DALLAS — It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s … officially the most valuable comic book in the world!
A nearly pristine copy of Action Comics No. 1, which features Superman's first appearance and was first published in the spring of 1938, sold through North Texas-based Heritage Auctions for a record $6 million Thursday.
The copy leaped over the previous record for the highest-priced comic book, which was a copy of Superman No. 1, certified at a condition of 8 (out of 10) that sold for $5.3 million in a private sale in 2022.
In addition to featuring the first appearance of the Man of Steel, Action Comics No. 1, written by Jerry Siegel and drawn by Joe Shuster, marks the first appearance of perennial love interest Lois Lane and magician Zatara and is credited with creating the superhero genre.
“Without Superman and Action Comics No. 1, who knows whether there ever would have been a Golden Age of comics — or if the medium would have become what it is today,” Heritage Auctions Vice President Barry Sandoval said in a previous statement.
Industry experts estimate only about 100 of the 200,000 copies of Action Comics No. 1 printed by DC Comics’ predecessor, National Allied Publications, survive, according to Heritage.
The Action Comics No. 1 copy was part of Heritage’s Comics and Comic Art Signature Action and is among the three best-unrestored copies known to exist, according to industry experts.
Also in the Thursday auction, a three-page letter written by Siegel to comic artist Russell Keaton in 1934 outlining the concept for Superman sold for $264,000.
"We're thrilled to have made history today with an auction that's rich in history, encompassing everything from a pre-Golden Age Superman artifact to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. We couldn't be happier for our consignors and those winning bidders who acquired items without equal,” Sandoval said.
One of the five best-rated copies of 1963’s The Avengers featuring Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, Ant-Man and Wasp sold for $432,000, a new record for the title, among other comic books sold Thursday.
The auction continues here through April 7.
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(Note: This video was published March 23)
