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The 10 Most Expensive Comic Books of All-Time

There is a lot of interest in comic books, which in turn, means that comic books with either historical value or some other kind of significance can fetch considerable sums when sold to interested individuals. For proof, look no further than the fact that a small number of comic books are known to have sold for figures that range from the high hundreds of thousands of dollars to the low millions of dollars. Here are 10 of the most expensive comic books that can be found out there:

10. Captain America Comics #1 - $343,000

Captain America Comics #1 is the issue that introduced Captain America. Given the nature of the character, it should come as no surprise to learn that the cover page features him punching Hitler while a bullet bounces off of his shield. In any case, the issue is worth about $343,000.

9. Action Comics #7 - $414,000

Action Comics #7 can be recognized by the picture of Superman clutching the right foot of a be-suited man flailing about in mid-air. Primarily, the issue is famous for being the superhero's second appearance on a comic book cover, which explains why its value is $414,000 rather than something even higher.

8. Amazing Fantasy #15 - $447,000

Valued at $447,000, Amazing Fantasy #15 establishes in an instant that Peter Parker is a "timid teenager" who performs superheroics as the web-slinging Spider-Man. Released in 1962, this was the issue that introduced the character, who has managed to remain a much beloved part of the comic book landscape ever since.

7. All-American Comics #16 - $492,000

Released in July of 1940, All-American Comics #16 was the issue that introduced to the Green Lantern. With that said, it is clear that this version of the character is very different from his successors, which is made very clear by a cover page featuring the masked vigilante in cape rushing at what is presumably a mobster with a very recognizable submachine gun. Said issue has a value of about $492,000.

6. Batman #1 - $534,000

Batman #1 is valued at around $534,000. It isn't the first comic book to feature Batman, but it is the first comic book to bear the Batman name. By this point in time, both Batman and Robin were already very recognizable characters. However, it is interesting to note that this was the issue that introduced a couple of very influential characters in the Batman mythos, with one being Catwoman and the other being the Joker.

5. Detective Comics #1 - $541,000

Speaking of Batman, the character made his first appearance in the Detective Comics series. It is interesting to note that Detective Comics #1 is worth about $541,000. However, the cover page for this historic issue hasn't exactly aged well, seeing as how it features a sneering caricature of a Chinese bureaucrat-scholar that comes complete with the Fu Manchu mustache.

4. Marvel Comics #1 - $572,000

There are a couple of reasons that Marvel Comics #1 boasts a value of $572,000. One is that it is the first appearance of the superhero called the Human Torch, while the other is that it is the first Marvel Comic ever to be released. Between the two, the second point is much more important for the simple reason that the Human Torch isn't particularly prominent in the present time. Still people might be confused by this because of the Fantastic Four, but it should be noted that Johnny Storm just reused the name of this one, who is actually an android.

3. Superman #1 - $731,000

Superman #1 came out in the summer of 1939. It isn't the first appearance of the character, but it is nonetheless capable of fetching $731,000.

2. Detective Comics #27 - $2,230,000

Detective Comics #27 would be the issue that saw the very first appearance of Batman in a comic book, which explains its value of about $2,230,000. Look-wise, the first version of Batman already looks like his iconic self, though it took some time before the rest of the details for the superhero to settle into place.

1. Action Comics #1 - $3.2 million

Action Comics #1 is the issue in which Superman made his debut. He wasn't the first superhero, but he was one of the first superheroes to gain widespread popularity, thus making this issue a true piece of history. As such, it is valued at $3,200,000, which is a colossal sum to say the least.

Allen Lee

Written by Allen Lee

Allen Lee is a Toronto-based freelance writer who studied business in school but has since turned to other pursuits. He spends more time than is perhaps wise with his eyes fixed on a screen either reading history books, keeping up with international news, or playing the latest releases on the Steam platform, which serve as the subject matter for much of his writing output. Currently, Lee is practicing the smidgen of Chinese that he picked up while visiting the Chinese mainland in hopes of someday being able to read certain historical texts in their original language.

Read more posts by Allen Lee

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