” comic book is rare to begin with and then notoriously difficult to find in good shape. The comic was mostly distributed in cities when it was first printed in 1939, which may have resulted in a higher rate of destruction because of a lack of storage space. Also curious is the record-setting price for the sale in 2017, since a 2011 Superman No. 1 with the same 5.5 gradesold for only $214,000 in 2011.

'Batman' No. 1

Value: $850,000

A near-mint condition, 9.2-graded copy of Batman’s first comic book from 1940sold for $850,000 at a private auction in 2012. The iconic comic marks the first appearance of the Joker and Catwoman. The comic is certainly rare. A single page from this book — and our first look ever at the Joker — sold for $660on eBay in 2013.

‘All Star Comics’ No. 8

Value: $936,233

Wonder Woman first appeared in the eighth issue of “All Star Comics” from 1940. The comic book has skyrocketed in value, possibly because of the insanely popular “Wonder Woman” film. A 9.0 copy sold for $411,000 in 2016 at auction, and three years later a 9.4-graded copy sold for over double that priceon eBay. A 5.0 copy is up for saleat $84,000 on Comic Link.

‘Detective Comics’ No. 27

Value: $1.075 million

The first appearance of Batman in the 1939 “Detective Comics” No. 27 broke the record for most valuable comic book when an 8.0-graded copy sold in 2010 for $1,075,000. The seller purchased the comic in the late ‘60s for $100. As Robin might have said in the original “Batman” television series, “Holy profit!”

Even worse-for-wear versions of the Caped Crusader’s first appearance can go for big bucks. A 2.5-graded copy sold for $410,000 in 2018.

'Amazing Fantasy' No. 15

Value: $1.1 million

The first appearance of Spider-Man — back when he had webs underneath his armpits — is the second most valuable comic of all time. In 2011, a pristine 9.8 copy of the comic, printed in 1962 and originally sold for 12 cents, fetched an astounding $1.1 million at auction.

Pinning down the true value of the comic is a bit tough. Onecurrent listing on eBay is graded a 9.2, but it couldn’t sell at $531,000 — less than half the price of the 9.8 copy — so the bidder cut the price to $414,180. (It’s still on sale.) Recently, a 4.0-graded copysold for $30,000 on eBay in March 2019.

‘Action Comics’ No. 1

Value: $3.2 million

The holy grail of comic books is the 1938 “Action Comics” No. 1, the first appearance of Superman, and in turn, the origination of comic book superheroes as we know them today. In 2014, 9.0-graded copy of sold for $3,207,852 on eBay, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

And before that sale, a 9.0 copy of “Action Comics” No. 1 that belonged to actor Nicolas Cagefetched $2.161 million in 2011. Someone had stolen it from his home, but it was found 11 years later in a Southern California storage locker.

The most recent sale for a copy of the iconic comic book occurred in 2018, when an 8.5-graded copy sold for $2,052,000 in 2018at Comic Connect.