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!
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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!
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Red Raven #1 - Marvel Comics One Issue Wonder

In October of 1939 Timely Comics, the publishing company that would one day become Marvel Comics, released their first superhero based title called Marvel Comics #1. They followed up this high selling comic with among other titles Red Raven Comics #1, which was released in August 1940. It was the first and only issue under this title, issue #2 was renamed after one of their most popular characters The Human Torch.  Red Raven Comics was in fact the first Marvel superhero to have his own title and it contains Jack Kirby 1st work at Marvel but Red Raven wouldn't be heard from again until 1968. This issue #1 became extremely rare and somewhat impossible to find. It is valued at around $500,000 in CGC high grade.

Along with Red Raven a number of other characters were also introduced in this issue, the Human Top, a character named Mercury,  originally presented as the Roman god but later revealed to be one of the Eternals.  Also introduced were Magar the Mystic, the all-seeing Eternal Brain, space adventurer Comet Pierce, and hapless policeman Officer O'Krime. None of these characters would appear in the Human Torch title.

Red Raven

A small child is the only survivor of a crash on the floating island of the Bird-Men. Their King raises him and on his 21st birthday sends him back into his world with a gift of artificial wings as the Red Raven. Once in the human world, he fights the demons Zeelmo and Ratoga who are draining the world of its gold. Red Raven would not appear in a comic book again until 1968 when he appeared in X-Men #44, which in itself is a great issue to add to your collection.

The most well known copy of this issue comes from the Edgar Church Collection sold by Mile High Comics.

This is another one of those historic comics that I would just like to see in person and take a photo of. Very few issues are known to exist. If you see one and can afford it pick it up it is truly a piece of comic book history.

Good Luck on Your Hunt!
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Amazing Fantasy #15 - Six Copies Up for Auction

Amazing Fantasy #15 is to the Silver Age of comics what Action Comics #1 is to the Golden Age of comics (see more in our "stories of Action Comics #1"). That means a bunch of things in the world of comics. Both are the most sought after issue of their period; both are the most valuable issues of their period; and both contain the first appearance of the most popular character of the era - Superman in the Golden Age and Spider-Man in the Silver Age.

Amazing Fantasy #15 is the first appearance of Spider-Man. In this historical issue, written by Stan Lee with art by Steve Ditko, High School student Peter Parker is bitten by a radioactive spider, he gains great power and becomes Spider-Man.

This month Comicconnect, the premier on-line comic marketplace and auctioneer, has not one copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 up for auction, not two copies, they have six copies, count them SIX copies for auction. ComicConnect is the same auction house that sold a copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 for $1.1 million, Guinness World Record, you can read more about that in our previous post "The Most Important Silver Age Comic".
Lets look at each one of the Super Six up for auction this month, you can bid on them by going to Comicconnect today.

CGC Graded 0.5

Yes this copy is as low a grade as you could get but that makes it affordable. Just owning any copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 legitimizes your collection that much more. You can tell your friends "I own a copy of Spider-Man first appearance, no big deal."

CGC Graded 2.5
Copy has a small piece of the cover missing otherwise it look good for a comic that is over fifty years old. Another example of a lower grade that could be added to your collection for a reasonable price. Won't do to much damage to your bank account.

CGC Graded 3.0

Still a grade that would make a fine addition to any collection with a little something special added. This copy from CGC signature series includes Stan Lees authentic signature. The creator of Spider-Man signed the cover of the first appearance of Spider-Man. This would be the center of most collections.

CGC Graded 4.0

Starting to get into the more pricey grades, 4.0's usually sell for around $8,000. Everyone wants an Amazing Fantasy #15 in their collection and ComicConnect offers a 3-month time payment plan so "You can do it!" 

CGC Graded 4.5

The best part about having six copies of such an important issue up or auction at one time is many collectors will have a chance to own one. Six collectors are better than only one. This copy have been restored which basically means it will be more affordable.

CGC Graded 7.5

This is the big daddy of this auction, you'll need to take a loan or crash your bank account or this one. This one will sell or about $50,000 and will make any collection a memorable one. You need to make some pre-arrangements with ComicConnect to bid on this one because it truly is an awesome copy.

Good luck on this really unique online hunt. Auctions are a great place to get a great deal on a great comic. Especially if it is one of the big three issues (Action Comics #1, Detective Comics #27 and yes, Amazing Fantasy #15). SO what are you waiting for, start bidding, ComicConnect Amazing Fantasy #15.

If you happen  to win any of these and I truly hope that our readers do please send me a photo of you with the issue and we will do a collectors showcase piece on you, email us at Farleyclan003@yahoo.com

Thank you ComicConnect for sending us such clear photos of Super Six copies of Amazing Fantasy #15.

Good Luck on Your Hunt!

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Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy

If you haven't already heard Guardians of the Galaxy has broke the record for an opening weekend in August, raking in $94 million. We continue to look at each of the characters, this installment of Guardians of the Galaxy Character Guide looks at the main character, Star-Lord.

Star-Lord made his first appearance in the pages of Marvel Preview #4, he even graced the cover. A copy of this will round out your GOTG first appearance collection. Marvel Previews #4 will cost you
Over $1,500 with a CGC 9.0 or higher, ungraded copies will cost you anywhere between $100 and $500 depending on condition.

About Star-Lord

Star-Lord real name is Peter Quill. He was born during an unusual astronomical phenomenon when many of the planets align. Star-Lord was raised by his single mother until she is killed by an alien when he is eleven, His father died of a heart attack when Quill was a baby. Peter becomes a NASA astronaut and while on a space-station an alien entity called the Master of the Sun offers the mantle of Star-Lord (an interplanetary policeman) to the astronauts onboard.  Peter wants to be the chosen one but is rejected at first then takes the astronauts place to become Star-Lord.

First Appearance

Written by Steve Englehart and penciled by Steve Gan, Marvel Previews #4 (Jan. 1976) features the story of Peter Quill becoming Star-Lord, an interplanetary policeman.

In Guardians of the Galaxy

Chirs Pratt portrays Peter Quill in the film. Peter Quill becomes a member of a mercenary gang, the Ravagers . He becomes involved in a galactic war between two alien powers, the Kree  and Nova Corps. He leads the Guardians of the Galaxy in the battle.

Star-Lords first appearance in Marvel Previews #4 will be hot and is already hard to find, so get to hunting it down. If you find a copy send us an email about your adventure, we can be reached at Farleyclan003@yahoo.com

Good Luck on Your Hunt!

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Action Comics #1- The eBay Copy

Nicolas Cage Copy

We continue our "Stories of Action Comics #1" with coverage of an upcoming graded CGC 9.0 that
 will be auctioned on eBay next month. You can view the countdown Here.

The comic is part of a large Pristine Auction consignment with part of the proceeds going to the Christopher Reeves foundation. Christopher Reeve is the actor who played Superman in the late 1970/ early 1980's.

So what does all this mean to us comic hunters? If you sign up to be pre-qualified for the monumental auction and have an extra couple of million bucks sitting around you to can own a mint copy of Superman first appearance in Action Comics #1, the most famous comic ever made.

Experts are predicting that this copy will sell for around $3 million, keep in mind that the Nicolas Cage Copy also a CGC graded 9.0 sold for $2,100,000 in 2012. Since that auction hosted by ComicConnect the Comic market has exploded. Prices being realized for lesser known comics has increased steadily and high graded comics have become long-term investments.

So what are you waiting for sign-up to get Qualified and when you win the Action Comics #1 send us  a picture and we will tell your story, you can Email us. If you have a picture of any key issues send us a picture and we might tell your story.

Read the other "Stories of Action Comics #1" by clicking HERE

Good Luck on your Hunt!
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Detective Comics #27 - The Pinnacle Hill Copy

Over the last couple of weeks we have provided "Stories of Action Comics #1" which focuses on specific copies or reprints of Supermans first appearance. A single copy of Action Comics #1 sold for over $2 million dollars, the highest price for a comic book ever. Right behind the copy of Action Comics #1 is the Pinnacle Hill copy of Detective Comics #27, the first appearance off Batman.  (You can read more about it in our previous post The beauty that is Detective Comics #27)

The Pinnacle Hill copy of Detective Comics #27, which is CGC graded 8.0, sold at auction in February 2010 for $1,075,500. Heritage Auction Galleries sold the copy to anonymous collector.
It is believed that the seller had bought the Batman comic in the late 1960s for $100. That is a pretty good profit. 

Based on the increased auction prices being realized for these higher grade key Golden Age comics we can expect more stories such as this. So keep your eyes pealed for a copy of Detective Comics #27 you really never know where one will turn up,  remember a copy of Actin Comics #1 was found in a wall.

We will be looking at other important copies of Detective Comics #27 in future posts so click follow us on the side panel to,keep up with our reviews.l

Good Luck on Your Hunt!
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