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Top 30 Action Comics Key Issues Price Guide
Value of Action Comics Key Issues
A collection of Action issues from 1938 onwards can include some of the most valuable comic books of the era.
Superman from a Golden Age Action ComicsMost famous is Action #1, the first appearance of Superman and the book which created the superhero genre.
Pretty much any issue from #1 through #100 are expensive today.
There are lots of later ones which have value too -- but a lot which barely register on a collector's radar.
How do you figure all this out?
This page will help you to determine which issues in your collection have value.
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Price of Action Comics 1
Action Comics #1
Origin and first appearance of Superman; 1st Lois Lane
Lowest price $400,000
Average price $1,000,000
Record price $6,000,000
The first appearance of Superman is a nailed-on classic Golden Age key -- it is THE comic book. The only comparable is Detective Comics #27, the first appearance of Batman.
In 1938, costumed superheroes basically didn't exist. Action #1 is the book which began the Golden Age of comics, invented superheroes, and introduced the world to Superman.
In the early days, he was badass, more like Homelander from The Boys than the Man of Steel. Over time, DC softened the character to make him more of a hero than an anti-hero.
An oversize reprint exists which measures 13.5 inches along the spine.
Price of Other Action Comics Key Issues
Action Comics #2
Second appearance of Superman
Lowest price $10,000
Average price $35,000
Record price $95,000
The second appearance of Superman doesn't feature him on the cover (that didn't happen until Action #7). It would be a couple of years before every issue had him on the cover.
Action Comics #3
Rare! 3rd appearance of Superman
Lowest price $7,000
Average price $20,000
Record price $55,000
The third Superman appearance, a very tough book in any grade.
Action Comics #6
First appearance of Jimmy Olsen
Lowest price $2,000
Average price $9,000
Record price $40,000
Jimmy Olsen would go on to become Superman's pal and star in his own series.
Action Comics #7
Second Superman cover appearance
Lowest price $15,000
Average price $100,000
Record price $204,000
The "poor man's Action Comics #1", Action #7 is a classic cover image and only the second time he appeared on the cover of a comic book.
Action Comics #10
Third Superman cover appearance
Lowest price $15,000
Average price $60,000
Record price $258,000
A very rare comic book in unrestored condition, tougher than #7 or #13.
Action Comics #12
Zatara sci-fi cover
Lowest price $7,500
Average price $15,000
Record price $22,000
The non-Superman covers are less desirable from the early years of Action.
Action Comics #13
Fourth Superman cover appearance
Lowest price $8,000
Average price $50,000
Record price $166,000
Superhero vs train covers are very popular with collectors, and this being the 4th cover appearance of Superman makes it especially desirable.
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Action Comics #23
First Lex Luthor
Lowest price $4,000
Average price $25,000
Record price $72,000
Lex Luthor had red hair in his first appearance. A surprisingly tough comic that is seldom offered.
Action Comics #29
First Lois Lane cover
Lowest price $800
Average price $5,000
Record price $27,000
Lois Lane is a huge part of the Superman story, featuring for decades as the girlfriend of the Man of Steel.
Action Comics #36
Classic robot cover
Lowest price $400
Average price $2,000
Record price $7,200
Superman vs robots is a classic cover! Golden Age robot covers are very popular with collectors.
Action Comics #47
1st Lex Luthor cover
Lowest price $300
Average price $2,500
Record price $15,000
The classic Lex Luthor look was well established by the time of this cover debut, with a cool image of Superman punching him through a brick wall!
Action Comics #51
1st Prankster
Lowest price $200
Average price $1,000
Record price $32,400
Prankster was Oswald Loomis. He committed crimes using publicity stunts and pranks to attract attention.
The character has been rebooted several times.
Action Comics #60
1st Lois Lane as Superwoman
Lowest price $450
Average price $2,500
Record price $17,000
Over the years, there were multiple tryouts of Superwoman and Supergirl. This was the first of them.
Action Comics #64
1st Toyman
Lowest price $300
Average price $2,000
Record price $31,000
It's hard to imagine the conversations around character creation at DC Comics back in the day. Toyman?!
When you compare apples to apples, DC's villains are hokey compared to Marvel's.
Action Comics #93
Classic Christmas cover
Lowest price $100
Average price $1,500
Record price $23,000
Christmas covers are popular with collectors, and this is a major classic of the genre, with Superman treating the planet earth like an ornament.
Action Comics #101
Atomic explosion cover
Lowest price $300
Average price $1,000
Record price $13,000
Classic cover featuring what was an obsession with America at the end of WWII -- atomic weapons.
Action Comics #108
Classic molten metal cover
Lowest price $200
Average price $1,400
Record price $31,000
Do you think Superman would survive being coated in molten metal? Answers on a postcard...
Action Comics #158
Superman's origin retold
Lowest price $100
Average price $500
Record price $1,300
The origin of heroes and villains is always of interest to collectors.
It's highly unlikely that readers of Action #158 could afford an Action #1, even in 1951, so this was their chance to catch up with Superman's roots.
Action Comics #241
Batman Crossover; First Fortress of Solitude
Lowest price $50
Average price $300
Record price $2,600
The first Fortress of Solitude also features an appearance of Batman.
Action Comics #242
1st Brainiac
Lowest price $400
Average price $5,000
Record price $34,000
Surely Brainiac is long overdue for an appearance in the soon to expand DCU?
This is one of the toughest Action Comics key issues, with a purple cover that shows a lot of wear.
Action Comics #252
1st Supergirl
Lowest price $500
Average price $7,000
Record price $50,000
After several tryouts, including Superman #123, Supergirl finally made an official debut in this tough key issue. It's valuable in any condition.
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Action Comics #261
1st Streaky the Super-Cat and X-Kryptonite
Lowest price $10
Average price $80
Record price $500
Just to prove that Action Comics key issues aren't always big-money items, this minor key issue is relatively affordable in higher grades.
Streaky the Super-Cat is highly unlikely to be a future star, but it's a fun first appearance.
Action Comics #267
1st Chameleon Boy, Colossal Boy and Invisible Kid; 1st Supergirl as Superwoman
Lowest price $30
Average price $300
Record price $3,600
A crossover appearance from the Legion of Superheroes includes some first appearances, and a future glimpse of who Supergirl will grow up to become.
Action Comics #274
Lois Lane as Superwoman
Lowest price $30
Average price $100
Record price $700
Over the years, it felt as if DC had no idea what to do with Lois Lane to make her more interesting than arm candy. This is one of the many Superwoman stories.
Action Comics #304
1st Black Flame
Lowest price $10
Average price $150
Record price $660
Black Flame is one of the minor villains with not much of a footprint in the DCU, and not many prospects of future development.
Action Comics #340
1st Parasite
Lowest price $50
Average price $300
Record price $3,000
Parasite is a popular villain who is surely going to be making a big screen appearance soon.
Shares the factor of Batman #181, in that the centerfold is a pin-up poster of Superman and is often missing.
Action Comics #419
1st Human Target
Lowest price $5
Average price $80
Record price $820
Another minor Superman villain. The great cover by Neal Adams features the Man of Steel against a photo background.
Action Comics #471
1st Faora Hu-Ul
Lowest price $1
Average price $20
Record price $275
General Zod's love interest, Faora, is an on-again off-again villain in the Superman universe.
Action Comics #521
1st Vixen
Lowest price $5
Average price $60
Record price $570
Vixen is one of the random Action Comics key issues in a sea of average run books, years after Action Comics #419 and several years before #598 (see below).
The series went through the doldrums during the 1980s, reflecting how little interest there was in Superman's titles.
Action Comics #598
1st Checkmate
Lowest price $1
Average price $20
Record price $100
Checkmate was a secret team of agents. I could see this becoming part of the DCU in future years.
Action Comics #611
New Catwoman costume
Lowest price $1
Average price $5
Record price $40
Barely worth a mention on this list of Action Comics key issues, still, Catwoman fans might find this appealing.
Action Comics #835
1st Livewire in continuity
Lowest price $1
Average price $20
Record price $100
For a while, people were predicting that Livewire would be the next Harley Quinn. That fuss died down pretty quickly, and this book has cooled significantly. It's still decently valuable for the era.
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