The 100 Most Valuable Comic Books from Each Age
This page will deal with the most valuable of all, Golden Age comic books.
We will say that the Golden Age begins in 1938 and ends in 1956, when the Silver Age began.
Here are links to the other eras:
Action Comics #1 (June 1938)
Origin and First Appearance of Superman
Record sale: $3.4m (Goldin.co sale)
Minimum value: $250,000
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Read our Action Comics price guide
Batman #1 (Apr 1940)
First Appearance, Joker, Catwoman
Record sale: $2,220,000
Minimum value: $100,000
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The new record sale was a CGC 9.4, the single highest graded example! It sold in January 2021.
Detective Comics #27 (May 1939)
First Appearance of Batman
Record sale: $2.1m (verified)
Minimum value: $200,000
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Superman #1 (Jun 1939)
First Solo Comic
Record sale: $2.6m (verified)
Minimum value: $90,000
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Marvel Comics #1 (October 1939)
Origin and First Appearance, Human Torch, The Angel
Record sale: $2,420,000 (verified)
Minimum value: $130,000
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Read our Marvel (Mystery) Comics price guide
All-Star Comics #8 (December 1941)
Origin and First Appearance, Wonder Woman
Record sale: $1,620,000
Minimum value: $20,000
Read our Wonder Woman comics
price guide
Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941)
Origin and First Appearance of Captain America
Record sale: $915,000
Minimum value: $11,000
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Read our Captain America Comics price guide
All-American Comics #16 (July 1940)
Origin and First Appearance, Green Lantern (Alan Scott)
Record sale: $825,000 (unverified), $215,100 (verified)
Minimum value: $10,000
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Green Lantern comic books prices
Flash Comics #1 (Jan 1940)
Origin and First Appearance of The Flash (Jay Garrick),
Hawkman (Carter Hall), Johnny Thunder
Record sale: $450,000
Minimum value: $9,000
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Read our Flash Comics price guide
Sensation Comics #1 (Jan 1942)
Second Appearance of Wonder Woman, First Cover
Record sale: $450,000
Minimum value: $5,000
See our Sensation Comics Price Guide
Pep Comics #22 (Dec 1941)
First Appearance of Archie, Betty and Jughead
Record sale: $375,000
Minimum value: $28,000
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Surprised to see Archie in the top 20 most valuable comic books? So were we!
Action Comics #10 (Mar 1939)
Third Superman Cover Appearance
Record sale: $325,000
Minimum value: $8,000
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Detective Comics #31 (Sep 1939)
Third Cover Appearance of Batman, Fifth Total Appearance
Classic cover
Record sale: $325,000
Minimum value: $18,000
Whiz Comics #1 (#2) (February 1940)
Origin and First Appearance, Captain Marvel
Record sale: $300,000
Minimum value: $12,000
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Captain Marvel Comics Price Guide
Wonder Woman #1 (Jun 1942)
First Solo Comic, Origin of Wonder Woman
Record sale: $291,000
Minimum value: $11,100
Detective Comics #29 (Jul 1939)
Second Cover Appearance of Batman,
Third Total Appearance
One of the most valuable comic books featuring Batman
Record sale: $280,000
Minimum value: $6,100
Fantastic Comics #3
Classic Lou Fine robot cover
Record Sale: $243,000
Minimum Value: $9,260
Detective Comics #33 (Nov 1939)
Origin of Batman
Record sale: $225,000
Minimum value: $17,210
All-Star Comics #3 (November 1940)
Origin and first appearance, Justice Society of America
Record sale: $358,800
Minimum value: $3,000
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Read our Justice Society of America price guide
Action Comics #2 (Jul 1938)
Second Appearance of Superman
Record sale: $210,000
Minimum value: $6,900
More Fun Comics #52 (Feb 1940)
First Appearance of Spectre
Record sale: $200,000
Minimum value: $16,500
Archie Comics #1 (January 1942)
Scarce to rare; First Issue
Another Archie on the most valuable comic books list!
Record sale: $195,000
Minimum value: $15,000
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Action Comics #13 (Jun 1939):
Fourth Superman Cover
Appearance
Record sale: $190,000
Minimum value: $13,400
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Action Comics #7 (December 1938): Second Superman cover
Record sale: $204,000
Minimum value: $27,600
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Read our Rare Comic Book price guide
Adventure Comics #40 (Jul 1939)
First Appearance of Sandman
Record sale: $175,000
Minimum value: $10,160
(article continues below)
We unearthed this never-before-offered copy of Action Comics #7.
Only the second time Superman appeared on a comic book cover.
We paid $40,000 for this book!
What do YOU have in your attic or basement?
Suspense Comics #3 (1944)
Rare, Controversial Cover
Record sale: $173,000
Minimum value: $3,000
Have Yours Appraised
Action Comics #3 (Aug 1938)
3rd Superman Appearance
Record sale: $150,000
Minimum value: $5,860
Green Lantern #1 (Sep 1941)
1st Solo Comic
Record sale: $147,000 (unverified), $47,000 (verified)
Minimum value: $1,780
More Fun Comics #73 (Nov 1941)
Origin and First Appearance, Aquaman, Green Arrow and Speedy
Record sale: $135,000
Minimum value: $3,000
Detective Comics #38
Origin and first appearance of Robin, the Boy Wonder
Record Sale: $126,000 (unverified), $107,500 (verified)
Minimum Value: $8,000
More Fun Comics #55
First appearance of Doctor Fate
Record Sale: $124,000
Minimum Value: $1,200
Detective Comics #225
Origin and first appearance of J'onn J'onzz, Martian Manhunter
Record Sale: $138,000
Minimum Value: $870
57. Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #1
Record Sale: $116,500
Minimum Value: $800
For more of the most valuable comic books featuring Disney characters, click for our Disney comic books price guide.
Detective Comics #1 (Mar 1937)
First Issue in Series
Record sale: $112,000 (unverified), $50,000 (verified)
Minimum value: $5,000
Detective Comics #28 (Jun 1939)
Second Appearance of Batman
Record sale: $112,000 (unverified), $64,000 (verified)
Minimum value: $4,000
More Fun Comics #53 (Mar 1940)
Second Appearance of Spectre
Record sale: $125,000
Minimum value: $8,500
Phantom Lady #17
Classic 'headlights' Matt Baker cover
Record Sale: $456,000
Minimum Value: $1,700
Planet Comics #1
Classic sci-fi series debut issue
Record Sale: $108,000
Minimum Value: $1000
Marvel Mystery Comics #9
Classic Sub-Mariner vs Human Torch cover
Record Sale: $107,000
Minimum Value: $2,850
Captain America Comics #2
Hitler cover; 2nd Cap appearance
Record Sale: $103,000
Minimum Value: $2,500
Marvel Mystery Comics #2 (Dec 1939)
Second Appearance of Human Torch, Namor and Angel
Record sale: $102,000 (unverified), $55,000 (verified)
Minimum value: $1,000
Captain Marvel Adventures #1
(Mar 1940). First Solo Comic
Record sale: $100,000
Minimum value: $2,500
Detective Comics #36 (Feb 1940)
First Appearance, Hugo Strange
Record sale: $100,000 (unverified), $65,500 (verified)
Minimum value: $5,000
MAD Comics #1 (Oct 1952)
EC, First Issue in Series
Record sale: $96,000
Minimum value: $250
All-Winners Comics #19 (Fall 1946)
First Appearance of the
All-Winners Squad
Record sale: $95,000 (unverified), $65,000 (verified)
Minimum value: $1,200
Superman Comic #2 (Sep 1939)
Second in Series
Record sale: $94,000
Minimum value: $3,600
Human Torch Comics #1 (Fall 1940)
First Solo Comic
Record sale: $92,000
Minimum value: $5,000
Sub-Mariner Comics #1 (Fall 1941)
First Solo Comic
Record sale: $144,000
Minimum value: $2,900
Marvel Mystery Comics #5 (Mar 1940)
Timely, Human Torch Cover
Record sale: $88,000 (unverified), $33,500 (verified)
Minimum value: $3,500
Detective Comics #66
Origin and first appearance of Two-Face (Harvey Dent)
Record Sale: $88,000
Minimum Value: $4,600
Captain America Comics #3
Classic Red Skull cover; Stan Lee's first work for Marvel
Record Sale: $80,000
Minimum Value: $2,500
Action Comics #19
Superman WWII cover
Record Sale: $79,000
Minimum Value: $350
Detective Comics #62
Classic Joker cover
Record Sale: $77,000
Minimum Value: $1000
Detective Comics #37 (Mar 1940)
Last solo Batman adventure
Record sale: $76,000
Minimum value: $2,500
Red Raven Comics #1
Record Sale: $74,000
Minimum Value: $2000
Detective Comics #32
Batman is first costumed hero to use a gun, kills two villains
Record Sale: $71,000
Minimum Value: $500
Action Comics #23
1st Appearance of Lex Luthor
Record sale: $72,000
Minimum value: $2,000
Action Comics #6
1st Appearance of Jimmy Olsen
Record sale: $70,000
Minimum value: $4,000
Wonder Comics #1 (Mar 1939)
Origin and First Appearance, Wonder-Man (Only Appearance)
Record sale: $68,000
Minimum value: $1,500
Action Comics #5
5th Superman appearance
Record Sale: $68,000
Minimum Value: $2,500
Action Comics #4 (Sep 1938)
Fourth Appearance of Superman
(Plays Football in the Story)
Record sale: $68,000
Minimum value: $6,000
Marvel Mystery Comics #4
First appearance of GA Electro
Record Sale: $68,000
Minimum Value: $1,800
Daring Mystery Comics #1 (Jan 1940)
First in Series
Record sale: $67,000
Minimum value: $1,300
Fantastic Comics #1 (1939)
First in series
Record Sale: $66,000
Minimum Value: $1,100
All-American Comics #19
First appearance of GA Atom
Record Sale: $65,000 (unverified), $51,000 (verified)
Minimum Value: $2,000
See our All-American Comics Price Guide here
Batman Comics #11
Classic Joker cover
Record Sale: $65,000
Minimum Value: $500
Adventure Comics #48 (Mar 1940)
First Appearance, Hour-Man
Record sale: $64,000
Minimum value: $1,000
All-Select Comics #1 (Fall 1943)
Timely, First Issue in Series
Record sale: $63,500
Minimum value: $900
Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1
Extremely rare; only eight copies known to exist (3 restored);
Origin and First appearance of Sub-Mariner
Record Sale: $60,000
Minimum Value: $20,300
Batman #2 (Jul 1940)
Second Appearance of Joker,
Catwoman
Record sale: $63,000
Minimum value: $800
Action Comics #20
Record Sale: $60,000
Minimum Value: $900
Amazing-Man Comics #5 (Sep 1939)
First Appearance, Amazing-Man
Record sale: $56,800
Minimum value: $1,200
Punch Comics #12
Classic skull cover
Record Sale: $55,000
Minimum Value: $300
Amazing-Man Comics #22
Classic cover; Hitler appearance
Record Sale: $54,000
Minimum Value: $5,700
All-Winners Comics #1 (1941)
1st All-Winners Squad
Record Sale: $49,000
Minimum Value: $4,300
If you find one of these most valuable comic books, don't hesitate!
New Comics #1 (1935)
First ever comic published by DC
Record Sale: $52,000 (unverified), $15,500 (verified)
Minimum Value: $1,000
Four Color Comics V1 #16
Mickey Mouse; rare
Record sale: $78,000
Minimum value: $500
Famous Funnies #1 (1934)
First comic book sold to the public
Record Sale: $43,000 (unverified), $9,000 (verified)
Minimum Value: $3,000
Silver Streak Comics #6
Origin and First appearance of GA Daredevil; classic Cole Claw cover
Record Sale: $42,000 (unverified), $22,500 (verified)
Minimum Value: $1,400
Marvel Mystery Comics #10
Record Sale: $42,000
Minimum Value: $1,750
Detective Comics #140
First appearance of Riddler
Record Sale: $456,000
Minimum Value: $1,500
Mystic Comics #1 (Mar 1940)
First Appearance of Flexo
and Blue Blaze
Record sale: $40,000
Minimum value: $1000
Batman #3
First Catwoman appearance in costume, first appearance of Puppet Master
Record Sale: $40,300
Minimum Value: $3,700
Double Action Comics #2
Very rare; only six copies known; copy of Adventure Comics #37 cover
Record Sale: $37,000 (unverified)
Minimum Value: $?
More Fun Comics #54 (Apr 1940)
Spectre Story
Record sale: $39,000
Minimum value: $800
Detective Comics #168
Origin of Joker / Red Hood
Record Sale: $35,000
Minimum Value: $3,300
Prize Comics #7
Origin and first appearance of The Green Lama
Record Sale: $35,000
Minimum Value: $1,800
Jumbo Comics #1 (1938)
1st appearance of Sheena, Queen of the Jungle
Record Sale: $33,000 (unverified)
Minimum Value: $?
Detective Comics #40
Origin and first appearance of Clayface
Record Sale: $32,000
Minimum Value: $1,000
Superman #3
Reprints second story from Action #5
Record Sale: $30,500
Minimum Value: $1,000
More Fun Comics #101 (Jan 1945)
Origin and First Appearance, Superboy
Record sale: $55,000
Minimum value: $300
All-American Comics #61
First appearance of Solomon Grundy
Record Sale: $138,000
Minimum Value: $1,000
Four Color #386
First dedicated Uncle Scrooge comic
Record Sale: $26,200
Minimum Value: $100
Detective Comics #2
Creig Flessel covers begin
Record Sale: $26,000
Minimum Value: $7,100
Marvel Mystery Comics #3
1st new logo
Record Sale: $25,000
Minimum Value: $900
Marvel Mystery Comics #8
Classic Timely Comic
Record sale: $21,500
Minimum value: $1,100
All-American Comics #17
2nd appearance of Golden Age Green Lantern
Record Sale: $20,000
Minimum Value: $500
Seven Seas #6
Matt Baker comic book cover art
Record Sale: $25,000
Minimum Value: $100
Top Comic Books from the Silver Age by Market Value
Which Silver Age books command the highest prices?
Best-Selling Bronze Age Comic Books in Today's Market
These issues from the Bronze Age are the most valuable comic books from that era.
Top Valuable Copper Age Comic Books
Which are the most valuable comic books from the 1980s-90s? Find out here!
Most Expensive Modern Age Comic Books
Even comics published in the last 20 years can be valuable. Find out the top 20 here.
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