The Comic That Built A Legacy
Comic books weren’t always treated like treasure. Back then, kids rolled them up, traded them for bubble gum, and forgot them under beds. Today, those same flimsy pages can sell for the price of a small mansion. Action Comics tops that list, turning nostalgia into serious investment gold. These issues launched superheroes and gave collectors endless bragging rights. So, let’s take a look at 20 Action Comics issues that prove ink and paper can outvalue precious metals.
1. Action Comics #1 ($6,000,000)
Widely regarded as the most influential comic book ever published, Action Comics #1 revolutionized the medium by introducing Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. This watershed issue also established core elements of the Superman mythology.
Action Comics #1 Superman - June 1938 Full Page Comic by BrainDamageAG
2. Action Comics #7 ($204,000)
In the Golden Age of comics, each Superman appearance shaped the foundation of superhero history. And Action Comics #7 stands out as the second comic book cover to feature the Man of Steel, making it one of the most sought-after early Superman issues among devoted collectors.
DC Comics – Action Comics #7 35g Pure Silver Foil by Agoro
3. Action Comics #252 ($45,410)
Just as a lone rocket once carried the Last Son of Krypton to Earth, Action Comics #252 mirrored this legendary journey with another spacecraft bearing Superman's cousin, Kara Zor-El. The historic cover captured Superman welcoming Supergirl, marking a profound expansion of the Superman family.
4. Action Comics #63 ($38,240)
The striking WWII-era cover of Action Comics #63 sets the stage for Superman's patriotic crusade against Nazi saboteurs and Axis agents within its pages. This wartime narrative exemplifies how Golden Age comics served as powerful cultural artifacts.
Comic Book Haul || 2 Early Golden Age Superman graded by CGC!!! by Alex the Comic Hoarder
5. Action Comics #242 ($34,004)
Action Comics #242 introduces two pivotal elements to Superman’s universe. It features the menacing Brainiac, whose first appearance as a brilliant alien conqueror secured his place among Superman’s most formidable foes, and the shrunken city of Kandor.
6. Action Comics #79 ($32,400)
Drawn by Jack Burnley and inked by Stan Kaye, this 1944 issue showcases Superman smashing through a wall in pure Golden Age flair. Its lead story, “The Golden Fleece,” stands as a prized collectible for its wartime release, striking cover art, and enduring historical value.
Golden Age Action Comics Superman Wonder Woman and More Collection EP. 2 by Alex the Comic Hoarder
7. Action Comics #108 ($31,200)
Published in 1947, Action Comics #108 features the Superman story “The Great Crasher!” by Don Cameron and John Sikela. Here, Superman battles gangster Mugsy Magoon and con artist Vince Vincent amid high-society crime. Even the cover’s molten metal scene echoes industrial peril.
Top 5 Superman Comics in My Collection! by Hi5 Comics
8. Action Comics #82 ($26,400)
Action Comics #82 features the story “The Water Sprite,” illustrated by Ira Yarbrough. Superman battles a saboteur using water-based attacks, and the plot centers on a fake water sprite, created to distract authorities from discovering substandard materials used in dam construction.
Comic Book Haul || 2 Early Golden Age Superman graded by CGC!!! by Alex the Comic Hoarder
9. Action Comics #93 ($23,000)
With cover art by Wayne Boring and Stan Kaye, Action Comics #93 replaces spectacle with sentiment. In this story, Superman dons a Santa Claus disguise to traverse the globe, reuniting war-torn families and spreading hope among refugees as he helps them celebrate Christmas traditions across distant lands.
Christmas Comic Books -- Part 4 -- Spotlight on Action Comics #93 by Spinner Rack Studios
10. Action Comics #12 ($22,000)
Action Comics #12 wasn't just another Superman adventure; it was DC's marketing masterstroke. By placing an advertisement for Detective Comics #27 in their flagship Superman title, they created an unexpected bridge between two legends.
Action Comics 12, Earth2 4 comic reviews by majinoni6
11. Action Comics #92 ($12,000)
Action Comics #92 features “The Average American!” written by Joseph Samachson. In this lighthearted tale, Clark Kent enters a contest to present everyday heroism, facing humorous bureaucratic hurdles instead of villains or destruction—celebrating humility and civic spirit over high-stakes action.
Golden Age Action Comics Superman Wonder Woman and More Collection EP. 2 by Alex the Comic Hoarder
12. Action Comics #4 ($11,229)
Among Superman’s earliest adventures, Action Comics #4 (September 1938) presents “The New Dealer,” crafted by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Here, Superman exposes corrupt tycoons abusing federal relief programs and foils a dam sabotage scheme.
Action Comics #4 by Great Lake Auctions
13. Action Comics #124 ($8,400)
Shifting away from supervillains and spectacle, Action Comics #124 (September 1948) grounds Superman in detective-style heroics. Wearing a lead suit, he infiltrates a counterfeiting ring in Elmdale, exposing criminals behind a clever lead-based scam.
My Golden-Age Comic Book Collection #1 by Comichero77
14. Action Comics #98 ($8,050)
Representing a prime example of Golden Age comic artistry, Action Comics #98 captures Superman at his storytelling peak. Basically, it involves a whimsical tale where Superman disguises himself as a young girl named Susie Tompkins to protect her from two robbers.
Golden Age Action Comics Superman Wonder Woman and More Collection EP. 2 by Alex the Comic Hoarder
15. Action Comics #101 ($7,500)
Published in October 1946, Action Comics #101 showcases Superman ensnared in a psychological trap by crime boss Specs Dour. After ingesting a madness-inducing potion to protect Lois Lane, he must resist its effects long enough to expose Dour’s blackmail scheme.
Top 5 Superman Comics in My Collection! by Hi5 Comics
16. Action Comics #105 ($7,200)
This one features a cover illustration of Superman dressed as Santa Claus. In the image, he flies through the night sky with a sack of toys over his shoulder as he delivers presents to a sleeping child below—an iconic Golden Age holiday-themed issue.
Comics in the Mail #4 - Big Superman Haul! - Gold and Silver Comic Book Collection by Comic Buying
17. Action Comics #39 ($6,000)
Action Comics #39 features “The Man with the Radioactive Touch!”—a tense, standalone tale where Brett Bryson, a scientist mutated by a radium accident, gains a lethal touch. Using his new power for murder and theft, he frames his employer until Superman uncovers the truth.
December ComicConnect Auction Unboxing - Action Comics #39 and #56 by Secret Sanctuary
18. Action Comics #56 ($4,100)
Action Comics #56 captures peak wartime energy with John Sikela’s cover of Superman soaring through explosions, clutching massive explosions mid-flight. The anthology’s patriotic tone spans tales of sabotage and heroism—including an American commando story featuring Hitler.
December ComicConnect Auction Unboxing - Action Comics #39 and #56 by Secret Sanctuary
19. Action Comics #267 ($3,600)
Published in August 1960, Action Comics #267 delivers a Silver Age spectacle led by “Superman’s Battle with Hercules.” It showcases Superman’s clash with the time-displaced demigod, blending mythic might and science-fiction flair.
PSA Why you MUST check your vintage books: Action Comics #267 - 352 by FensTheSpook
20. Action Comics #364 ($3,140)
This landmark issue delves deep into Superman’s harrowing battle with the deadly Virus X. Facing what seems to be certain death, he bids heartfelt farewells to his friends and colleagues at the Daily Planet before devising a plan to exile himself into space to prevent harming anyone.
