In honor of Fantastic Four No. 1 joining the $2 million club last week, cllct recaps the top 10 comic book sales in history.
At $2.04 million, the Fantastic Four sale just missed making this list:
10. Batman No. 1 (CGC 9.4): $2.22 million
Representing the first issue of one of the most significant comic book series, as well as the first appearances of The Joker and The Cat (better known as Catwoman), this CGC 9.4 example is the single highest-graded copy reviewed by CGC.
Its January 2021 sale for $2.22 million at Heritage Auctions marked the first time a Near Mint copy of one of the top five Golden Age key issues ever appeared at public auction, according to the auction house.
9. Superman No. 1 (CGC 7.0): $2.34 million
Among just two copies graded CGC 7.0 with only two graded higher, this copy featuring the origin of Superman and the first issue in the self-titled series fetched $2.34 million at Heritage in January 2024.
8. Marvel Comics No. 1 (CGC 9.2): $2.43 million
Launching the beginnings of the Marvel Universe as we know it, Marvel Comics #1’s 1939 release is a watershed moment in comics history.
This CGC 9.2 copy is among the highest graded in CGC’s census and became the highest-selling example of the issue when it was auctioned by ComicConnect in March 2022.
7. Captain America Comics No. 1 (CGC 9.4): $3.12 million
Not only does the first issue of the Captain America series represent a historic inaugural release for what would become an enduring character in comic history, but it boasts one of the most iconic covers ever produced: Captain America punching Adolf Hitler in the face.
The comic, produced in 1941 and graded CGC 9.4, is one of two copies at the grade with one higher. It sold for $3.12 million at Heritage in April 2022.
6. Action Comics No. 1 (CGC 6.0): $3.18 million
Known as the “Rocket Copy,” this issue of the comic which introduced Superman is famous for its stamped imprint of a rocket ship which its original owner, a 13-year-old who bought the comic in 1938, stamped onto its cover. It sold for $3.18 million at Heritage in January 2022.
5. Action Comics No. 1 (CGC 8.5): $3.25 million
Another example of the seminal issue fetched $3.25 million through Comic Connect in 2023.
4. Action Comics No. 1 (CGC 6.0): $3.56 million
Establishing further dominance on this list, a private sale of a CGC 6.0 example of Action Comics #1 was reported by CGC in 2022.
3. Amazing Fantasy No. 15 (CGC 9.6): $3.6 million
Blowing through the rest of the list as the only candidate from Spider-Man’s first appearance, a CGC 9.6 example of Amazing Fantasy #15 — one of four at the grade with none higher — sold for $3.6 million in September 2021 at Heritage.
2. Superman No. 1 (CGC 8.0): $5.3 million
With only a single copy of the groundbreaking comic from 1939 graded higher by CGC, this example broke the record for most expensive comic book ever sold when a private buyer paid $5.3 million for the comic in a sale brokered by TonyeTrade Enterprises and Vintage Comics in April 2022, according to CGC.
The copy belongs to the Edgar Church/Mile High pedigree, which CGC calls “the most remarkable collection of vintage comics ever discovered.” The collection was compiled by Church, a commercial illustrator, who gathered nearly 15,000 comics in his Denver basement between 1937 and 1957.
Included in his massive collection, which was sold after his death in 1977, was nearly every key issue from the Golden Age.
1. Action Comics No. 1 (CGC 8.5): $6 million
The record for the world’s most expensive comic book was set in April when a CGC 8.5 copy of Action Comics No. 1 sold for $6 million at Heritage.
One of two copies to receive a CGC 8.5 grade, with just two copies graded higher, this copy comes from the Kansas City Pedigree, which CGC calls the “earliest pedigreed collection ever found.”
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.