A newly discovered copy of Superman #1 shattered all previous comic book auction records when it sold for $9.12 million at Heritage Auctions’ Comic Books Signature Auction on November 20, 2025. This ultra-rare issue, stored for decades in an attic in California, was authenticated and graded by Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) at CGC 9.0, making it the highest-graded known copy of this title.
For decades, Action Comics #1 has stood as the most valuable comic book since comic collecting evolved into a serious investment market. Now crowned the most valuable comic book ever sold, this Superman #1 dethroned the previous record holder, Action Comics #1 (Kansas City pedigree, CGC 8.5), which fetched $6 million at auction in April 2024. Before that, a Mile High pedigree Superman #1 graded CGC 8.0 changed hands privately for $5.3 million in 2022. The new benchmark for comic book value has reshaped the hierarchy of historic collectibles.
Action Comics #1, first published on April 18, 1938, is widely recognized as the birth of the superhero genre and remains one of the most culturally significant comics ever produced. Superman #1, released in 1939, functioned as a standalone publication that primarily reprinted stories from the first four issues of Action Comics, giving readers a concentrated introduction to the character who would define an era and transform comic book history. That first print run of half a million copies sold out immediately. Subsequent printings of 250,000 and 150,000 followed, but over the decades, nearly all copies were lost or destroyed. Today, only 209 verified copies of Superman #1 exist in the CGC Population Report, and fewer than half carry CGC’s coveted blue Universal label.
Originally intended as a one-time standalone release rather than the beginning of an ongoing series, Superman #1 did not carry a traditional series title or issue number. It was promoted as “a big, complete Superman book,” and its overwhelming success quickly changed DC Comics’ plans. Strong public response to the first issue convinced the publisher to produce Superman #2, officially launching a dedicated Superman series.
“It was riveting to see this Superman #1, the highest-graded example ever certified by CGC, shatter the previous auction record for any comic book,” said CGC President Matt Nelson. “This result is a testament not only to the comic’s rarity and preservation but also to the expertise and trust that define CGC’s role in the collectibles market.”
This record-breaking sale underscores the intense, ongoing demand for historically significant and rare comics, highlighting CGC’s vital role in preserving, authenticating, and grading these cultural treasures for serious collectors.
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