Action Comics #1 - Sales figures and more

As you know here at Comic Book Hunters and Gatherers we are big fans of the history an overall importance on Action Comics #1, just read all our past blogs in Stories of Action Comics #1.

We haven't posted much recently as our team has been doing some reach into the early history of Action Comics #1. Much has been written in regards to Siegel and Shuster trying to sell their idea and the development of Superman. Not much has been written about the actual original sale of Action Comics #1. Yes we all know it started the superhero comic book genre. We also know it had an initial print run of 202,000 copies. The rest of this blog will contain facts you may not know.

The publishers, Jack Liebowitz and Harry Donenfeld, of Action Comics #1 thought they might have something special on their hands so they printed 20,000 promotional poster to be hung on newsstands, in pharmacies and anywhere else the comic might be sold.

House Ad for Action Comics #1

Liebowitz and Donenfeld also pre-arranged for Action Comics #1 to stay on shelfs for six weeks instead of the standard four weeks.
After the issue went on sale the publishers wanted to get a feel for how the issue was selling so rhey provided retailers with a postcard  where they could record the sales fifteen days and then again at the end of the month. Although this wasn't the mat accurate way it did give a snap shot of the sales figures and the figures were GOOD!

Siegel and Shuster, Liebowitz and Donenfeld were all right they did have a hit on their hands. Of the 220,000 copies that were printed 130,000 copies had sold, that's 64% of the print run. Anything over 50% was considered both a success and made a profit.

Following the success of Action Comics #1 Liebowitz and Donenfeld wanted to verify what they already knew, that being that people were buying Action Comics to read about Superman. So in issue  #4 they put in a short survey asking readers to put their five favorite stories in order. 75% put Superman first (404 of 542) with an additional 11% put him second (59).  

The rest as they have said for many years is history. 

In upcoming blogs we will look at the sales figures of other early issues of Action Comics, you know Superman wasn't on every cover back then.

Hope you enjoyed.

Another Action Comics #1 Sells at Auction

As part of their November auction, Heritage Auction House sold another copy of Action Comics #1, the historic first appearance of Superman. This copy was graded CGC GD/VG 3.0, with Cream to off-white pages. 
As we have discussed as part of our "Stories of Action Comics #1", with the increased prices realized through recent auctions more copies of Action Comics #1 are bound to pop up.
Here is a good example, this 3.0 copy sold for $310,700. Lower grades are what most collectors are interested in as they are more affordable then the high grades. Well at least they are now.

If you happen to see any copies drop us an email, we would love hearing from you. Farleyclan003@yahoo.com

Good Luck on Your Hunt!

Action Comics #1 - Batman & Robin #39 pays homage

A lot of space here at Comic Book Hunter & Gatherers has been spent on the first superhero comic book ever made, Action Comics #1. You can read all about our past posts in "Stories of Action Comics #1"

Coming this February, Batman & Robin  #39 will pay homage to this historic cover. The last comic to pay homage was Multiversity #1.

In future posts we will be looking at other comic covers that have honored Action Comics #1.

Until then keep an eye out for Batman and Robin #39.

Good Luck on Your Hunt!
#jointhehunt

Action Comics #1 on display at NYCC

If you have read this blog before you know that we are fascinated by the mythology of Action Comics #1. You can read all our past post relating to this famous comic at Stories of Action Comics #1.

This past weekend at New York Comic Con the copy of Action Comics #1 was on display in the main area.the comic sold on EBay for over $3 million. You can read about it at eBay copy.
This comic was purchased by Metropolis Comics owners  Vincent Zurzolo and Stephen Fishler. It is the world’s most expensive comic book. They willit with a host of other rare comics at he Comic Connect.

During the convention I actually ran into the owner who sold the copy of Action Comics #1 Pristine Comics’ Darren Adam. He explained how happy he was to sell the comic and how he and his wife celebrated with a nice bottle of wine. What was he doing at Comic Con you might ask, well buying more comics of course. A true hunter and a gentleman.
It was a nice discussion with a true fan and collecting legend,

So many things make NYCC great.

Good luck on your hunt!

Action Comics #1 - USPS Reprint

In previous posts we have looked at other reprints of Action Comics #1 you can view these in our "Stories of Action Comics #1". This post looks at the 1998 United States Postal Service reprint of  Action Comics #1.

This reprint was issued by the US Postal Service on September 10th 1998, to coincide with the release day of the Golden Age Superman commemarative Stamp. The stamp is affixed to a special cover overlay, and cancelled in Cleveland Ohio, home of the creators of Superman, Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster.

This reprint consisted of all 52 pages from the original release of Action Comics #1. The back cover contains  an advertisement for DC comic stamps.

It was originally sold for $7.95 but today prices are range from $50 to a couple of hundred for a CGC high grade copy.

If you can find one of these reprints for a reasonable price by all means buy it. This reprint continues to increase in price.

CGC Graded 9.8

Good Luck on Your Hunt!
#jointhehunt

Action Comics #1 eBay Auction Ends

It is the highest amount of money ever realized for a single comic book. eBays auction of Action Comcs #1 sold for $3,207,852.

There bidding was hot and heavy at towards the end of the auction, going up hundreds of thousands of dollars quickly, going up $500,000 plus in the last couple of seconds. Couldn't you just picture a couple of millionaires sitting around the computer bidding up this rare comic book.
Here is a look at the last minute of bidding, viewers can not see full bidders id's:

Winner s**p	US $3,207,852.00	Aug-24-14 17:59:30 PDT
	9***1	US $3,207,752.00	Aug-24-14 17:59:58 PDT
	9***1	US $3,207,752.00	Aug-24-14 17:59:58 PDT
	b***k	US $2,700,000.00	Aug-24-14 17:58:31 PDT
	m***m	US $2,600,000.00	Aug-24-14 17:58:39 PDT

I really just hope that s**p is a real comic book fan.

If you have read this blog before you know we are big fans of Action Comics #1 and you can read all about other popular copies or reprints in our special page "Stories of Action Comics #1"

You can view the auction on eBay.

Multiversity #1 - Action Comics #1 Variant Cover

Later today when all the comic shops open up one of the most talked about titles will be Grant Morrison's new DC Multiversity #1.  The plan for Multiversity was revealed at San Diego Comic Con ( it was originally revealed in 2012 but has taken this long to hit newsstands).

One of the variant covers is a homage to Action Comics #1, you can read more about Action Comics #1 in our "Stories of Action Comics #1". On the Multiversity variant cover Superman is replaced by Captain Carrot, and there are animals instead of people fleeing the scene.

About The Multiversity

Wtitten by Grant Morrison and bern in deveplment for over two years, this mega series ( bigger then a mini-series) will look at  characters from 52 alternative Earths of the known DC Multiverse! It will cross-over into other titles alongnthe way. Be prepared to get to know the Vampire League of Earth-43, the Justice Riders of Earth-18, Superdemon, Doc Fate, the super-sons of Superman and Batman, the rampaging Retaliators of Earth-8, the Atomic Knights of Justice, Dino-Cop, Sister Miracle, Lady Quark, the legion of Sivanas, the Nazi New Reichsmen of Earth-10 and the latest, greatest Super Hero of Earth-Prime: YOU!

Issue  #1 is pencilled by superstar artist Ivan Reis. the story begins with when President Superman of Earth-23 uncovers a threat to all Reality so apocalyptic ( is this going to led into DC's Darseid War) it will take a superteam made up of heroes from across of the Multiverse to defeat it. On of this heroes is the great Captain Carrot, that is why he gets top billing on the variant cover.

Get ready for a thrill ride only DC comics can bring, so get of your digital device right now and run out and pick this issue up, then send us a photo of you with it. Email us at Farleyclan003@yahoo.com


Good Luck on Your Multiversity Hunt!
#jointhehunt

Action Comics #1 - eBay Auction Update

You will surely be seeing more information about this auction in the news, there are only 5 days left and bidding has already gone over $2,000,000. The Nicoas Cage copy which was also a CGC graded 9.0, is the only comic to sold for $2,100,000. Will this one break the $3 million barrier. We shall see.

Keep checking back here.

You can see the auction by clicking on Action Comics #1 - eBay Copy.

Read all about other copies of Action Comics #1 in our special "Stories of Action Comics #1" page.

Superman #1 - Is it Fourth Most Important Comic?

We recently wrote about Batman #1 and how many believe that it is the fourth most valuable comic. The first three are easy,  Action Comics #1, Detective Comics #27 , and Amazing Fantasy #15. Since the Batmen #1 post we have heard from some of our readers about their vote for which comic should be the fourth. ( you can always reach us via email Farleyclan003@yahoo.com.)

Superman #1 came up the most so this addition of "Who's in Fourth?" will be about this iconic Golden Age issue. 

Superman was, as we all know, the first superhero introduced in Action Comics #1. His stories in Action Comics were so popular, regularly selling out a million copies a month, that DC comics, then National Publication, thought it would be a good idea for Superman to have his own title. It is important to note that until Superman #1 hit newsstands no comic title contained the stories of only one character. Titles were basically anthologies of different characters, Superman #1 changed all that.  

Superman #1 appeared on the shelves in the summer of 1939. Superman #1 was written by Robert JerrySiegel   with art by Joe Shuster, the team that created Super for Action Comics.  Superman now became the first superhero to appear in two separate comics each month and both Action Comics and Superman were selling of a million copies a month by 1940. 

It's Value
Superman #1 is valued at $550,000 in mint condition. A CGC 7.0 recently sold for $37,000. This ground breaking issue is highly sought after by collectors and with the comic market increasing steadily its value should continue to increase.

Inside Superman #1

Superman origin as told in Action Comics #1 is retold in Superman #1 with some additional panels not used in Action Comics. There are also stories reprinted from Action Comics #2, one in which Superman saves Lois from gangsters and another in which the two reporters take a trip to South America. There is also a story reprinted from Action Comics #3, Clark Kent disguises himself as a miner to check unsafe working conditions. Action Comics #4 also contributes a story, this one has Superman saving a College Football game.

Along with the five reprinted stories there are also four original stories in Superman #1. Clark Kent looks to get a job at the Daily Star and is turned down until he phones in a story about Superman stopping a lynching. Next, Superman convinces Bea Carroll, Superman first villain, to confess to the murder of Jack Kennedy. The issue also explains Superman's amazing Strength which is attributed to Earth's lighter gravity.

Page from Superman #1

If you have the means this is one of the comics that should be in your collection, if your like me just seeing one would be worth it. But is it worth being the fourth most important comic in history? You tell us, who should be number four and why? Comment below or email us Farleyclan003@yahoo.com

Good Luck in Your Hunt!
#jointhehunt

Action Comics #1 - eBay Copy Update

Last month we broke the news that eBay would be auctioning off a copy of Action Comics #1 with the sale going to the Christopher Reeve Foundation, you can read about it by clicking on Action Comics #1 - eBay Copy.

Since then the auction has started and it has already gone over $1.5 million with over a week left. Experts believe this could be the first comic to go over $3 million.

You can view the auction at Actions Comics #1 eBay auction, check it out. If you have the means bid on it.


Good Luck on Your Hunt!
#jointhehunt

Action Comics #1 - On Heroclix Card

If you have been reading Comic Book Hunters & Gatherers for any length of time then you know we have done a lot and I mean a lot of research on the first superhero comic Action Comics #1, you can read about key issues and reprints in our ever growing "Stories of Action Comics #1". Recently one of our loyal readers sent us a picture of the Heroclix LARGE OBJECT card. Card is #F005.  As you can see from the image above it contains a picture of the cover of Action Comics #1. Pretty cool, thanks Tom.

HeroClix is a collectible minatures game that uses the Clix system that centers around the world of superheroes derived from comic books. I have never played the game but have a large collection of the figures as they are great display pieces. If you would like to learn how to play check out this recent youtube instructional video 

So in your travels hunt this card down to add to your Action Comics collection. If you also have something you would like to share with us please email us at Farleyclan003@yahoo.com, we look forward to it. 

Good Luck on Your Hunt!

#jointhehunt

Action Comics #1- 50 Year Anniversary Reprint

We continue our indept look at Action Comics #1 you can view previous post in "Stories of Action Comic #1".

 In 1988 the 50th Annivesary of the first appearance of Superman was celebrated with a reprint of Action Comics #1. Like previous reprints this one also only contains the 16 page First appearance of Superman story.

This reprint was sold both on newsstands and comic shops for 50 cents, which is the price listed in a white box in place of the original 10 cent price. The cover also either includes a small box in the left corner with a 50th Anniversay message  (direct market) or a UPC bar code (newsstand). It is important to note that because these small left side boxes appear the sweating man from the original cover has been removed.

The inside cover has a Daily Planet newspaper article describing how Action Comics is going weekly.

The back cover shows Superman on a bright yellow background.

This issue routinely sells for between $25 and $75 ungraded depending on condition. High CGC graded copies can sell for a couple of hundred. The direct market copy is more commonly found.

Hopefully you can find one of these reprints to help continue to build your Action Comics #1 collection. Yes there are a bunch of reprints but what do you expect it is the most important comic ever produced, Full reprint list.

We are starting a new ongoing spotlight post here at CBH&G entitled "Hunting for Action Comics #1" but we need your help, so send us your story of Action Comics #1 via email, Farleyclan003@yahoo.com

Good Luck on Your Hunt!
#jointhehunt