Does restoration affect the value of Action Comics #1?

Yes, significantly. Unrestored copies are worth dramatically more than restored ones at the same apparent grade. CGC marks restored copies with a purple label.

How can I tell if my Action Comics #1 is real?

Check for the 10-cent cover price, original newsprint paper, and period-correct printing. Professional authentication through CGC is essential for any potential original.

Action Comics #1 Value & Price Guide (2026)

Name: Action Comics #1 (1938) - First Appearance of Superman
Brand: DC Comics

Comic Books

Action Comics #1 Value & Price Guide (2026)

Gary Dunaier, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In June 1938, two kids from Cleveland changed everything. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster sold DC Comics a story about a man who could lift cars, outrun trains, and leap tall buildings. They got $130 for it. That story - the first appearance of Superman in Action Comics #1 - has since sold for $6 million. It didn't just launch a character. It launched an entire genre.

Quick Value Summary


Item	Action Comics #1
Year	1938
Publisher	DC Comics
Category	Comic Books - Golden Age
Print Run	~200,000
Surviving Copies	~100 estimated
Condition Range
Very Fine (CGC 7.0–8.0)	$300,000+
Near Mint (CGC 9.0+)	$8,000,000 – $10,000,000
Record Sale	$6,000,000 (CGC 9.0, 2024)
Previous Record	$3,200,000 (CGC VF/NM 9.0, eBay, 2014)
Rarity	Extremely Rare

The Story

Action Comics #1 didn't just introduce Superman. It introduced the idea of a superhero - a costumed figure with extraordinary powers fighting for justice. Before this issue hit newsstands for a dime, nothing like it existed in American pop culture.

Jerry Siegel wrote the story. Joe Shuster drew it. They'd been pitching their character for years, getting rejected by every publisher in the business. DC (then called Detective Comics, Inc.) finally said yes - but only as filler for a new anthology series. Superman wasn't even supposed to be the star. He was a backup plan.

The cover shows Superman hoisting a car over his head while terrified men scatter. It's crude by modern standards. It's also one of the most reproduced images in American history. The issue introduced Lois Lane, established Clark Kent's dual identity, and set the template for every superhero origin that followed.

Of the roughly 200,000 copies printed, an estimated 100 survive today. Most are in rough shape - these were disposable entertainment for kids, not collectibles. The highest-graded unrestored copy sits at CGC 9.0, and it sold for $6 million in 2024.

How to Identify It

Key Visual Markers

Cover price: 10 cents, printed on the cover. If there's no price, it's a reprint.
Cover image: Superman lifting a green car over his head, men fleeing in panic.
Interior pages: Newsprint stock, not glossy.
Page count: 64 pages including covers.

Common Confusions

Action Comics #1 has been reprinted dozens of times - facsimile editions, reprint collections, anniversary issues. The reprints are worth a few dollars. The original is worth millions. Always check:

The 10-cent cover price (reprints usually note "reprint" somewhere or have a modern price)
Paper stock (original is newsprint, brittle and yellowing with age)
Printing quality (originals show the dot-matrix printing typical of 1930s comics)

The Restoration Question

Many surviving copies have been restored - colors retouched, pages cleaned, spines reinforced. Restoration was common practice for decades. Today, it significantly reduces value. An unrestored copy in CGC 8.0 is worth dramatically more than a restored copy grading higher. CGC labels restored copies with a purple label instead of the standard blue.

Value by Condition

Here's the reality: any authentic copy of Action Comics #1 is a six-figure book. Even heavily damaged, incomplete copies have sold for tens of thousands.

The market for this book is thin - so few copies change hands that every sale resets the market. The $6 million sale in 2024 for a CGC 9.0 is the current record. The same copy had previously sold for $3.2 million on eBay in 2014, making it one of the fastest-appreciating collectibles on Earth.

Condition matters enormously at this level. A fraction of a CGC grade point can mean hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is a book where professional grading isn't optional - it's essential.

Authentication & Fakes

How Common Are Fakes?

Extremely common, given the stakes. Counterfeit Action Comics #1 copies have circulated for decades. Some are crude reprints sold as originals. Others are sophisticated forgeries targeting wealthy buyers.

What to Watch For

Paper stock: Original 1938 newsprint has a distinct feel, color, and brittleness that's nearly impossible to replicate convincingly.
Printing method: Originals use period-correct printing techniques visible under magnification.
Staples: Original staples will show age-appropriate rust patterns. Replaced staples are a restoration red flag.
CGC certification: For a book at this price level, only buy CGC-certified copies. Period. The authentication cost is negligible compared to the risk.

Professional Grading

CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) is the industry standard for comic book authentication and grading. Every serious sale of Action Comics #1 involves a CGC-graded copy. The slab (sealed case) provides tamper-evident protection and a verifiable grade.

Where to Sell

This is not an eBay book. If you have a genuine copy of Action Comics #1:

Heritage Auctions - The dominant auction house for high-value comics. They handled the $3.2M sale.
ComicConnect - Specializes in high-end comic auctions.
Private sale through a reputable dealer - For sellers who prefer discretion.

Do not sell this book without CGC grading first. An ungraded copy will sell for a fraction of its true value.

Not sure what you have? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for a free AI estimate. Upload a photo →

Common Questions

How much is Action Comics #1 worth?

It depends entirely on condition. The record sale is $6 million for a CGC 9.0 in 2024. Very Fine copies start around $300,000. Even heavily damaged copies are worth tens of thousands. With only about 100 surviving copies from a 200,000 print run, any authentic example is extraordinarily valuable.

How many copies of Action Comics #1 exist?

About 100 are estimated to survive from the original 200,000 printed. Most are in lower grades. Only a handful grade above CGC 8.0.

How can I tell if my copy is real?

Check for the 10-cent cover price, original newsprint paper stock, and period-correct printing. But honestly - if you think you might have an Action Comics #1, get it to CGC immediately. The authentication fee is trivial compared to what's at stake. Don't clean it, don't tape it, don't handle it more than necessary.

Does restoration affect the value?

Yes, dramatically. An unrestored copy is worth significantly more than a restored copy at the same apparent grade. CGC uses a purple label to identify restored books and a blue label for unrestored ones. Always check the label color.

Why is Action Comics #1 so valuable?

Three reasons: historical importance (it created the superhero genre), extreme rarity (about 100 copies from 200,000), and cultural impact (Superman remains one of the most recognized fictional characters on Earth). It's the comic book equivalent of owning a Gutenberg Bible.