Pop culture jackpot: “Superman #1” from California attic sets world record
21 November 2025 21:34
The 1939 Superman #1 comic book, accidentally found last year in California, was sold at auction for $9.12 million, making it the most expensive comic book ever sold in the world. The Guardian writes about it, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
This price broke the record set only last year and emphasized the rapid growth of the investment value of rare pop culture objects.
From the attic to the auction house
The story of the sold copy is worthy of a movie, adding to its unique value:
The 86-year-old copy was found in 2024 by three brothers from Northern California. They discovered it in a cardboard box under a pile of old newspapers while cleaning out their late mother’s attic.
The mother, who had bought the comic in San Francisco when she was nine years old, had been telling her sons for decades that she had “some rare comics somewhere,” but they had never found the hiding place.
The key factor in the record price was the almost perfect state of preservation of the copy. It received a grade of 9.0 out of 10, the highest grade for Superman No. 1. It is one of only seven known copies with a grade of 6.0 or higher.
Why the price exceeded 9 million
The record price reflects not only the condition, but also the cultural and historical significance.
- A cultural milestone: Superman No. 1 is one of the “Big Three” Golden Age comics along with Action Comics No. 1 (Superman’s first appearance) and Detective Comics No. 27 (Batman’s first appearance).
- Rarity: Despite the fact that half a million copies were originally printed, surviving copies are rare. According to experts, the cover of the comic book was often cut out and used as a poster.
- A new record: This price of $9.12 million (including commissions) easily broke the previous world record set last year. Then a copy of Action Comics #1 (1938) was sold for $6 million.
According to Heritage Auctions Vice President Lon Allen, the price reflects a unique combination of perfect condition and “a story worthy of a movie.”
The irony of the foundation
Superman was created in 1933 by two teenagers from Cleveland, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
They sold the rights to the iconic hero to DC Comics for only $130 (receiving $10 for each page drawn).
