Though action comics began as an anthology, collecting a variety of tales, over the past few decades it has become a monthly title dedicated to its launch character, superman. In these celebrated stories, superman is in turns the herculean champion, the lonely alien survivor, the superpowered boy scout and the soulsearching leader. Action comics is an american comic book magazine series that introduced superman, one of the first major superhero characters. It is one of about 100 copies of the edition known to exist. Swooping in almost at the last second to win the holy grail issue, the top bidder will now own the most expensive comic book. Get the best deals on superman golden age comics 1938 1955 when you shop the largest online selection at. After superman saves a group of miners from a cavein, clark kent senses a story that may mean that the mines owner, thorton blakely, is actually running unsafe mine operations and blaming accidents on the miners themselves. You can find out values of action issues by clicking here. Its original incarnation ran from 1938 to 2011 and stands as one of the. In fascist italy the importation and translation of all american and british comic books, except for the far too popular mickey mouse is outlawed. Superman is an ongoing american comic book series featuring the dc comics superhero superman as its main protagonist.
In the documentation for the siegel lawsuit against warner bros case no. Superman had a newspaper strip and his own selftitled comic book. It features the first appearance of several comic book heroesmost notably. When new books are released, well charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the preorder period. The publisher was originally known as national allied publications, and later as national comics publications and as national periodical publications, before taking on its current name of dc comics. But clark kent, lois lane, and the big s smack in the middle of his blue chest were intact when superman made his page debut in action comics no. Home comic books s comics superman comics superman 1938 comics. This comic book is also the first featuring a superhero, and is considered to be the most valuable comic in. Book 1 of 447 in action comics 1938 2011 see all 6 formats and. The strip proved so popular that national launched superman into his own selftitled comic book, the first for any superhero, premiering with the cover date summer 1939. Unfollow 1938 superman comic to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Record price paid for first superman comic book voice of.
In order to preserve his secret identity and capture a dangerous criminal, superman must pretend. This page lists prices for the first 100 issues of superman s appearances in his solo series, which began in 1939. Ad for more fun comics, new adventure comics and detective comics. Besides superman many other heroes were featured for periods of time. Online auction cements it as the worlds most expensive comic book. Reprints first appearance of superman back in june, 1938. Most comic fans know that superman actually began life in action comics.
Maurice mitchell is a sciencefiction and comic book critic, blogger, and journalist. The strip proved so popular that national launched superman into his own selftitled comic book, the first for any superhero, premiering with. Dc marks 80 years of action comics and superman with. Action comics has been superman s primary title since the comic book series debuted 80 years ago. Born in 1914 in cleveland, oh, jerome siegel was, as a. Precrisis superman comic covers 1938 1986 action comics 1938. These files will help new and old readers understand. A rare 1938 superman comic book was put on the block nov. Postflashpoint comic books 20112016 action comics and superman comic books, specials, annuals and graphic novels 20112016 superman unchained comic books 202015 batman superman comic books 202016 superman wonder woman comic books 202016 earth 2.
Comic books in 1938 were definitely of a different size than they are today. Although national allied publications, dcs predecessor firm, had been publishing comics since autumn 1934 with new fun. Until you earn points all your submissions need to be vetted by other comic vine users. Continued in action comics volume 2 in the early days of comics books, it was not the convention to name comics after specific characters. We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. A celebration of 75 years gathers a range of stories featuring the first and greatest super hero, highlighting the many roles the man of steel has played over the decades. This also means the end of italian comics magazine jumbo. In a statement, dallasbased heritage auctions said the copy of action comics no. An inventors time machine takes him, clark kent, lois lane, perry white, and a mobster to the distant past, where the crook assumes the identity of stoneman and tries to control a tribe of cavemen.
It has been graded by mycomicshops experienced graders. Mayer found the rejected superman comic strips, and sullivan told siegel and shuster that if they could paste them. But the main problem is action comics 1 from 1938, for superman did not get his own title until 1939, has been reprinted many times in different formats, hence those seriously vary by size as well. Rare copy of supermans 1938 comicbook sells for nearly. Considered the first true superhero book, action comics arrived on the scene in 1938 and remains the longestrunning comic book in history. Pw talks with former dc comics president paul levitz about the hardcover tribute to the 1938 comic book that debuted superman and launched a genre and the american comic book industry. Society comic books 20152016 doomed comic books 20152016. This comic book is also the first featuring a superhero, and is considered to be the most valuable comic in the world. Superman 1938 series comics published by dc comics. Superman s parents were writer jerry siegel and artist joe shuster. Which is the most expensive superman comic of all time.
The blakely mine disaster, script by jerry siegel, art by joe shuster. He and his twin brother operate two blogs dedicated to science fiction and fantasy films, the geek twins and film sketchr. Lets talk about the very first superman comic issue in 1938. Cv048400sgl rzx published on march 26, 2008, the on sale date for this issue is listed as being april 18, 1938 information added by allen ross june 2008.