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Character

Superman comics

Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1, cover-dated June 1938, from DC Comics, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

First appearance
Action Comics #1
Cover date
June 1938
Publisher
DC Comics
Creators
Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

Graded Superman books in the vault

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Key issueLast copy

DC Comics · Golden Age

Superman #2

CBCS 3.0 · Universal Blue

Second issue of Superman's own title (Fall 1939)

(0)
$6,820
Key issueLast copy

DC Comics · Modern Age

Wonder Woman (2011) #49

CGC 9.8 · Signature Series

Neal Adams variant cover, CGC Signature Series

(0)
$159

Superman guides

First appearance, key issues and what drives the prices.

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  • News

    The most expensive comic books ever sold: documented record sales

    The record for a single comic is 6 million dollars, paid for a CGC 8.5 copy of Action Comics #1 (1938) at Heritage Auctions in April 2024. Other documented milestone sales include a CGC 7.0 Superman #1 at 5.3 million dollars (private sale, 2022), a CGC 9.6 Amazing Fantasy #15 at 3.6 million dollars (Heritage, September 2021), a CGC 8.5 Action Comics #1 at 3.25 million dollars (ComicConnect, April 2021) and a CGC 9.4 Captain America Comics #1 at 3.12 million dollars (Heritage, April 2022).

    Updated Sep 14, 2026

  • Characters

    What is the first appearance of Superman?

    Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1, cover-dated June 1938 and on sale in April 1938, created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster and published by Detective Comics, Inc., the company that became DC Comics. It is the first superhero comic and the most valuable comic book in the world: a CGC 8.5 copy sold for 6 million dollars in April 2024.

    Updated Sep 14, 2026

  • Key issues

    Superman #2 (1939): the second issue of the first superhero title

    Superman #2, cover-dated Fall 1939, is the second issue of the first comic devoted to a single superhero, with Joe Shuster's cover of Superman lifting a car. Like Superman #1 it reprinted and expanded early Action Comics stories alongside new material. It is a Golden Age key in its own right — far more affordable than #1, but scarce in any grade and one of the earliest Superman solo issues a collector can realistically own.

    Updated Sep 14, 2026

  • History

    A short history of DC Comics

    DC traces to National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1934, whose New Fun #1 (February 1935) was among the first comics of all-original material. Detective Comics, Inc. (1937) gave the company its initials and, with Action Comics #1 (June 1938), Superman. Sister company All-American Publications added Wonder Woman, the Flash and Green Lantern; the firms merged as National Comics Publications in 1946, became part of Kinney National (later Warner) in 1967, and adopted the name DC Comics officially in 1977.

    Updated Sep 14, 2026