Even In Low Grade, Supermans 1938 Debut Soars To Record High
Selling For $408,000, Comic First With CGC 0.5 To Bring Six Figures
October 13, 2023
Heritage Auctions Sept. 14 to 17 Comics and Comic Art Signature Auction abounded with history, on the page and behind the podium. Records were set throughout the nearly sold-out four-day event, which realized $13,021,591 and drew more than 5,100 bidders worldwide who competed for abundant books and works that had never before been to auction. Nineteen of the 1,300 lots realized six-figure results, among them a low-graded copy of the most important comic book ever published that soared to a record result: Action Comics No. 1, the 1938 book that introduced Superman, birthed the superhero genre and ushered in the Golden Age, for starters. Thats why this issue, graded CGC PR 0.5, sold for $408,000, making it the most valuable copy of the comic in the grade. Up, up and away it went, even without its back cover, to become the first comic book with a CGC 0.5 to sell for six figures. Several comic books set new auction records, chief among them 1945s Punch Comics No. 12, the highest-graded copy in CGCs registry. This book is among the worlds greatest comics, in the estimation of Golden Age entrepreneur Harry A Chesler, and the bidders who fought over it, driving its price to a record $204,000. Published one year later than Supermans debut on June 18, 1939, to be precise, the Alex Raymond original Flash Gordon Sunday strip with the Jungle Jim topper sparked a bidding war that pushed its final price to $312,000. Thats second only to the $480,000 realized in March 2020 for the very first Flash Gordon newspaper strip ever published, from 1933. Raymond worked on Flash Gordon and Jungle Jim for just a decade, but his impact lingers well into the 21st century, whether in the ceaseless Star Wars franchise or the Thor films drenched in the bright, campy colors of the 1980 film adaptation. And the Star Wars nod is undeniable in this strip, the third pane, precisely. This was one of my favorite pieces of art in the auction, stated Heritage Executive Vice President Todd Hignite. Not only has it never been on the market, but its pretty much perfect in every way. Hence, its near-record result. This event was filled with auction newcomers, including Fred Ray and Jerry Robinsons original Detective Comics No. 58 cover, published in December 1941. Not only is this a landmark Batman and Robin work, but this was also the issue that introduced The Penguin, which is why it realized $270,000. Another rare survivor from DC Comics Golden Age, Mort Meskins original cover for 1941s Leading Comics No. 1, featuring the Seven Soldiers of Victory, sold for $150,000. And speaking of Star Wars, Rick Hoberg and Dave Cockrums original cover of 1977s Star Wars No. 5 was another auction newcomer. The Force was strong with this artwork that graced the cover of the penultimate issue of Marvel Comics adaptation of Lucas film, which was written by Roy Thomas and illustrated by Howard Chaykin. This issue, featuring the story Lo, the Moons of Yavin! was published on Aug. 10, 1977, just 77 days after Lucas gave audiences a new hope for sci-fi on the big screen. Forty-six years later, the cover realized $102,000. Jim Starlin, Al Milgrom and John Romita Sr.s original cover for Captain Marvel No. 31, published in 1974, was among the auctions smash hits, which was no surprise given its star-studded cover featuring, among others, Black Panther, Captain America, Thor, Vision, Iron Man and Drax. This landmark work signed by the art team realized $180,000. Not surprisingly, Barry Windsor-Smiths original cover for Conan the Barbarian No. 11, published by Marvel in 1971, sparked a tussle among bidders during the four-day events first session. The striking work from the beloved creator realized $102,000. But all that soared in this sale wasnt dressed in Spandex or a loincloth: Carl Barks first commissioned Donald Duck oil painting came in 1971; two years later, he painted Green Persia, which realized $102,000. That, too, was certainly something to quack about. For additional information, visit www.HA.com.
SHARE
PRINT