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Low
$15k
Mid
$50k
High
$150k

Key Facts

First comic book to be sold on newsstands

Estimated print run of 35,000 copies though there is thought to be fewer than 10 still in existence and the highest graded copy is a 4.5

Eastern Color ⋅ 1934

Low
$480
Mid
$1.4k
High
$4.8k

Key Facts

1st cover appearance of Santa Claus on a standard comic book

First Christmas story in a standard comic book, a reprinted story called 'Fanny Takes Advantage of Santa' from the comic strip Simp O'Dill

Low
$3.5k
Mid
$10k
High
$35k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Doctor Occult, one of the earliest superheroes in history

First artwork by Joe Shuster, co-creator of Superman

First written work by Jerry Siegel, co-creator of Superman

1st appearance of a vampire in comic books

Low
$720
Mid
$2.1k
High
$6.5k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Dick Tracy in comic books

1st appearance of Don Winslow and Terry & the Pirates

St. John ⋅ 1936

Low
$1k
Mid
$3k
High
$10k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Tarzan

1st appearance of Bronco Bill and Li'l Abner

David McKay ⋅ 1936

Low
$3k
Mid
$10k
High
$30k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Popeye in standard comics - reprinted newspaper comic strips

1st appearance of Flash Gordon in standard comics - reprinted newspaper comic strips

1st appearance of Mandrake the Magician

1st appearance of Brick Bradford

[March 2024 - a live-action Popeye movie is in development from Chernin Entertainment and King Features with screenwriter Michael Caleo (The Sopranos) attached]

Comics Magazine Company ⋅ 1936

Low
$380
Mid
$1.1k
High
$4.7k

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Clock, simultaneously released with Funny Pages #6

King Features ⋅ 1938

Low
$985
Mid
$3.5k
High
$9.8k

Key Facts

1st appearance of The Phantom, Kit Walker, in a standard comic book

Low
$285k
Mid
$1.1M
High
$4.6M

Key Facts

1st appearance of Superman

1st appearance of Lois Lane

1st appearance of Zatara, Zatanna's father

1st appearance of Tex Thompson, later becomes Mr. America

Fiction House ⋅ 1938

Low
$3.1k
Mid
$9k
High
$26k

Key Facts

First professionally published interior art by Jack Kirby, as Jack Curtiss

1st appearance of Sheena Queen of the Jungle

First adaptation of the Count of Monte Cristo in a U.S. publication - reprinted from Wags (UK, 1938)

Low
$4k
Mid
$12k
High
$40k

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Crimson Avenger

1st appearance Wing, the Crimson Avenger's sidekick

Lone Ranger Comics Inc ⋅ 1939

Low
$620
Mid
$2.5k
High
$6.8k

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Lone Ranger in a standard Golden Age-sized comic

1st western comic book featuring a single character

Promotional mail-in offer for an ice cream cone company

Stories adapted from Lone Ranger and His Horse Silver, published by Big Little Books

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Golden Age Sandman

Low
$4.5k
Mid
$14k
High
$33k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Namor the Sub-Mariner

1st appearance of American Ace

1st appearance of the Holy One, later known as Thakorr, a former ruler of Atlantis

Only nine copies are known to exist

This comic was intended to be a giveaway at movie theaters but it never went into full production

Dell ⋅ 1939

Low
$175
Mid
$525
High
$1.9k

Key Facts

1st appearance of John Carter Warlord of Mars in a standard comic book

Adaptation of 'A Princess of Mars' by Edgar Rice Burroughs

[July 2024 - a John Carter reboot is rumored to be in the works at Disney]

Low
$250k
Mid
$890k
High
$2.2M

Key Facts

1st appearance of Batman

1st appearance of Commissioner Gordon

💰 Detective Comics #27 has sold for over one million dollars 6x with a record high sale in 6.5 for $1.8 million (April 2024)

Low
$110k
Mid
$976k
High
$3.1M

Key Facts

Premiere issue of headlining Superman title

Origin of Superman

1st appearance of Ma and Pa Kent

First pin-up poster in comics, on back cover

🌎 Currently holds the world record for the highest comic sale in history after an 8.0 Edgar Church copy sold for $5.3 million dollars in Jan 2022

Low
$1.1k
Mid
$3.2k
High
$15k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Blue Beetle, Dan Garrett, not in traditional costume but in a suit and fedora

1st appearance of Green Mask

1st appearance of Rex Dexter of Mars and Zanzibar the Magician

Low
$53k
Mid
$140k
High
$410k

Key Facts

1st appearance of The Monk, Batman's first costumed enemy

1st appearance of Julie Madison, Bruce Wayne's girlfriend

5th appearance of Batman

Debut of the Batgyro, an airborn vehicle later replaced by the Batplane

Debut of the Batarang

Stories take place in New York City

Centaur ⋅ 1939

Low
$1.8k
Mid
$5.4k
High
$24k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Amazing Man, John Aman

Timely ⋅ 1939

Low
$68k
Mid
$400k
High
$1.2M

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Human Torch, Jim Hammond

2nd appearance of Namor the Sub-Mariner - 8 pages of the 12-page story reprinted from Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1

1st appearance of Dorma, Namor's cousin

1st appearance of Ka-Zar, David Rand

1st appearance of Angel, Thomas Halloway, a private detective and vigilante

1st appearance of the Masked Raider, Jim Gardley

1st comic book published by Timely, later becomes Marvel

Retitled Marvel Mystery Comics after this issue

80,000 copies were produced of the first printing with an October 1939 date on the cover

The second printing could be identified by the October 1939 date blacked out, replaced with November 1939

The first printing sold out within a week and was quickly reprinted at a quantity of 800,000, the same as Superman #1

Although published in October, the cover date was changed to have a longer on-sale period at newsstands

💰 In March 2022, a 9.2 known as the Pay Copy due to publisher notations that tracked creator payouts sold for $2.42 million

Lev Gleason ⋅ 1939

Low
$900
Mid
$2.7k
High
$13k

Key Facts

1st appearance of The Claw

Archie ⋅ 1940

Low
$1.7k
Mid
$5.2k
High
$17k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of the Shield, the United States' first patriotic hero

1st appearance and origin of the Comet, the first superhero character to die in the line of duty in Pep Comics #17

Low
$65k
Mid
$147k
High
$480k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of The Flash, Jay Garrick

First mention of Keystone City, protected by The Flash

1st appearance and origin of Hawkman, Carter Hall

1st appearance Shiera Sanders, later becomes Hawkgirl

1st appearance of Hath-Set, the first villain of Hawkman

1st appearance of Johnny Thunder

1st appearance of Yz, Johnny Thunder's thunderbolt

Dell ⋅ 1940

Low
$1.6k
Mid
$4.8k
High
$23k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Donald Duck in a standard size comic book

Low
$8k
Mid
$25k
High
$112k

Key Facts

1st full appearance and origin of The Spectre

1st appearance of The Presence, creator of The Spectre and the most powerful entity in the DC Multiverse

Fawcett ⋅ 1940

Low
$34k
Mid
$106k
High
$301k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Captain Marvel, later renamed Shazam

1st appearance of the Wizard Shazam

1st appearance of Dr. Sivana, a scientific genius and the archenemy of Captain Marvel

1st appearance of Ibis the Invincible and Spy Smasher

1st team appearance of the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man, later renamed the Seven Deadly Sins

While not a precise swipe of Action Comics #1 artwork, this cover and other aspects of Captain Marvel led to DC (formerly National) filing a lawsuit against Fawcett for Captain Marvel too closely resembling Superman

Premiere issue of the series though the copyright notes read issue #2

There exists a scarce Ashcan edition of this issue

Street and Smith ⋅ 1940

Low
$475
Mid
$1.4k
High
$6.1k

Key Facts

1st appearance of The Shadow in comic books

1st appearance of Doc Savage

Low
$3.5k
Mid
$11k
High
$35k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Lex Luthor, depicted with red hair

1st appearance of Black Pirate

First mention of The Daily Planet

[November 2023 - Nicholas Hoult has been cast as Lex Luthor in Superman Legacy]

Low
$22.2k
Mid
$63k
High
$160k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Robin

DC ⋅ 1940

Low
$72k
Mid
$205k
High
$1.5M

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Joker

1st appearance of the Cat, Selina Kyle, later becomes Catwoman

Debut of the first Batplane which has multiple designs from one issue to the next including Batman #3 and Batman #4

💰 Batman #1 sold for over one million dollars 3x with a record-high in 9.4 for $2,220,000

Low
$3.5k
Mid
$13.2k
High
$35k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Dr. Fate, Kent Nelson

Introduction of the Helmet of Fate, Amulet of Anubis, and the Cloak of Destiny

1st appearance of Wotan, an immortal sorcerer and enemy of Dr. Fate

Low
$28k
Mid
$85k
High
$375k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Green Lantern, Alan Scott

Timely ⋅ 1940

Low
$1.8k
Mid
$6k
High
$22k

Key Facts

Debut artwork by Jack Kirby at Timely (Marvel) Comics

1st appearance and origin of the Red Raven and the Eternal Brain

1st appearance of Mercury, later becomes Hurricane then retconned to be Makkari from Kirby’s ‘Eternals’

1st appearance of Pluto who is later retconned to become Kro from Kirby's 'Eternals'

1st appearance of Magar the Mystic

This issue is the first appearance of a number of classical mythology characters but later appearances do not connect with these versions therefore they are not considered the mainstream Marvel depictions of the Olympians

1st appearance of Mercury (Hermes), Pluto (Hades), Jupiter (Zeus), Minerva (Athena), Vulcan (Hephaestus), Aeolus, Diana (Artemis), Apollo

Key Facts

1st appearance of Daisy Duck in an interior pin-up, first in-story appearance occurs in the next issue

Low
$7.5k
Mid
$28k
High
$85k

Key Facts

1st team appearance and origin of the Justice Society of America, the first superhero team in history: Atom, Flash, Sandman, Spectre, Hawkman, Dr. Fate, Green Lantern, Hourman

3rd appearance of the Atom

Low
$45k
Mid
$160k
High
$680k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Captain America

1st appearance of James Buchanan Barnes aka Bucky, later becomes the Winter Soldier

1st appearance of the Red Skull, George Maxon, an agent of the true Red Skull

1st appearance of Doctor Reinstein aka Doctor Erskine, the inventor of the Super Soldier serum

1st appearance of Hurricane, later becomes Makkari

1st appearance of Tuk the Cave Boy, first offspring of the Inhumans

Introduction of Project Rebirth, the Super Soldier Program that eventually expanded into Weapon Plus

💰 In April 2022, a 9.4 sold for $3,120,000 (San Francisco Pedigree)

Low
$2.2k
Mid
$8.2k
High
$22k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Dr. Mid-Nite, a surgeon who is blind in the light but can see perfectly in the dark

Hop Harrigan becomes Guardian Angel

Low
$1.4k
Mid
$5.5k
High
$22k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Starman, Ted Knight

Low
$8.7k
Mid
$24k
High
$87k

Key Facts

First written work in the comic book industry by Stan Lee

Two-page text story with a couple of illustrations by Kirby

3rd appearance of Captain America

3rd appearance of Bucky Barnes

2nd appearance and 1st cover of the Red Skull, George Maxon

Low
$575
Mid
$2.5k
High
$6.8k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Shiera Sanders as Hawkgirl

[July 2023 - Isabela Merced will portray Hawkgirl in Superman Legacy but which version of Hawkgirl is not yet known]

Low
$620
Mid
$1.9k
High
$6.2k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Blackhawk, a man bent on vengeance after the death of his brother and sister

Quality ⋅ 1941

Low
$3.5k
Mid
$11k
High
$35k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Plastic Man

1st appearance of the Human Bomb

1st appearance of Firebrand

1st appearance of Phantom Lady

🔮 DC Possibilities: Yet another property that has had its fair share of false starts over the years is a perfect fit for the right balance of slapstick humor and zany action

[September 2023 - a trademark was registered by WB for Plastic Man additional media]

Key Facts

1st appearance of Bugs Bunny

1st appearance of Daffy Duck

1st appearance of Elmer Fudd

1st appearance of Porky Pig

1st appearance of Sniffles and Mary Jane

1st appearance of Tom Thumb

1st appearance of Petunia Pig

1st appearance of Blabbermouse

Dell ⋅ 1941

Low
$2k
Mid
$8k
High
$20k

Key Facts

First solo-titled Mickey Mouse feature in a standard comic book

Iconic cover and story "Mickey Mouse Outwits the Phantom Blot"

Gilberton ⋅ 1941

Values Coming Soon
Low
$18k
Mid
$58k
High
$185k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Aquaman

1st appearance of Green Arrow

1st appearance of Speedy

Fawcett ⋅ 1941

Low
$850
Mid
$2.8k
High
$8.5k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Captain Marvel Jr., Freddy Freeman, a boy who Billy Bastion shared his power with in order to save his life

Low
$28.5k
Mid
$81k
High
$290k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Wonder Woman

1st appearance of Hippolyta

1st appearance of Steve Trevor

Starman and Dr. Mid-Nite join the JSA

💰 In June 2022, a 9.4 sold for $1,620,000

Archie ⋅ 1941

Low
$30k
Mid
$10k
High
$300k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Archie Andrews

1st appearance of Betty Cooper

1st appearance of Jughead Jones

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