I’m sorry to tell you, but the most expensive comic books of all time aren’t necessarily available for purchase on Amazon. They’re hermetically sealed in plastic and locked away behind bulletproof glass in a nerdy billionaire’s basement. But you can buy copies of them!
In case the title didn’t give it away, Action Comics #1 is the very first Action Comics comic and the most expensive comic book of all time. It was purchased at auction in 2024 for six million dollars. Why is it so valuable? It’s the very first comic to feature Superman! Not only that, it’s technically the first superhero comic ever written AND the comic that kicked off the glorious Golden Age.
Action Comics #1 the Golden Age began, and SUPERMAN #1 kept the golden years going. It was the first “Superman” cover story after Action Comics and cemented mild-mannered Clark Kent as the most iconic superhero in superhero history (sry Batman). The comic recently sold for $5.3 million at a private sale in 2022. I’m sorry to say this, but you definitely weren’t invited. Me neither. But if it were me and I had $5.3 million in disposable income, I would definitely choose Superman #1 about some crazy Picasso.
Even if the title suggests otherwise, AMAZING IMAGINATION #15 isn’t the 15th issue of any old erotic magazine. It’s an old issue of Spiderman! Which could still be considered erotic, depending on what you’re into. Amazing Fantasy #15 was Spiderman’s very first appearance after Stan Lee and Steve Ditko managed to convince their publishers to let them try out the character. Amazing Fantasy #15 was sold for 3.6 million, I think the publisher made the right choice.
CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #1 may not look that expensive when you click on the link, but that’s because it’s a used copy. People don’t want anything other people have touched. Other people are gross! Anything their sticky fingers touch immediately loses value. But this comic in mint condition? Sold at auction for $3.12 million. After all, it’s the very first Captain America comic. And on the cover, he’s literally punching Hitler. Priceless.
MARVEL COMICS #1 was the beginning of a new comic book dynasty that would stand the test of time! Or at least into the 2020s! The OG Marvel Comics were first published in 1939 and burst out with their first issue featuring the Human Torch and other heroes! And YOU can’t have it! This thing sold at auction for $2.4 million.
To be honest, I am surprised BATMAN #1 is about as far down on this list as it can get. I mean, it’s BATMAN, the only reason DC Comics is still in business (no shade, Superman). He’s arguably the most popular hero of modern times. Fans are CRAZY about the Bat. Sure, the first issue sold for $2.22 million, but come on, surely Bats can do better than that? Let’s go for a billion. I want to spend as much money as Bruce Wayne.
Oh, the tension is killing me. How much is STORIES OF EXCITEMENT #39 Worth? Probably a lot, considering it’s the very first appearance of Iron Man (who in this version looks more like Tin Man than Tony Stark). He’s not a multi-billionaire playboy, but he sure sells like one! This comic sold for a whopping $2 million at auction.
Despite BATMAN #1 sell for more money, DETECTIVE COMICS #27 is a much more important addition to the comic book world. It is the first time that Bob Kane and Bill Finger’s Caped Crusader appears in the flesh! It was so popular that the publisher changed its name to Detective Comics… aka DC. It sold for $1.82 million in 2024.
ALL-STAR COMICS #8 marks the debut of arguably the most famous woman in comic book history, Wonder Woman. Unfortunately, it’s not Princess Diana of Themyscira who graces the cover, but the soon-to-be-forgotten Justice Society of America. Who? Who cares? The comic sold for $1.62 million at a 2022 auction. Earn the money, Diana, get your bag.
Before the terrible 2000s film series and the equally lukewarm remake, FANTASTIC FOUR #1 was a respected name in comics. Mr. Fantastic. Invisible Girl. The Thing. The Human Torch. They were big names in the Marvel comic world. So big that they sold for $1.5 million at a 2022 auction. Nice. No wonder they’re still trying to make this movie happen.
Building on the success of AMAZING IMAGINATION #15Stan Lee and Steve Ditko were able to write comic history with THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1. It’s the first comic to mention Spider-Man on the cover, of course. And so the debate began about whether or not to hyphenate Spider-Man’s name. The comic was sold to a Turbofan in 2024 for $1.38 million. I wonder what they say about the naming debate.
SHOWCASE #4 marks the first appearance of The Flash in a costume that has literally remained unchanged since 1956! Has it at least been washed? I hope so. This marks the origin of Barry Allen, the very first DC Silver Age superhero! It sold for $900,000 at auction in 2024. I guess only the Golden Age cracks the million dollar figure.
This is CRIMINAL. You tell me that X-MEN #1the comic debut of the coolest superhero group of all time, is the the least expensive addition to this last one? I have serious questions about people’s priorities. How could one insult the X-Men by buying the first issue at auction in 2022 for only $871,999? What could possibly more important what you spend money on?
