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SUPERMAN (1939-86; 2006-11) #1
CGC F/VF: 7.0
(Stock Image)
SOLD ON:  Wednesday, 12/06/2017 2:56 PM
$47,000
Sold For
39
Bids
This auction has ended.
PUBLISHER: DC
COMMENTS: crm/ow pgs; Mod/Ext(B-4) ct, pcs added, tr sls, cvr clnd, reinf
Joe Shuster cover & art; origin story; pin-up bc; Comic Book Impact rating of 10 (CBI)
Hidden Valley Collection
Read Description ▼

DESCRIPTION
crm/ow pgs; Mod/Ext(B-4) ct, pcs added, tr sls, cvr clnd, reinf
Joe Shuster cover & art; origin story; pin-up bc; Comic Book Impact rating of 10 (CBI)
Hidden Valley Collection
As one of the top Golden Age keys, Superman #1 features an enduring Man of Steel cover image, plus a legendary origin that remains the definitive telling to most fans. (Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's updated tale adds four pages deleted from Action Comics #1.) There is also added historical importance with the book offering the first back-cover pin-up in comics history, as well as stories showcasing three of the most important supporting characters in the Superman pantheon: Ma and Pa Kent, along with Lois Lane.

Of course, Superman continues his enduring presence as a pop-culture icon. The Man from Krypton has now spent decades being regularly featured in cartoons, serials, movies, television shows, and extensive merchandising. Today, fans are anxiously awaiting Superman's next role as part of the changing DC Cinematic Universe.
The appearance of the Man of Steel on American newsstands in 1938 was like a thunderclap. Nothing like it had been seen before, and the entire industry changed, nearly overnight, in response to the overwhelming success of the colorful hero. Unsurprisingly, DC (then National Periodicals) milked their new property for all it was worth, hastily compiling his earliest exploits into a solo title, wrapping the contents in a blinding
yellow-and-red cover that combined the class and grace of a formal invitation with the charmingly sturdy style of Superman co-creator Joe Shuster.
The comic flew off shelves, confirming that the new hero was no fad or flash in the pan.



While Action #1, being the Kryptonian's debut, is the more historically significant book, this comic remains a deeply treasured milestone for superhero collectors, and its bright cover may be arguably just as iconic as the Action #1 image. Certainly one of the best portraits of the hero Shuster ever contributed, it's a perfect example of how the artist's steady line and deeply felt imagery made the character seem alive and important to readers still reeling from war, depression, and social upheaval. Note the confidence in the face of the Man of Steel, and the impressive gracefulness of his pose. A far cry from the tentative, minimalist chalkiness of Shuster's initial strips.



Highlight #3 of the Hidden Valley Collection is this professionally restored copy, which is a blazing beauty, with particularly attractive blues and reds on Superman's costume and logo. As Action #1 soars beyond the reach of many potential buyers, collectors have gravitated toward this inaugural issue to embellish their collections, and values have risen dramatically as a result. No longer an "also-ran", undervalued for some time, Superman #1 has become a "must-have" for any serious Golden Age portfolio. We are delighted to offer this copy as part of the Hidden Valley Collection's raft of Super-treasures.



Overstreet Guide 2017 F/VF (7.0) value = $460,000.



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Artist Information

Joseph Shuster was a Canadian-American comic book artist best known for co-creating the DC Comics character Superman, with writer Jerry Siegel, in Action Comics #1.


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