The History of Comic Books

Currently up for auction at Comic Connect. Extremely Rare Flash Comics #1 but by Fawcett comics with Captain Thunder, who would be changed to Captain Marvel, on the cover. This is an ash can version, which publishers used to get title going for legal reasons. This ash can is rare because Flash Comics #1 was never released by Fawcett as a result of copyright. There already was a Flash Comics which contained the Flash. As a result Captain Thunder would be changed to Captain Marvel and be published in Whiz Comics #1. He would become the most popular hero of the 1940's surpassing Superman and Batman. Well until DC comics sued Fawcett for copyright infringement and won. I guess Captain Marvel disregarded copyright from the beginning. Even so, Very few of these were made and even fewer exist now. It is a true piece of comic history. So what are you waiting for start bidding.

If you have read any of my previous posts you know that the importance and history of Action Comics #1 truly fascinates me. There are not many instances in our history that a single piece of entertainment has had such a greater impact. Action Comics #1 literally started an entire genre of entertainment. Part of my fascination is following the few issues that are circulating. This one is up for auction right now and it comes from the Jon Berk collection. Mr. Berk has a very impressive collection of classic comics. Graded a 5.5, It's up to $227,000 on Comic Connect. So if you have some extra cash lying around go for it.

Sponge towels 1978 Action Comics #1 free giveaway. Very rare especially still in original package.

DC Comics Presents # 93 Superman teams up with the Elastic Four Plastic Man, Elongated Man, Elastic Lad help Superman battle Malleable Man. Written by Paul Kupperberg with art by Alex Saviuk DC comics Presents was DC's answer to Marvel Team-Up. Each issue Superman would team with another DC hero or group of heroes.

Action Comics #1 Page four only, up for auction. Another individual page from Action Comics #1 has found its way to auction. Current bid is over $5,500 ( see previous posts for other individual Action Comics pages) On this page Lois Land and Clark Kent have an argument followed by Superman stopping some hoods. Story is by Jerry Siegel, art by Fred Guardineer.

Recently sold at auction Action Comics #1 Page 3 It sold for $4,433. See previous post about page 2 being sold. I doubt there is any other comic that could be sold as individual pages.

Superman - Radio Shack Giveaway #3 From 1981 "Victory by Computer" Written by Cary Bates with art by Curt Swan Also stars Supergirl and the TRS-80 Computer Whiz Kids. Purchased recently out of a $1 bin. Great that it was Superman, bonus it was a Radio Shack giveaway but the kicker for me was the TRS-80 kids. If you grew up on the early 80's you had or know someone who had a Tandy TRS-80. One of the first widely used home computers, pictured on the cover. See the TRS-80 could even help Superman!

It's not often that an Action Comics #1 comes up for auction. Heritage auction has a CGC 5.5 currently open for bidding. The key to this copy is that it is unrestored, which is rare in itself. Current high bid is $555,000. So if you have an extra half-million dollars lying around head on over to Heritage Auctions.

If you have read any of my previous posts you know that I am intrigued by the history of Action Comics #1. What better way to celebrate the history then with a 500 piece puzzle. Check it out at @entertainmentearth

If you have read any of my previous posts you know that I am a sucker for Action Comics #1. It embodies, more then any other comic, the history of the hobby. Heritage auctions currently has a copy up for auction. It's a CGC FN- 5.5 with Cream to off-white pages. Current bid is $410,000. I'll update with the final price. I will also be researching the back story of this copy.

Recent auction saw Page 2 of Action Comics #1 sell for $5,025. Yes it is a torn out page 2 and it was sold for over 5 grand. Guess almost everyone want to own a piece of comic book history.

If you have read any of my previous posts here on on my comic book Hunter/gatherer blog you know I am a big fan of the history of comic books and with that I am a big fan of the history of the granddaddy of comic book, Action Comics #1. Recently an auction house sold some pieces of Action Comics #1 including a cover less copy graded NG (No Grade). Copy also is missing pages so it is incomplete. It still sold for $37,666. Yes a cover less beat up version of Action Comics #1 sold for $37,666. Check back for more comic book history.

One of my favorite tales of Action Comics #1 is the tale of the one in the wall. It happened in Elbow Lake, Minnesota a copy of Action Comics #1 was found in the wall of a house David and Deanna Gonzalez had purchased for $10,100. The couple purchased the home as a fixer-upper and while taking down a wall amidst newspapers from the 1930's that were used as insulation they found an actual copy of the first apperance of Superman, Action Comics#1. The couple knew right away that the comic was valuable but they didn't know how valuable it would be. Following the discovery the grading firm CGC graded the copy a 1.5, it could have been a 3.0 but an eager relative ripped the back cover shortly after its discovery. Oh family can be so helpful at times! The copy ended up selling at auction for $175,000, more then 10 times the amount the Gonzalez family paid for the house. Comic Connect, a New York City based auction house, listing for the comic said that it “boasts bright, sparkling colors and sturdy off-white pages” not to bad for being in a wall for almost 80 years. It really amazes me that after 8 decades the most valuable comic in existence can be found in a wall of a $10,000 fixer-upper. It just proves that there truly are hidden treasures out there to be found and if you hunt for comics no matter where you are you never know what you might find. So get hunting. Keep checking back for the next, Story of Action Comics #1. If you have a story about a really interesting find please Email me [email protected] and we will share it with the world, include photos.

My favorite comic book villain has always been The Riddler. Throughout the years I have enjoyed how the character has developed into one of Batman main antagonists. As a result of the Riddler being my favorite villian his first appearance in Detective Comics #140 has always been a highly sought after issue. As you may know it is not easy to find. And when one comes up for sale it is usually of low quality. Only two copies have been graded over 8.0. So my search will continue. About Detective Comics #140 Release in October 1948 Detective Comics #140 features the first apperance of The Riddler, written by the legendary Bill Finger with interior art Dick Sprang and Curt Swan, The memorable covet was done by W. Mortimer. In the story "The Riddler" Edward Nigma is a cheating puzzle expert who becomes a costumed criminal identity for himself, the Riddler. He uses puzzles as clues for the Caped Crusader, which Batman is able to solve. Riddler eventually leads Batman into a glass maze with a bomb inside. The bomb explodes, the Riddler falls off a pier, leaving only a question mark behind. Batman is left wondering if his newest foe the Riddler survived. Value A copy of Detective Comics #140 can be obtained in lower CGC grade for less then $1,000. Ungraded can cost a couple of hundred. The highest graded copies so far have been graded 9.4, 2 copies currently exist. One sold at auction for over $19,000. This issue is very scarce only about 40 copies have been graded. If you have a story about Detective Comics #140 or any other comic book hunting stories email us at [email protected]