'Superman' comic found in a California attic sells for record $9.12 million at auction

2 hours ago 1

It’s a bird, it’s a level ... it’s a Superman comic beyond astir of our terms range!

A pristine transcript of “Superman” No. 1 sold for $9.12 cardinal astatine Heritage Auctions connected Thursday, making it the astir costly comic publication ever sold astatine auction. The closing terms smashed the grounds antecedently acceptable by different Superman-related comic, a transcript of “Action Comics” No. 1, which sold for $6 cardinal done Heritage Auctions successful 2024.

The archetypal contented of “Superman” was among a tiny trove of comic books recovered by 3 brothers successful Northern California who were sorting done their precocious mother’s belongings. The postulation had been tucked nether a heap of aged newspapers and cobwebs successful the attic of their household home, according to a property merchandise from Heritage Auctions.

The transcript of “Superman” No. 1 was graded 9.0 connected a 10-point standard by the Certified Guaranty Company (CGC), a third-party work that authenticates and grades collectibles, including comics, trading cards and video games. It’s the highest-ever graded transcript of the 1939 comic book. (That newspapers helped sphere the comic’s information would marque reporters Lois Lane and Clark Kent proud.)

Superman made his comic publication debut successful 1938 successful “Action Comics” No. 1. The anthology comic is often credited arsenic kicking disconnected the superhero genre successful comics. The popularity of the Man of Steel — created by writer Jerry Siegel and creator Joe Shuster — led to the motorboat of his ain comic publication bid successful 1939.

In summation to the motorboat contented of “Superman,” the mother’s comic publication postulation included issues of “Action Comics” Nos. 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21.

According to Heritage Auctions, this transcript of “Superman” No. 1 is 1 of conscionable 7 known copies with a CGC people of 6.0 oregon higher. A CGC graded 8.0 transcript of “Superman” No. 1 sold for $5.3 cardinal successful 2022.