Superman No. 1 comic sells for record $9.12 million

Photo: Metropolis Collectibles and ComicConnect, photo editor: Adelina Mamedova

A first edition of Superman No. 1, published in 1939, has sold for $9.12 million at an auction in Texas, becoming the most expensive comic book ever sold, according to Euronews.

The issue was found by three brothers while sorting through their late mother’s San Francisco home. She and her sibling had collected comics before World War II, but the family only discovered the long-mentioned collection when preparing the house for sale.

After the brothers contacted Vice President at Heritage Auctions Lon Allen, he noted that it could easily have been lost or damaged over the years. He praised it as an exceptional copy with the qualities collectors look for. Despite minimal protection, the Northern California climate helped preserve its bright colors, sharp corners and strong spine, leaving only slight wear.

Superman No. 1 was released by Detective Comics Inc. as part of an initial run of 500,000 copies, though fewer than 500 are believed to remain today.

Both the brothers and the buyer chose to remain anonymous. One brother said the discovery carried meaning beyond its monetary value, serving as a reminder of family and the past.