Historic Superman No. 1 Comic Found in Attic Breaks Records with $9.12 Million Sale

The "Superman No. 1" comic, originally released in 1939 by Detective Comics Inc., has recently sold for an astonishing $9.12 million at a Texas auction house, marking it as the most expensive comic book ever sold.

Three brothers made the remarkable discovery while cleaning out their deceased mother's attic in San Francisco last year. The valuable comic was found in a cardboard box, hidden beneath layers of brittle newspapers, dust, and cobwebs, alongside other rare comics collected just before World War II began.

Although their mother had mentioned owning a valuable comic book collection, the siblings had never seen it until they decided to sell her house and thoroughly search through her belongings for family heirlooms. According to Lon Allen, vice president of comics at Heritage Auctions, after discovering the box of comics, the brothers contacted the auction company, prompting Allen to travel to San Francisco earlier this year to examine the "Superman No. 1" copy and consult other experts for appraisal.

"It was just in an attic, sitting in a box, could have easily been thrown away, could've easily been destroyed in a thousand different ways," Allen remarked. "A lot of people got excited because it's just every factor in collecting that you could possibly want all rolled into one."

This particular "Superman No. 1" comic is one of only a small number of copies known to exist and is in excellent condition. Superman's status as the first superhero to enter popular culture significantly boosted the copy's value among collectors, alongside its incredible discovery story, Allen explained.

The previous record for the world's most expensive comic book was set last year when an "Action Comics No. 1" – which introduced Superman to the world as part of an anthology – sold for $6 million. In 2022, another Superman No. 1 copy fetched $5.3 million.

Experts identified this copy as originating from the first edition of 500,000 Superman No. 1 comics ever printed, thanks to a small, in-house advertisement inside. Allen estimates fewer than 500 copies exist today.

Despite not receiving any special protection, the cool Northern California climate helped preserve the comic, maintaining its firm spine, vibrant colors, and crisp corners, according to Dallas-based Heritage Auctions. The comics grading company CGC rated this copy 9.0 out of 10, indicating only minimal signs of wear and aging.

The three brothers, all in their 50s and 60s, preferred to remain anonymous due to the substantial windfall involved. The comic's buyer has also chosen to stay unidentified, according to the auction house.

As one of the brothers stated through the auction house: "This isn't simply a story about old paper and ink. This was never just about a collectible. This is a testament to memory, family and the unexpected ways the past finds its way back to us."