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Top 50 Golden Age Comic Books in 2025
The 50 most expensive Golden Age comic books in 2025
The period from 1938 to 1956 is known as the Golden Age of Comics for a reason.
Golden Age Comic Books saw the birth of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and dozens of othersImagine a world without superheroes. It's hard, right?
We've grown up knowing and loving Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, the Flash, Aquaman, Captain America...
What about the bad guys? Joker, Riddler, Sub-Mariner, Lex Luthor, Brainiac, the Penguin, the Thinker, Shade...
These characters were all created during the Golden Age of comics.
Some observers disagree within a year or two, but you can roughly define the eras of comic publishing like this:
- Golden Age 1938-1956
- Silver Age 1956-1970
- Bronze Age 1970-1981
- Copper Age 1981-1991
- Modern Age 1992-date
While there were a few superhero comics from 1935 to 1938, Superman's first appearance in Action Comics #1 is considered the book which began the Golden Age.
This page collects the top 50 most valuable comics published prior to 1956. If you find any of these amazing Golden Age comic books, or anything similar, then get in touch immediately!
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The 50 Most Valuable Golden Age Comic Books
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.
See more Action Comics values here.
Detective Comics #27
First appearance of Batman
Lowest price $100,000+
Average price $500,000
Record price $3.4M
One of the biggest comic books ever published. Batman is just about the most influential superheroes ever created, and more relevant and relatable to people than Superman.
An oversize reprint exists which measures 13.5 inches along the spine.
Detective Comics key issues are listed on a separate price guide.
Superman #1
First solo comic; rare in Universal grades
Lowest price $90,000
Average price $300,000
Record price $5,300,000
Superman #1 reprints the Superman origin story from Action Comics #1. It's also the first comic book dedicated to a single superhero.
This book has been reprinted. The most common is an oversize magazine-size reprint measures 13.5 inches along the spine.
Many copies of this book have been restored by dealers over the years. There are 77 known copies which are in Universal CGC holders, with 101 restored copies graded.
We have another page dedicated to Superman comic books.
Captain America Comics #1
Origin and first appearance of Cap
1st Red Skull
Lowest price $45,000
Average price $150,000
Record price $3.12M
Golden Age key issues don't get much bigger than Cap #1. It has it all.
The first Captain America comic book; a classic punch out Hitler cover; the first appearance of Red Skull, THE Captain America villain.
One of a very few comics to break the $3M barrier.
Captain America Comics are priced here.
Marvel Comics #1 (1939)
First ever Marvel comic book
Lowest price $120,000
Average price $300,000
Record price $2.42M
An exceptionally rare and critically important issue, the first ever Marvel comic, published during the Timely Comics era.
There are just 37 unrestored examples in the census! A further 33 restored examples are known.
Batman #1
1st Catwoman, 1st Joker
Lowest price $30,000
Average price $200,000
Record price $2.22M
This spin-off issue from Detective is a double key, featuring the first appearance of both Catwoman and the Joker. A gilt-edged Golden Age key!
Reprints exist, the most common being the over-size Treasury edition. If your Batman #1 measures 13.5 inches along the spine, then unfortunately it's a reprint.
Batman Comic Books have their own page.
All-Star Comics #8
Origin and first appearance of Wonder Woman
Lowest price $10,000
Average price $60,000
Record price $1.5M
The first mainstream costumed female superhero, one of a very few characters not to be cancelled during the superhero downturn in the 1950s; Wonder Woman comic books have been collected for many decades now.
Although the cover doesn't feature Diana, this is a major Golden Age key issue. Surprisingly common, with nearly 150 Universal copies in the CGC census.
Check out Wonder Woman comics here.
Detective Comics #140
First Riddler
Lowest price $4,000
Average price $15,000
Record price $456,000
E. Nigma is the alter ego of the Riddler, a classic Batman villain who ties the dynamic duo in knots, both literally and figuratively.
Key issues of Batman villains are priced here.
Flash Comics #1
Origin and 1st appearance of the Flash
Lowest price $35,000
Average price $125,000
Record price $450,000
Golden Age first appearances don't come much bigger than the Flash. Flash Comics #1 is a huge key. The highest graded book and record sale was set in 2010, so it will be shattered whenever the book comes back to market.
Flash Comic Books have their own page.
Phantom Lady #17
Classic "headlights" cover by Matt Baker
Lowest price $7,500
Average price $50,000
Record price $456,000
Before the Comics Code Authority banned such imagery, covers like this which featured obvious feminine charms were all the rage.
Matt Baker is considered the all-time greatest artist of the Golden Age for drawing the feminine form, and this is the most valuable of all the comics he created.
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Sensation Comics #1
1st Wonder Woman cover
Lowest price $15,000
Average price $40,000
Record price $420,000
Not the first appearance of Wonder Woman, but her first cover.
Reprints exist of this book, the most common being an oversize 1970s book with a 13.5" spine.
Whiz Comics #1 (1940)
Origin and first appearance of Captain Marvel
Lowest price $30,000
Average price $70,000
Record price $385,000
There have been several characters with the name Captain Marvel, but this Fawcett creation was the first.
Although his creation was two years later than Superman and the characters share a lot of similarities, Whiz and Captain Marvel outsold Superman comics for years!
Detective Comics #168
Origin of the Joker (Red Hood)
Lowest price $4,000
Average price $16,000
Record price $324,000
Bad guys don't come much bigger than Joker, and this detailed origin story is a classic Detective Comics key issue.
Joker's origin is an actual horror story in itself, featuring a near-fatal drop into a chemical vat, and a botched attempt to fix his face by a backstreet surgeon.
Wonder Woman #1
1st Ares
1st solo Wonder Woman comic book
Lowest price $15,000
Average price $40,000
Record price $291,000
Ares is the son of Zeus and the god of War. Like many Wonder Woman villains, he's based on Greek mythology.
A classic cover image, the first solo Wonder Woman comic book; a hugely important key issue.
Reprints exist of this book, the most common being an oversize 1970s book with a 13.5" spine.
Detective Comics #33
Origin of Batman
Lowest price $15,000
Average price $45,000
Record price $288,000
The origin of Batman has been told many times over the decades since his creation. This is the first major origin telling.
Detective Comics #29
Third Batman appearance, second cover, classic cover
Lowest price $15,000+
Average price $60,000
Record price $276,000
This early Batman appearance reflects the nature of comic book publishing of the era far more than when Robin turns up a year or so later.
Evil scientist, Batman crashing through the window, violence and jeopardy...
More Fun Comics #52 (1940)
First appearance of Spectre
Lowest price $30,000
Average price $90,000
Record price $264,000
More Fun Comics spawned some of the most important Golden Age characters. Spectre first appears in this rare issue.
There are only 22 unrestored copies in the CGC census.
More Fun Comics #55
1st Doctor Fate
Lowest price $5,000
Average price $28,000
Record price $264,000
Another seriously rare More Fun first appearance, with 35 copies in the CGC census unrestored.
Doctor Fate has no footprint in modern continuity.
Suspense Comics #3: Nazi sacrifice cover. World record holder for horror comics! Click for valuationSuspense Comics #3
Nazi sacrifice cover
Lowest price $15,000
Average price $50,000
Record price $263,000
Any six-figure sale of a comic book is extremely significant. There have been several $100K+ sales in horror comics of the 1950s lately, as this market has exploded in interest.
This cover is notorious, being reminiscent of the Klan as well as featuring Nazi war crimes.
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.
Pep Comics #22 (1941)
First appearance of Archie
Lowest price $35,000
Average price $70,000
Record price $252,000
Archie Andrews is still being published today, albeit in far fewer comic books than during his golden years of the 1950s.
This first appearance is exceptionally rare, with just 21 unrestored copies in the CGC census.
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Fantastic Comics #3
Classic robot cover
Lowest price $30,000
Average price $90,000
Record price $243,000
Lou Fine created several so-called classic covers in the Golden Age, but this one is by far the most desirable, and very rare.
Only 17 unrestored examples have been certified by CGC, but this number includes a CGC 9.4! When that is sold, a massive record will be set for this issue.
All-American Comics #16
1st Green Lantern
Lowest price $75,000
Average price $100,000
Record price $215,000
Alan Scott was the first Green Lantern. With only 33 Universal copies in the CGC census, this is a very rare key issue.
Captain America Comics #74
Renamed Captain America's Weird Tales
Lowest price $2,500
Average price $14,000
Record price $204,000
By the mid-50s, sales of superhero comics had declined. The market demanded crime and horror comic books.
This comic reflects the change of interest with a name change for the title.
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.
Punch Comics #12
Giant skull cover
Lowest price $6,500
Average price $33,000
Record price $204,000
Not the most gory of pre-Code horror comic covers, but this is an extremely scarce and very popular book with collectors.
More Fun Comics #73
1st Aquaman, Green Arrow and Speedy
Lowest price $12,000
Average price $65,000
Record price $192,000
Two major first appearances for the price of one (and Speedy is a third, minor character).
Green Arrow is probably closer to a C-list character, but Aquaman has enjoyed a revival lately due to all the movie action involving him.
Some of the prices appear weird. It's long, long overdue a huge sale to set a new record.
Detective Comics #31
Classic cover
Lowest price $35,000+
Average price $90,000
Record price $175,000
One of the iconic and ghostly cover images of the early Batman years, and much imitated by future artists. Rare!
Adventure Comics #48
1st Hour-Man
Lowest price $3,000
Average price $9,000
Record price $168,000
One of the defining characteristics of the Golden Age comic books market is the value of characters with no modern appearances.
Hour-Man has not appeared since the Golden Age, so his first appearance is relatively affordable.
Archie Comics #1
1st solo title
Lowest price $10,000
Average price $35,000
Record price $167,000
Archie was so popular that he was spun off out of Pep Comics into his own title. Archie Comics were published for decades!
The record sale for the CGC 8.5 was set in 2011, so when it comes back up for sale a new top price will be set for sure. There are only 57 unrestored copies in the census.
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.
Sub-Mariner Comics #1 (1941)
The first solo Timely Sub-Mariner comic book
Lowest price $7,000
Average price $30,000
Record price $144,000
The Sub-Mariner has been rebooted, most notably in Fantastic Four comic books, where he has teamed up with Doctor Doom to fight the FF.
The Golden Age version is a giant character who bears little resemblance to the Silver Age villain.
Mask Comics #1
Classic LB Cole cover
Lowest price $4,000
Average price $12,000
Record price $144,000
Cole's cover art is best-known for the bright primary colors and primitive style. This cult-themed cover is hugely popular, and scarce in any condition.
All-American Comics #61
1st Solomon Grundy
Lowest price $5,000
Average price $12,000
Record price $138,000
Solomon Grundy is one of the few undead DC villains.
A corpse brought back to life, he has been destroyed and reborn many times.
This is a very rare issue. There are less than 70 Universal copies in the CGC census.
Startling Comics #49
Robot bondage cover
Lowest price $4,000
Average price $14,000
Record price $132,000
This is an absolute classic cover! Alex Schomburg created this insane robot carrying off a bound woman.
Detective Comics #35
Classic bondage and hypodermic needle cover
Lowest price $4,500
Average price $33,000
Record price $120,000
One of the early Batman covers which demonstrates the potential of Batman horror comics. This kind of cover image is very rare on the Detective run.
Walt Disney Comics and Stories #1 (1940)
Rare first issue
Lowest price $1,500
Average price $7,000
Record price $116,000
Walt Disney Comics and Stories were published continuously for decades, and while Disney's original characters are no longer as popular as they were in the Golden Age, this issue always finds a new home when it comes up for sale.
There are 116 unrestored examples, so it's less scarce than some of the superhero and horror comic books of the era.
Eerie #1 (1947, Avon)
One of the earliest dedicated horror comics
Lowest price $1,800
Average price $6,000
Record price $108,000
Okay, we admit it. Technically NOT a horror comic of the 1950s, being published in 1947, but considered the earliest horror comic ever.
Detective Comics #1
Very rare first issue
Lowest price $10,000+
Average price $50,000
Record price $108,000
With only 17 unrestored examples in the census (19 are restored!), this is an extremely rare and desirable first issue.
The highest graded example is a CGC 8.0; the record sale was for a 5.0 and set in 2022.
Planet Comics #1 (1940)
Rare first issue of sci-fi series
Lowest price $5,000
Average price $18,000
Record price $108,000
Muscular heroes, well-endowed and scantily-clad females and weird spaceships battle bug-eyed green monsters in Planet Comics.
This long-running series eventually died out when crime and horror comics overtook sci-fi as the most popular publications of the later Golden Age.
Detective Comics #38
First Robin, the Boy Wonder
Lowest price $15,000+
Average price $60,000
Record price $107,000
Batman purists bemoan the creation of Robin. It was the moment that Batman turned his back on the dark early years. Once Robin was on the scene, the ultra-violent Batman capable of killing was consigned to history.
This is a rare comic, and for most Batman fans, Robin is just part of the appeal. This is LONG overdue to break its sale record.
Captain America Comics #2
Classic Hitler cover
First round Cap shield
Lowest price $1,000
Average price $15,000
Record price $103,000
Another classic Hitler cover, plus the first round shield for Cap, make this another Golden Age classic.
Chamber of Chills #19
Classic cover
Lowest price $2,000
Average price $18,000
Record price $102,000
This memorable cover combines "headlights" with a green skeleton toasting the blonde, showing her skull through the glass. It doesn't make a lot of sense, but who cares?
Crime Does Not Pay #24
Intensely violent cover
Lowest price $1,500
Average price $15,000
Record price $102,000
It's hard to imagine a publisher deciding to put out a comic book with this image on the cover today! Let alone in the 50s.
A criminal holding a woman's head to the stove top to set fire to her hair. Unbelievable.
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.
Superman #2
Second in series; scarce
Lowest price $5,000
Average price $15,000
Record price $94,000
A scarce book in unrestored condition.
Human Torch #1 (1940)
His first solo issue
Lowest price $4,000
Average price $12,000
Record price $92,000
The Human Torch later gets rebooted as part of the Fantastic Four, but the Golden Age version also battled the Sub-Mariner.
A rare book, with just 80 unrestored examples in the census.
Captain America Comics #3
Stan Lee's first work for Marvel
Classic Red Skull cover
Lowest price $10,000
Average price $20,000
Record price $90,000
Another awesome Captain America comic book, with multiple reasons to drive its value. Stan Lee's first work for Marvel is the #1 demand driver.
Crime SuspenStories #22
Classic decapitation cover
Lowest price $1,700
Average price $7,000
Record price $90,000
EC Comics were masters at creating memorable cover art.
This one is considered amongst their finest, and is snapped up by eager collectors whenever it comes to market.
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We're buying! Click here to send us details of your collection and get it valued FREE.
Adventure Comics #40
1st Sandman
Lowest price $15,000
Average price $50,000
Record price $90,000
Although the Sandman has been rebooted more than once, Neil Gaiman's version is the best-known. This Golden Age villain is the most terrifying version.
With just 22 unrestored examples known, it's a very tough book to acquire.
Action Comics #8
8th Superman appearance
Lowest price $3,000
Average price $8,000
Record price $84,000
Although Superman does not appear on the cover, this very rare early appearance is strongly collectible.
Only 19 unrestored examples exist in the CGC census.
Seven Seas #4 (1947)
Classic undersea cover by Matt Baker
Lowest price $5,000
Average price $20,000
Record price $81,000
Another classic cover by Matt Baker which demonstrates his unique talent for capturing the female form in all its glory.
Action Comics #19 (1939)
Classic World War II themed Superman cover
Lowest price $1,000
Average price $9,000
Record price $79,000
An early WWII-themed cover showing Superman hoisting a missile. Rare in high grade, though there are 79 unrestored copies in the census.
Four Color #16
Rare Mickey Mouse horror comic
Lowest price $1,500
Average price $6,000
Record price $78,000
This scary cover was quite out of character for Disney back in the day. An early Mickey Mouse image which shows how much he changed over the years.
35 unrestored examples are in the census.
Detective Comics #62
1st Joker Cover story
(Joker appears on Detective Comics #40 cover, but not in story)
Lowest price $400
Average price $6,000
Record price $77,000
Joker covers are very strongly collected by Batman fans. This is the earliest cover story featuring Joker and is a classic image of him holding balloons of his own face.
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