Up in the sky! Flying all the way from Metropolis to New York, a first appearance of Superman that is certified by CGC realized more than $1 million in a ComicConnect sale at New York Comic Con in October.
ComicConnect reported that they sold an Action Comics #1 graded CGC 9.0 Restored in a private sale for $1.3 million during the convention. This result leaped over the previous Restored Label record for this grail, which was $794,650 realized for this exact same copy previously sold by ComicConnect in 2024. That reflects an increase in price of 64% in only two years!
ComicConnect also reportedly sold a low-grade raw copy for $825,000 during the show.
Demand for this comic, as well as prices, have rocketed ever since ComicConnect set an all-time comic book sales record with an Action Comics #1 graded CGC 9.0 (Universal Label), which realized $15 million in January 2026.
"In 2026 alone, we’ve sold six copies of Action #1," said ComicConnect President Vincent Zurzolo. "That brings our total sales of Action #1 to close to 80 issues over the company's 27-year existence. I’ve loved comic books ever since I was a kid, but when I was selling $1 comic books out of bins in my teens, I never imagined I’d be selling the biggest comics in the world!"
Published in 1938 by National Press, Action Comics #1 is widely regarded as the most important comic book ever produced. The issue introduced Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, launching the Golden Age era, and helped establish the superhero genre that would come to dominate comics and popular culture for generations. Its entire 200,000 print run was quickly sold, but fewer than 100 are estimated to exist today.
If you don’t have an extra million buried in your couch cushions, this comic has been reprinted many times since 1974. Even high-grade reprints can sell for as much as $1,500.
Visitors at the ComicConnect NYCC booth also got a first look at original art and comics from the upcoming Event Auction 68, launching on November 16, 2026. It includes a stellar selection of more early Superman titles such as Fred Guardineer's classic covers for Action Comics #9 and Action Comics #15, plus Joe Shuster's timeless work on Action Comics #10 and Action Comics #20, alongside a gorgeous copy of Superman #2!
About CGC
Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles, including trading card games (TCGs), sports cards, magazines, video games, and home media. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services. If you collect it, we grade and protect it.
CGC is part of the Certified Collectibles Group, a global provider of expert and impartial authentication and grading services for collectibles. Since 1987, the Certified Collectibles Group companies have certified more than 110 million collectibles, including coins, banknotes, comic books, cards, autographs, and stamps.