Daredevil #1 (1964) Value & Price Guide

Stan Lee had a problem. By early 1964, he had already created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, the Hulk, Iron Man, and Thor. Marvel Comics was on an unprecedented hot streak. Lee needed another hero, and this time he wanted one with a disability. He landed on a blind lawyer who fights crime in Hell's Kitchen using heightened senses gained from a radioactive accident. Daredevil #1 hit newsstands in April 1964, and it introduced one of the most complex characters in Marvel's history.

Quick Value Summary

Detail	Info
Item	Daredevil #1
Year	April 1964
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Category	Comic Books
Good (2.0)	$2,000 - $2,500
Very Good (4.0)	$3,500 - $4,200
Fine (6.0)	$4,500 - $5,500
Very Fine (8.0)	$9,000 - $11,000
Near Mint (9.4)	$40,000 - $50,000
Record Sale	$360,000 (CGC 9.8, 2021)
Rarity	Uncommon in high grade

The Story

Matt Murdock was a kid from Hell's Kitchen, raised by a single father who made his living as a boxer. Jonathan "Battlin' Jack" Murdock wanted better for his son and made him promise to study instead of fight. When young Matt pushed a blind man out of the path of a truck carrying radioactive material, the chemicals splashed across his eyes. He lost his sight, but his remaining senses became superhumanly acute. He could hear heartbeats through walls. He could feel the vibrations of someone approaching from half a block away.

When Jack Murdock refused to throw a fight for a gangster called the Fixer, he was murdered. Matt, now a law school graduate, honored both promises: he became a lawyer by day and a costumed vigilante by night. His original costume was yellow and red, a far cry from the all-red look that would come later.

The creative team behind Daredevil #1 was Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, the creator of Namor the Sub-Mariner. Everett was struggling with deadlines, and the book shows some signs of rush, but the core storytelling is solid. The issue also features cameos by Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four, Marvel's way of connecting new characters to their expanding universe. The first issue introduced Karen Page (Matt's love interest and secretary) and Franklin "Foggy" Nelson (his law partner and best friend), both of whom would become central to Daredevil stories for decades.

Daredevil spent his early years as a mid-tier Marvel character. That changed in 1979 when Frank Miller took over the book, transforming it into one of the most acclaimed runs in comic book history. Miller's dark, street-level storytelling redefined the character and turned Daredevil from a B-lister into an A-lister. The Netflix series starring Charlie Cox, which debuted in 2015, drew heavily from Miller's run and brought the character to a mainstream audience.

How to Identify It

• Cover: Matt Murdock in his original yellow and black costume swinging on a billy club cable against a red background. Multiple villain faces appear in the background. "Here Comes... Daredevil The Man Without Fear!" appears at the top.

• Issue number: #1, April 1964

• Cover price: 12 cents

• Publisher: Marvel Comics Group

• Page count: 25 pages of story content

• Interior features: Origin of Daredevil, first confrontation with the Fixer

Key Details

The original yellow and black costume on the cover is distinctive. By issue #7, Daredevil switched to his now-famous all-red costume, designed by Wally Wood. If the cover shows a red-costumed hero, it's not issue #1.

Common Confusions

Don't confuse this with the Lev Gleason Daredevil from the 1940s, which was an entirely different character and publisher. The Marvel Daredevil is Matt Murdock, the blind lawyer. Also, Daredevil #1 from the 1998 Marvel Knights relaunch (by Kevin Smith and Joe Quesada) is a different book entirely, though also collectible.

Value by Condition

Good (2.0)

Visible wear, creases, possible small tears at spine. Pages may be tanned. Copies in Good condition sell for $2,000 to $2,500. At this price point, you're paying for the character's first appearance and the Marvel key status. The book is readable but shows its 60+ years clearly.

Very Good (4.0)

Moderate wear, cover still attached, colors present but somewhat faded. A VG 4.0 trades for $3,500 to $4,200. A CGC 4.0 sold for $3,800 recently. This grade offers a balance between affordability and presentation.

Fine (6.0)

Minor wear, bright cover colors, tight binding. Copies sell for $4,500 to $5,500. A CGC 5.5 sold for $4,800 in April 2023. Fine copies look good in a display and represent the sweet spot for collectors who want a presentable book without paying five figures.

Very Fine (8.0)

Sharp corners, vibrant colors, minimal spine wear. Values range from $9,000 to $11,000. A CGC 8.0 sold for $9,976 in recent auction results. At this grade, the book looks exceptional for its age.

Near Mint (9.4)

Virtually flawless with white or off-white pages. CGC 9.4 copies sell for $40,000 to $50,000. A CGC 9.4 sold for $45,600 in recorded results. Very few copies exist at this grade.

Record Sales

A CGC 9.6 sold for $90,000 in November 2022, down from $102,000 in January 2021. The highest recorded sale is a CGC 9.8 that sold for $360,000 in 2021, though some sources cite a $250,000 sale for the same grade. Only a handful of copies exist at 9.6 or above.

Known Variations

Daredevil #1 was a standard newsstand issue with no known print variants from 1964. However, condition factors that affect value include:

• Page quality: CGC notes page color (white, off-white, cream, tan). White pages command a premium at any grade.

• Marvel chipping: Early 1960s Marvel comics are prone to small chips along the cover edges due to the paper stock used. This is considered a manufacturing defect and is heavily penalized in grading.

• Restoration: As with any Silver Age key, undisclosed restoration is a concern. Color touch on the red cover areas can be difficult to detect without professional examination.

Authentication and Fakes

Counterfeit copies of Daredevil #1 exist, though they are less common than fakes of higher-value keys like Amazing Fantasy #15. Watch for:

• Paper stock: Original copies use the specific newsprint paper of 1964 Marvel comics. Modern reproductions use different paper that feels wrong.

• Print quality: Examine the dot pattern under magnification. Original four-color printing has a specific dot pattern that differs from modern digital or offset printing.

• Staple analysis: Original staples should show appropriate age and rust patterns consistent with 60-year-old metal.

CGC grading is strongly recommended for any copy you plan to buy or sell above $1,000. Grading fees run $50 to $150 depending on declared value and service tier.

Where to Sell

• Heritage Auctions: Best for copies graded 7.0 and above. Their Silver Age Marvel collector base is deep. Buyer's premium is 20%.

• ComicConnect: Strong alternative for mid-to-high grade copies.

• eBay: Works well for copies in the $1,000 to $5,000 range. Expect 13% in total fees.

• Local comic shops: Many shops buy Silver Age keys outright. Expect 50-70% of market value for quick cash.

• Comic conventions: Direct sales to collectors. No platform fees, but you need to know your prices.

Grading costs: CGC charges $50 to $65 for standard service on books declared under $1,000, scaling up to $150+ for higher values. Budget an additional $30 to $50 for insured shipping to CGC. Turnaround times vary from 2 weeks (express) to 3+ months (economy).

Not sure about the condition of your copy? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for a quick AI-powered estimate.

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Daredevil #1 launched one of Marvel's most enduring characters. From Frank Miller's gritty reinvention to the Netflix series, Matt Murdock has stayed relevant across decades.

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