The most valuable comic book in history began as a desperate editorial afterthought.
In short: Action Comics #1, published in 1938, launched the superhero genre and Superman. Yet, the iconic character was only included because an editor needed to fill space under a tight deadline. Today, original copies are among the most expensive collectibles on Earth, with one specimen recently selling for $15 million.
When National Allied Publications needed a fourth comic book, editor Vin Sullivan was forced to assemble content from existing inventory. Lacking a strong lead feature, he turned to Sheldon Mayer, who unearthed rejected comic strips featuring a character named Superman. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the character had been previously pitched unsuccessfully to newspaper syndicates. Sullivan instructed the creators to condense their work into 13 pages, inadvertently launching a cultural phenomenon. The issue was an anthology of eleven features, including stories like Chuck Dawson and Zatara Master Magician, but it was the Superman story that eventually drove sales toward one million copies per month.
The survival of original copies is rare. Estimates suggest only 50 to 100 exist today. Many were lost to time or discarded; publisher William Gaines once claimed he had dozens at home that were likely thrown away. The few that remain have become high-stakes assets. In 2014, a CGC 9.0-graded copy sold for over $3.2 million, and by 2024, a specimen reached $6 million. The record was shattered again in January 2026, when a private transaction for a CGC 9.0-graded copy—notably the same issue once stolen from actor Nicolas Cage in 2000—reached $15 million.
Because of its immense value, the issue has been the subject of numerous reprints since the 1970s. While these editions, such as the 1974 'Famous First Editions' or the 2022 Facsimile Edition, allow fans to experience the original content, they have also created a market for caution. The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide has long warned that unscrupulous individuals might attempt to pass off stripped-down reprints as original 1938 issues. Despite this, the guide has never cited a confirmed instance of such a deception, leaving the mystery of the original's provenance as part of its enduring legend.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Action Comics 1
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