Action Comics No 1
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Action Comics #1 (June 1938) is the first issue of the comic book series Action Comics. It features the first appearance of several comic book heroes, most notably the Jerry Siegel/ Joe Shuster creation Superman.
Specifications
- Cover Art:
- Story:
- Editor:
- Writer:
- Penciller:
- Inker:
- Letterer:
Publication
Published in April 1938 (cover-dated June) by National Allied Publications, a corporate predecessor of DC Comics, it is considered the first true superhero comic, and though today Action Comics is a monthly title devoted to Superman, it began, like many early comics, as an anthology.[1]
Action Comics was started by publisher Jack Liebowitz. The first issue had a print run of 200,000 copies, although sales of the series would soon approach 1,000,000 a month.[2] Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were paid $10 per page, for a total of $130 for their work on this issue. They effectively signed away millions in future rights and royalties payments. Starting in 1978 Siegel and Shuster were provided with a $20,000 a month annuity which was later raised to $30,000. Liebowitz would later say that selecting Superman to run in Action Comics #1 was "pure accident" based on deadline pressure. He also selected the "thrilling" cover, depicting Superman lifting a car over his head.[3] Christopher Knowles, author of Our Gods Wear Spandex: The Secret History of Comic Book Heroes, compared the cover to Hercules Clubs the Hydra by Antonio del Pollaiolo.[4][5]
Collectibility
Action Comics #1 is considered the most valuable comic for a given condition, followed by Detective Comics #27 (the first appearance of Batman) and Superman vol. 1 #1.[6][7]
On February 22, 2010, a copy of Action Comics #1 sold at auction for USD$1 million, besting the $317,000 record for a comic book set by a different copy, in lesser condition, the previous year. The sale, by an anonymous seller to an anonymous buyer, was through the Manhattan-based auction company ComicConnect.com.[8]
There are five known CGC-graded copies with a grade above VG (CGC 4.0), with a single issue having the best grade of VF+ (CGC 8.5). There is one known uncertified copy in higher grade, the famous Edgar Church/Mile High copy.[9][10] EC and Mad publisher William Gaines, whose father was also a comic book publisher and had business dealings with DC Comics at the time Action Comics #1 was published, claimed in a Comics Journal interview that he at one point had dozens of copies of the issue around his house, but they were probably all thrown out.[11][12] Another copy, rated CGC 5 ("Very Good/Fine") was discovered in July 2010 by a family facing foreclosure on their home while packing their possessions; ComicConnect.com estimated the comic may sell as high as $250,000 once auctioned, saving the family's home.[13]
On March 29th, 2010, ComicConnect.com sold another copy and fetched USD$1.5 million, making it the most expensive and most valuable comic book of all-time.[14] The copy sold is currently the highest-graded copy from the Comic Guaranty LLC (CGC), which stands at 8.5 VF+ grade.[15]
Reprints
In the mid-1970s, DC reissued several of its most popular Golden Age comics under the "Famous First Editions" series, including Action Comics #1. These reprints were oversized, roughly double the size of the original editions. A cardboard-like cover was placed over these copies, showing that they were a part of the Famous First Edition series. However, there have been many reports over the years of the outer cover being removed and these reprints being sold as legitimate first issues to unsuspecting buyers.[16]
DC reprinted Action Comics #1 in 1988 as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of Superman that year. This edition only reprinted the Superman story, with a 50¢ U.S.A. cover price.
The complete issue was reprinted in 1998 with an additional half-cover featuring the Superman stamp from the U.S. Postal Service's "Celebrate The Century" commemorative stamp series along with a "First Day Of Issue" cancellation. It was sold by the U.S. Postal Service, shrinkwrapped, for $7.95.
The complete issue, except for the inside front, inside back, and outside back cover, was reprinted in 2000 as part of DC Comics' Millennium Edition series of reprints of famous DC comics.
Price Guide
| 1.0 (F) | 2.0 (G) | 3.0 (G/VG) | 4.0 (VG) | 5.0 (VG/F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 6.0 (F) | 7.0 (F/VF) | 8.0 (VF) | 9.0 (VF/NM) | 10.0 (GM) |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
See Also
References
- ^ "Action Comics". IGN. Retrieved 2007-04-25.
- ^ "Million-dollar Action #1 copy was once one-in-200,000". Comichron. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
- ^ Nash, Eric P. (December 13, 2000). "Jack Liebowitz, Comics Publisher, Dies at 100". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
- ^ Knowles, Chris (November 28, 2007). "The "Action Comics" #1 Cover Debate – Part 1". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
- ^ The "Action Comics" #1 Cover Debate – Part 2, Comic Book Resources, November 29th, 2007
- ^ "Nostomania's 100 Most Valuable Comic Books". Nostomania. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
- ^ "World’s Most Valuable Comic Books.". Netscape. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
- ^ Associated Press via "Superman's debut sells for $1M at auction", Crain's New York Business, February 22, 2010. WebCitation archive.
- ^ "Mastro to Offer “Forgotten” Action #1". Diamond Galleries. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
- ^ "The Most Valuable Comic Books in the World". It's All Just Comics. Archived from the original on 2008-05-22. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
- ^ "An Interview with William M. Gaines", The Comics Journal #81, May 1983, p. 55
- ^ "The Online Marketplace for Comic Buyers & Sellers". ComicConnect. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
- ^ Sanchez, Ray (2010-08-03). "Superman Comic Saves Family Home From Foreclosure Unexpected Find of Action". ABC News. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
- ^ "Comic with first Superman story sells for $1.5m". The Independent. 2010-03-30. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ^ "Rare comic of Superman debut fetches $1.5 million". CNN. 2010-03-30. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ^ "Beware of 1st Superman reprints". eBay. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
