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SUPERMAN (1ST SERIES)

Publishers: NATIONAL PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS / DC COMICS

Dates: 1 Summer 1939-131 Aug 1959 (all ND or Non Distributed in the UK at the time); 132 Oct 1959-423 Sep 1986; 424 Jan 1987 (titled Adventures of Superman)-499 Feb 1993; 500 early Jun 1993-649 Apr 2006; 650 May 2006 (title becomes Superman again) -714 Oct 2011

Issues: CLICK HERE to view issues, super-size cover images and values in 9 grades

AS WITH ALL ISSUES/TITLES IN THIS GUIDE, VALUES SUGGESTED ARE FOR 'RAW' COPIES. THIRD-PARTY GRADED COPIES CAN FETCH SIGNIFICANTLY MORE ESPECIALLY IN HIGH GRADES.

The most iconic superhero of them all gained his own title in the Summer of 1939 with the first four stories from Action Comics were collected into one package. The back cover had the first pin-up in comics.

Superman was once the world's best-selling comic book at over a million copies a month at his height in the 1960s. As a back-issue, the character is a steady seller ratherthan anything spectacular. Bronze Age issues from the 1970s and the 100 page giants are ones to watch out for, definitely a market of growing interest and attention.

Up until issue #131, these comics were not officially distributed in the United Kingdom. Copies only came over through US Army and Air Force bases and through family relations - we Brits had to contend with reprints from Australia for the most part!

Issue #132 was the first officially distributed issue of Superman in the UK through newsagents and other magazine outlets. Prior to this, all issues of this title were Non Distributed in the UK and are therefore always cents copies. To my knowledge, Superman #132 and Batman #127 were the first officially distributed DC comics in the UK as they were the most well known characters. Annoyingly I sold my ninepence-stamped Supeman #132 ages ago - anyone out there with a copy, do send me a picture!

The British-priced variants are considerably rarer than their US cents counterparts as it is thought that only 2-3% of the print run was put aside for export to the UK, South Africa and Australasia.

Right throughout the late 1940s and through the 1950s kids could get their Superman fix from the Australian reprints of Superman but these were older 1940s Golden Age stories. This was the first time that we saw the latest Superman adventures. Also love the Superman annuals that started in 1951 right through to the 1960s - a great way of seeing early Superman stories (see British section).

Dec 2021: Comic Connect sold a Superman #1 CGC 7.0 for an eye-watering $2,604,750.

Superman #1 7.0 $2,604,750

Total value for all issues of this title listed:

Condition	PR 1.0	FR 1.5	GD 2.0	VG 4.0	FN 6.0	VF 8.0	VF/NM 9.0	NM- 9.2	NM 9.4
Issues	564	747	747	747	747	747	747	747	747
Total £	36,170	72,390	108,620	217,890	379,790	954,980	1,636,060	2,278,130	2,734,770	Total title value in pounds in UK markets
Total $	45,720	91,530	137,360	275,350	479,940	1,203,580	2,061,660	2,868,550	3,443,590	Total title value in dollars in US markets

Note: some PR issues may have no value. Selected issues in FN, VF or VF/NM may not exist in some titles.

SUPERMAN (1ST SERIES)

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Total value for all issues of this title listed: