The 7 Most Expensive Comic Books Ever Sold

Eve Andrews
Mar 15, 2022
3 min read

Updated: Apr 29, 2022

‘Get rich quick’ isn’t something usually associated with comic books; if anything, it’s a trip to the comic book store that’s typically responsible for draining our bank accounts. But believe it or not, there are comic books out there that are actually worth your weight in gold! Here’s a list of some of the most expensive comics ever sold.

7) Tales Of Suspense #39 - $375K

Iron Man has undergone some pretty radical changes over the years, with his first appearances depicting a much stiffer, more metal-bound version of the red and gold suit we’ve come to recognise today. But looking cool clearly isn’t relevant when it comes to value. An original copy of Stan Lee and Jack Kirkby’s Tales Of Suspense, featuring the Iron-clad warrior’s public debut, sold in 2012 for $375,000. Talk about rags to riches!

6) Flash Comics #1 - $450K

A vintage gem from the golden age of Western Comics, it's no surprise that collectors were queuing around the corner when this rare addition of Flash Comics #1 came to market in 2010. Originally published in 1940, this comic book was found in exceptional condition for its age. This added greatly to its value, leading to a jaw-dropping sale of $450,000. At the time, Flash Comics #1 held the silver medal for the second-largest sum of money ever fetched by a comic book.

5) X-Men Uncanny #1 - 492K

The X-Men franchise is one of Marvel’s biggest brands. However, most big brands have humble beginnings; in this case, it came in the form of a brightly coloured comic published in 1963 that was sold for the modest price of 12cents. But a lot has changed since the swinging sixties. The X-Men series has undoubtedly come on leaps and bounds, with an original copy selling for a bank-busting $492,937.50 in 2012!

4) Batman #1 - $567K

With Batman arguably being DC’s most beloved hero, it's no surprise that the first issue of his solo series would rake in a hefty sum. A considerable landmark in DC history, Batman #1 brought us the first appearances of the Dark Knight’s infamous arch-enemies, Catwoman and the Joker! As if that wasn’t exciting enough, in 2013, an original 1940 copy brought in the healthy sum of $567,625, making it one of few comic books at the time to have broken the half-million mark. It’s certainly come a long way since its original and far more modest price tag of 10cents.

3) Detective Comics #27 - $1.5 Ml

Speaking of Batman, it wasn’t just his solo series that earned some lucky soul a giant wad of cash; his first-ever appearance fetched a sum to satisfy the Scrooge McDuck's of the world! Initially published in 1939, Batman’s big debut in issue #27 of Detective Comics was sold for a meagre 10cents, a far cry from the $1.5million it fetched at auction over 70 years later in 2010. Some experts speculate that a copy in better condition would be worth a shocking amount more, although the collector's community has yet to locate one.

2) Action Comics #1 - $3.25 Ml

This 1938 release of Action Comics, featuring the first-ever appearance of Superman, was initially sold in the US for 10cents. However, in 2021, it sold at auction for a whopping $3.25 million. Reportedly found buried in a stack of old 1930s movie magazines, this copy of Action Comics #1 was preserved in mint condition, which at the time resulted in it taking the top spot as the comic books community’s most expensive vintage gem.

1) Amazing Fantasy #15 - $3.6 Ml

We never thought anything would beat that crazy Superman sell, leaving this comic book sale sending shockwaves throughout the community! A Stan Lee and Steve Ditko original, this 1962 Marvel comic features the first-ever appearance of Spider-Man. This rare piece from the comic book archives was originally sold at the pocket money price of 12cents. However, in September 2021, it smashed record comic prices, fetching $3.6million at auction, making it the most valuable comic book in the world.

What do you think? Are collectors comics worth it? What’s the most you’d pay for a rare comic? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!