Rare Superman No. 1 Sells for Record $9.12 Million

A rare copy of Superman No. 1, discovered in a California attic, fetched $9.12 million at auction on Thursday, setting a new record as the most expensive comic book ever sold.

The 1939 issue, Superman's first solo title, was found earlier this year by three unnamed brothers while sorting through their late mother's belongings in northern California. Their mother, who purchased the comic at age nine in Depression-era San Francisco, had occasionally mentioned owning rare comics but could not recall their location. She died just before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the house remained untouched until the brothers began clearing it in 2024. Expecting mostly clutter, they uncovered the pristine copy tucked inside a cardboard box alongside yellowed newspaper clippings.

Graded a 9.0 out of 10 by the Certified Guaranty Company, the leading authority on comic book authentication, this edition represents the highest-quality known copy of Superman No. 1. Only seven such issues have achieved a grade of 6.0 or better, underscoring its exceptional preservation. The comic's value stems from its near-perfect condition, historical significance, and scarcity. Originally printed in runs of 500,000...