Some comics are quite expensive. Some can be very expensive. But there’s a few that fetch an absolute fortune. In this post, we look at the top to most expensive comics of all-time.
The recent sale of Superman #1 at auction for a wild US $9.12 million has had us thinking: what are the most valuable comics of all-time? If you’ve got any of these beauties in your collection, you may want to make your way to the nearest auction!
Batman #1 (1940)
Sold for: US $2.22 million (2021)
The Legend of the Batman – Who He is, and How he Came to Be. It all began here.
Batman has changed and evolved so many times over the years. Many associate early Batman with the corny Adam West TV series. But issue #1 was unusually dark for the era. Bob Kane and Bill Finger started the saga with the character’s classic origin story: Bruce walks home from a movie with his father Thomas Wayne and his mother when they’re attacked by a mugger who shoots his parents dead. It also introduces both the Joker and Catwoman.
Tales of Suspense #39 (1963)
Sold for: US $2.0 million (2023)
He Lives! He Walks! He Conquers! While the original Iron Man didn’t quite don the signature deep red and golden colours he’d later be known for, the silver is just as iconic.
Tales of Suspense #39 (1963) marked the first appearance of Iron Man, created by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber with artists Steve Ditko, Gene Colan, and Don Heck.
All‑Star Comics #8 (1941)
Sold for: US $1.62 million (2022)
All-Star Comics #8 (1941) by William Moulton Marston & H.G.Peter marked the first appearance of Wonder Woman… although you wouldn’t know by the front cover. The issue was primarily a Justice Society of America story. The first appearance of Wonder Woman came as a backup story at the end, serving as an introduction to the character, who would go on to be one of DC’s most beloved heroes.
Detective Comics #27 (1939)
Sold for: US $1.825 million (2024)
Batman made his first-ever appearance in Detective Comics #27 (1939). Specifically, he appears in The Case of the Chemical Syndicate. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, the comic also features the first appearance of Commissioner Gordon. Robin would come later.
Fantastic Four #1 (1961)
Sold for: US $2.04 million (2024)
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby certainly struck a chord when they debuted the Fantastic Four in 1961. The team of Reed Richards, Johnny Storm, Susan Storm, and Ben Grimm are Marvel’s first family. Witty and action-packed, the comic was a massive success from the outset, paving the way for the variety of superhero teams to follow. The Fantastic Four have remained a beloved part of culture for decades, with the team recently being re-introduced the big screen in the MCU’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps in 2025. No doubt they’ll be ubiquitous in pop culture for many years to come!
Marvel Comics #1 (1939)
Sold for: US $2.43 million (2022)
From Al Anders, Carl Burgos, Bill Everett, Paul Gustavson, and Ben Thompson, comes Marvel Comics #1, featuring the first appearances of both the Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner. The comic originally printed 80,000 copies, but sold out incredible fast. A reprint was ordered a month later. But if you’ve got an original print from October 1939, it’s worth a couple million. Well, that’s provided the condition is good. The one that sold for over 2 million dollars had a CGC grade of 9.2.
Captain America Comics #1 (1941)
Sold for: US $3.12 million (2022)
Joe Simon and Jack Kirby introduced Captain America with perhaps one of the most iconic covers ever created. I mean, it doesn’t get much cooler than seeing Cap punch Hitler, does it? No wonder he became an instant fan-favourite.
Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962)
Sold for: US $3.6 million (2021)
When Stan Lee and Steve Ditko introduced Spider-Man, they changed the face of superhero comics forever. Peter Parker was just a teenager who gained remarkable powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider… and the rest is history. With great power, there must also come great responsibility. The original owners of Amazing Fantasy #15 were certainly responsible, with the comic selling in 2021 with an unprecedented CGC grade of 9.6.
Action Comics #1 (1938)
Sold for: US $6.0 million (2024)
A year before Superman #1, the Man of Steel made his first appearance in Action Comics #1 from Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The cover is about as quintessential as it gets. The strength. The shock. The flow of his cape. It marks the beginning of an era that’s endured almost a century.
Superman #1 (1939)
Sold for: US $9.12 million (2025)
After three brothers in America found an original copy of a famous comic, Superman #1 (1939), the 86-year old comic sold at auction for a huge $9.12 million. The Californian brothers came across the comic while rooting through a cardboard box in their mum’s house. Their mum was just 9-years-old when she first bought the copy.
The comic had an immense 9.0 CGC grading, which is out-of-this-world good for a comic not far off a century old. It is one of only seven known copies graded 6.0 or higher. Half a million copies of Superman #1 were printed back in the ’30s. There’s bound to be others out there, but to find one in near-pristine quality, is miraculous.
What’s the most expensive comic you own? Don’t worry, we won’t come at take it from you!
