Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1, published by DC in 1938. That places it in the Gold Age.
Why this issue matters
The book that started the entire superhero genre. Superman's debut here is the most significant single issue in comic book history and the reason the medium looks the way it does today.
Key facts
Action Comics #1
- Character: Superman
- Publisher: DC
- Cover year: 1938
- Era: Gold Age
Before you buy or sell one
- Check it is a first print, not a facsimile or reprint. Newsstand and direct editions are priced differently too.
- Condition decides most of the value. Whether grading is worth it depends on the copy.
Go deeper
More DC firsts from the Gold Age
- Hawkman (Carter Hall) Flash Comics #1, 1940
- Black Canary Flash Comics #86, 1947
- Scarecrow World's Finest Comics #3, 1941
- Lex Luthor Action Comics #23, 1940
- Clayface (Karlo) Detective Comics #40, 1940
- Solomon Grundy All-American Comics #61, 1944
- Batman Detective Comics #27, 1939
- Wonder Woman All Star Comics #8, 1941
Got a copy?
I buy key issues and whole collections across the UK, and I will tell you honestly whether what you have is the real first or a later printing. Send me photos of the cover and the indicia and I will come back with a straight answer, and a proper valuation if you want one.