Heritage’s Comics & Comic Art Signature Auction on April 4-7, 2024, was a huge success, setting multiple records on its way to $28.2 in sales. This total bested their previous comics and original art auction record of $26.5 million that was held in September 2021.
The auction’s undisputed leader was a copy of 1938’s Action Comics #1 CGC 8.5 Kansas City Pedigree featuring Superman’s first appearance that sold for $6 million. It is one of the highest graded copies of the book; in fact, only two other unrestored copies are graded higher. This sale makes it the most valuable comic in the world, surpassing the Superman #1 CGC 8.0 Edgar Church Mile High brokered sale of $5.3 million that CGC reported in April 2022. It bested the previous auction record of $3.6 million for Spider-Man’s debut in Amazing Fantasy #15 CGC 9.6, that Heritage sold in September 2021.
Superman-related material accounted for several high selling items in the auction. Co-creator Jerry Siegel’s 1934 letter to comic strip artist Russell Keaton describing a Man of Steel prototype that went for $264,000.
Two of the biggest teams in comics set records in the auction. The Avengers #1 CGC 9.6 with Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Wasp, and Ant-Man’s first outing as the superhero team, realized $432,000 – setting a new record for the title. Justice League of America #1 CGC 9.6, featuring the team’s debut, reached $348,000, setting another in-title record.
Iron Man was also a key figure in the auction. Don Heck’s Tales of Suspense #39 original art featuring Tony Stark donning the Iron Man armor for the first time hammered for $552,000 – setting a new record for Heck’s art. The high grade copy of Tales of Suspense #39 CGC 9.8, containing Iron Man’s first appearance cleared $840,000.
Daredevil also accounted for impressive sales in art and comics. Frank Miller and Klaus Janson’s Elektra cover on Daredevil #190 cleared $252,000, becoming the most valuable Miller-drawn Daredevil original sold at auction. The Man Without Fear’s debut in Daredevil #1 CGC 9.8 realized $360,000.
“The fact that we had some of the finest known copies of some of the most sought-after comic books meant we were confident this would be one of the most successful auctions we had ever had,” Heritage Vice President Barry Sandoval said. “But once Friday’s comic art session started and we saw that collectors’ appetites were just as ravenous, we realized we had a serious chance at a new record. I’m especially happy for our more than 250 consignors, 29 of whom will be getting checks for more than $100,000.”
The auction ended with eight comics selling for beyond the half-million mark. Captain America #1 CGC 9.2 with Cap’s origin and first appearance went for $750,000 and a professionally restored Action Comics #1 CGC Apparent 8.0 hammered for $576,000. Wonder Woman’s second appearance and first cover in Sensation Comics #1 CGC 9.6, the highest graded copy, that set a new record at $420,000.
Underground Comix publisher Denis Kitchen offered 275 pieces in the auction, led by Robert Crumb’s SNARF #3 original cover that sold for $240,000. Will Eisner’s The Spirit section cover original art dated May 25, 1947, reached $156,000.
Frank Frazetta’s cover of 1996’s Vampirella: 25th Anniversary Special realized $276,000 to become the world’s most valuable Vampirella art. Rich Buckler and Joe Sinnott’s Fantastic Four #155 went for $192,000. Ron Frenz’s The Amazing Spider-Man #252 cover in which Peter Parker dons the famous black costume for the first time hit $174,000. Mike Mignola and John Nyberg’s original wraparound art for the Bram Stoker’s Dracula trade paperback published in 1993 flew to $144,000.
