Inside the Guide: Superman #1

In 1938 Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster laid the foundation for all of superhero comic books when they created Superman. Imbued with extraordinary abilities, the Man of Steel became a nearly unbeatable superhero and a symbol for hope, honor, and determination when the world was embroiled in war.

Since Superman was introduced more than 80 years ago in Action Comics #1, his impact and mythos have grown as he’s battled diabolical geniuses and rage-fueled foes. Through the ebbs and flows of superhero popularity, Superman has made thousands of comic book appearances. He is also among the first superheroes to successfully branch out into film and television, dating back to 1941 animated shorts.

After Superman’s first appearance in Action Comics #1, the first issue of his self-titled book is his second most valuable comic in the collecting market. When Superman #1 was published in 1939, it carried a cover price of 10¢. When Robert M. Overstreet published The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #1 in 1970, a copy of Superman #1 in Near Mint condition was valued at $250.

In 1979, about six months after Christopher Reeve first embodied the Man of Steel on film, the book had flown to $4,200. Just a year later in the Guide #10, it added nearly $1,500, going up to $5,600. After another decade, it nearly quintupled to $26,000 in 1990.

By the time the Guide #30 was published, Superman #1 had surpassed the six-figure mark at $140,000. After another 10 years, it was up to $500,000 in 2010. A year after Henry Cavill became Superman in Man of Steel in 2013, his first self-titled book soared to $800,000 in the Guide #44. Comfortably located in the top five most valuable comics, a Near Mint copy of Superman #1 was valued at $1,900,000 in 2021’s the Guide #51.