Superman  (1939)

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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

๐ŸŒŽ 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

Superman #1

Non-Key

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2017

Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$3

Key Facts

Non-Key Issue. No additional information is available.

Reprint ⋅ DC ⋅ 1999

Low
$12
Mid
$40
High
$120

Key Facts

Reprint of Superman #1, complete with full story and advertisements

Distributed with the Superman Masterpiece Edition Boxed Set by Chronicle Books which was packaged with an 8-inch statue and a hardcover book that chronicled the Golden Age of Superman

Values listed represent the comic book as a standalone item

Superman #1

Non-Key

Convention Exclusive ⋅ DC ⋅ 2023

Low
$5
Mid
$18
High
$65

Key Facts

2023 convention exclusive, limited to 1,200 copies

Facsimile foil edition

Facsimile ⋅ DC ⋅ 2022

Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$7

Key Facts

Facsimile reprint of Superman #1

Superman #1

Non-Key

Facsimile ⋅ DC ⋅ 2022

Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$3

Key Facts

Non-Key Issue. No additional information is available.

Superman #1

Non-Key

Facsimile ⋅ DC ⋅ 2022

Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$3

Key Facts

Non-Key Issue. No additional information is available.

Superman #1

Non-Key

International ⋅ DC ⋅ 1949

Values Coming Soon

Key Facts

Non-Key Issue. No additional information is available.

DC ⋅ 1939

Low
$4.7k
Mid
$12.8k
High
$39k

Key Facts

Cover art by Joe Shuster

DC ⋅ 1939

Low
$3.2k
Mid
$9.2k
High
$28k

Key Facts

Cover art by Joe Shuster

DC ⋅ 1940

Low
$750
Mid
$2.2k
High
$9.7k

Key Facts

2nd appearance of Lex Luthor

DC ⋅ 1940

Low
$610
Mid
$1.8k
High
$7.8k

Key Facts

Lex Luthor appears with grey hair

DC ⋅ 1940

Low
$800
Mid
$2.8k
High
$8.5k

Key Facts

First use of a splash page in a Superman comic

DC ⋅ 1940

Low
$800
Mid
$2k
High
$8k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Perry White, editor-in-chief at the Daily Planet who was originally created for The Adventures of Superman radio program

DC ⋅ 1941

Low
$750
Mid
$1.9k
High
$7.5k

Key Facts

Early Golden Age issue

DC ⋅ 1941

Low
$600
Mid
$1.8k
High
$6k

Key Facts

Cover art by Fred Ray

DC ⋅ 1941

Low
$700
Mid
$1.9k
High
$7k

Key Facts

Lex Luthor appears as a bald-headed man for the first time in standard comic books

DC ⋅ 1941

Low
$600
Mid
$1.8k
High
$6k

Key Facts

Cover art by Fred Ray

DC ⋅ 1941

Low
$450
Mid
$1.2k
High
$4.5k

Key Facts

Early Lex Luthor appearance

DC ⋅ 1941

Low
$660
Mid
$1.8k
High
$6.6k

Key Facts

Jimmy Olsen named, previously referred to as Office Boy

DC ⋅ 1942

Low
$1.2k
Mid
$4.7k
High
$14.3k

Key Facts

Iconic cover art by Fred Ray

DC ⋅ 1942

Low
$400
Mid
$1.2k
High
$4k

Key Facts

Early Golden Age issue

DC ⋅ 1942

Low
$300
Mid
$1k
High
$3k

Key Facts

2nd cover appearance of Lois Lane

DC ⋅ 1942

Low
$1.4k
Mid
$3.2k
High
$9.3k

Key Facts

Cover art featuring Hitler and Hirohito

Prototype of the Fortress of Solitude, referred to as the secret citadel and mountain retreat

DC ⋅ 1942

Low
$450
Mid
$1.4k
High
$4.5k

Key Facts

Advertisement for Wonder Woman #1

Superman #19

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1942

Values Coming Soon

Key Facts

Non-Key Issue. No additional information is available.

DC ⋅ 1943

Low
$300
Mid
$1k
High
$3k

Key Facts

Cover art by Jack Burnley

Superman #21

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1942

Values Coming Soon

Key Facts

Non-Key Issue. No additional information is available.

Superman #22

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1943

Values Coming Soon

Key Facts

Non-Key Issue. No additional information is available.

DC ⋅ 1943

Low
$525
Mid
$1.6k
High
$5.2k

Key Facts

Cover art by Jack Burnley

DC ⋅ 1943

Low
$850
Mid
$2.2k
High
$7.7k

Key Facts

Cover art by Jack Burnley

DC ⋅ 1943

Low
$175
Mid
$525
High
$1.9k

Key Facts

Clark Kent joins the Army

DC ⋅ 1944

Low
$690
Mid
$2.4k
High
$6.6k

Key Facts

World War II cover art by Wayne Boring

Superman #27

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1944

Values Coming Soon

Key Facts

Non-Key Issue. No additional information is available.

DC ⋅ 1944

Low
$155
Mid
$470
High
$1.7k

Key Facts

First solo Lois Lane story

Superman #29

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1944

Values Coming Soon

Key Facts

Non-Key Issue. No additional information is available.

DC ⋅ 1944

Low
$380
Mid
$1.6k
High
$3.8k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Mr. Mxyzptlk

First time Superman references his ability to "fly", previously he was known to leap

๐Ÿ”ฎ DC Possibilities: Obviously James Gunn won't have time to do all of these projects but he is familiar with the subject matter and has the creative vision to know what gems are buried in the vast DC catalog to hand-off to the right filmmakers

Superman #31

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1944

Values Coming Soon

Key Facts

Non-Key Issue. No additional information is available.

DC ⋅ 1945

Low
$400
Mid
$1.2k
High
$4k

Key Facts

Iconic cover art by Wayne Boring

DC ⋅ 1945

Low
$130
Mid
$465
High
$1.3k

Key Facts

3rd appearance of Mr. Mxyztplk

Superman #34

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1945

Values Coming Soon

Key Facts

Red Cross cover

Superman #35

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1945

Values Coming Soon

Key Facts

Non-Key Issue. No additional information is available.

Superman #36

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1945

Values Coming Soon

Key Facts

Non-Key Issue. No additional information is available.

Superman #37

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1945

Values Coming Soon

Key Facts

Non-Key Issue. No additional information is available.

DC ⋅ 1946

Low
$115
Mid
$350
High
$1.3k

Key Facts

Classic story about an atomic bomb that was originally meant to be published in Superman #34 but was delayed due to government intervention resulting from heightened security during World War II

The first page of the comic book depicts Lex Luthor unleashing a weapon of mass destruction on Superman with the following text:

Now It Can Be Told. Due to wartime censorship restrictions on subjects dealing with Atomic experiments (see Time [Magazine], Aug. 20 1945, p. 72 and Newsweek, Aug 20 1945 p. 68), this story was not previously released to the public. You'll understand why as you read about the astounding weapon that Superman's ancient foe, Luthor, turns loose against a city in..."The Battle of the Atoms!"

Superman #39

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1946

Values Coming Soon

Key Facts

Non-Key Issue. No additional information is available.

Superman #40

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1946

Values Coming Soon

Key Facts

Non-Key Issue. No additional information is available.

Superman #41

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1946

Values Coming Soon

Key Facts

Non-Key Issue. No additional information is available.

Superman #42

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1946

Values Coming Soon

Key Facts

Non-Key Issue. No additional information is available.

Superman #43

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1946

Values Coming Soon

Key Facts

Non-Key Issue. No additional information is available.

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