Action Comics (1938)
Clicking on the eBay link and making a purchase may result in this site earning a commission from the eBay Partner Network.
Action Comics #1
DC
•
1938
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of Superman
1st appearance of Lois Lane
1st appearance of Zatara, Zatanna's father
1st appearance of Tex Thompson, later becomes Mr. America
🌎 Currently holds the world record for the highest comic sale in history after a 9.0 copy from the collection of Nicolas Cage sold for $15 million dollars in December 2025
💰 In June 2024, an 8.5 Kansas City Pedigree sold for $6,000,000
1st appearance of Superman
1st appearance of Lois Lane
1st appearance of Zatara, Zatanna's father
1st appearance of Tex Thompson, later becomes Mr. America
🌎 Currently holds the world record for the highest comic sale in history after a 9.0 copy from the collection of Nicolas Cage sold for $15 million dollars in December 2025
💰 In June 2024, an 8.5 Kansas City Pedigree sold for $6,000,000
16-page promotional comic given away with the purchase of Safeguard deodorant (1976)
16-page promotional comic given away with the purchase of Safeguard deodorant (1976)
16-page promotional reprint with sleeping bag advertisement on back cover
$0.10 cover price
16-page promotional reprint with sleeping bag advertisement on back cover
$0.10 cover price
16-page reprint of Action Comics #1
Obtained by mail after submitting two labels of peanut butter branded with Superman as a spokesman
Celebration of Superman's 45th anniversary
16-page reprint of Action Comics #1
Obtained by mail after submitting two labels of peanut butter branded with Superman as a spokesman
Celebration of Superman's 45th anniversary
Reprint of Action Comics #1 with a Nestle advertisement on the back cover and a $0.10 cover price
Reprint of Action Comics #1 with a Nestle advertisement on the back cover and a $0.10 cover price
Newsstand edition with $0.50 cover price
16-page reprint of Superman's first appearance from Action Comics #1
Newsstand edition with $0.50 cover price
16-page reprint of Superman's first appearance from Action Comics #1
Reprint of Superman's first appearance in celebration of the 50 year anniversary of Action Comics #1
Reprint of Superman's first appearance in celebration of the 50 year anniversary of Action Comics #1
Reprint of Action Comics #1 with black background $0.50 cover price
Reprint of the first appearance of Superman from Action Comics #1
$1.00/$1.35 cover price and interior ad for World Without Superman: Funeral for a Friend on final page
Reprint of the first appearance of Superman from Action Comics #1
$1.00/$1.35 cover price and interior ad for World Without Superman: Funeral for a Friend on final page
Reprint of the first appearance of Superman from Action Comics #1
$0.10 cover price and interior ad for World Without Superman: Funeral for a Friend on final page
Reprint of the first appearance of Superman from Action Comics #1
$0.10 cover price and interior ad for World Without Superman: Funeral for a Friend on final page
Reprint of Action Comics #1 distributed in 1998 by the US Post Office commemorating 50 years of Superman
Scarce issue, sealed with a book of Superman stamps
Reprint of Action Comics #1 distributed in 1998 by the US Post Office commemorating 50 years of Superman
Scarce issue, sealed with a book of Superman stamps
Reprint of Action Comics #1 in it's 68-page entirety
Distributed by Loot Crate
Reprint of Action Comics #1 in it's 68-page entirety
Distributed by Loot Crate
Superman Day 2025
Golden Age-sized facsimile reprint of Action Comics #1
Superman Day 2025
Golden Age-sized facsimile reprint of Action Comics #1
Facsimile foil reprint
2025 Superman Day
Variant cover art by Dan Mora
Golden Age-sized facsimile reprint of Action Comics #1
Variant cover art by Dan Mora
Golden Age-sized facsimile reprint of Action Comics #1
Reprint of Action Comics #1
Mini-comic distributed with DC Direct '1st Appearances' Superman action figure
22-pages, measures 1.3 in. x 1.9 in.
Reprint of Action Comics #1
Mini-comic distributed with DC Direct '1st Appearances' Superman action figure
22-pages, measures 1.3 in. x 1.9 in.
Action Comics #2
DC
•
1938
•
Vol. 1
2nd appearance of Superman
2nd appearance of Lois Lane and Zatara
2nd appearance of Superman
2nd appearance of Lois Lane and Zatara
Action Comics #3
DC
•
1938
•
Vol. 1
3rd appearance of Superman
Action Comics #4
DC
•
1938
•
Vol. 1
4th appearance of Superman
Action Comics #5
DC
•
1938
•
Vol. 1
5th appearance of Superman
First kiss between Superman and Lois Lane, occurred between panels
5th appearance of Superman
First kiss between Superman and Lois Lane, occurred between panels
Action Comics #6
DC
•
1938
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of Jimmy Olsen, unnamed, referred to only as Office Boy
First reference to Superman as "The Man of Steel" seen in a newspaper headline
[July 2025 - it is rumored Skyler Gisondo will reprise the role of Jimmy Olsen as the host a spin-off crime anthology TV series focused on different DC villains]
1st appearance of Jimmy Olsen, unnamed, referred to only as Office Boy
First reference to Superman as "The Man of Steel" seen in a newspaper headline
[July 2025 - it is rumored Skyler Gisondo will reprise the role of Jimmy Olsen as the host a spin-off crime anthology TV series focused on different DC villains]
Action Comics #7
DC
•
1938
•
Vol. 1
2nd cover appearance of Superman
First time "Superman" is in print on a comic book cover
2nd cover appearance of Superman
First time "Superman" is in print on a comic book cover
Action Comics #8
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
Superman demonstrates extraordinary hearing abilities but not referred to as 'super' until Action Comics #11
Cover art inspired by the 1919 painting 'Last of the Mohicans' by N.C. Wyeth
Superman demonstrates extraordinary hearing abilities but not referred to as 'super' until Action Comics #11
Cover art inspired by the 1919 painting 'Last of the Mohicans' by N.C. Wyeth
Action Comics #9
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
Early Superman story
Action Comics #10
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
3rd cover appearance of Superman
Action Comics #11
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
Debut of Superman's X-Ray Vision
Action Comics #12
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
Advertisement for Detective Comics #27, Batman's first appearance
1st cover appearance of Zatara
Advertisement for Detective Comics #27, Batman's first appearance
1st cover appearance of Zatara
Action Comics #13
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of Ultra-Humanite, the first Superman supervillain
Advertisement for Superman #1
1st appearance of Ultra-Humanite, the first Superman supervillain
Advertisement for Superman #1
Action Comics #14
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
Superman's emblem is first featured on his cape
1st appearance of Clip Carson
2nd appearance of Zatara, the father of Zatanna
Superman's emblem is first featured on his cape
1st appearance of Clip Carson
2nd appearance of Zatara, the father of Zatanna
Action Comics #15
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
Advertisement for the 1939 World's Fair
Action Comics #16
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
First mention of the city, Metropolis - previous Superman stories were based in Cleveland, Ohio
First mention of the city, Metropolis - previous Superman stories were based in Cleveland, Ohio
Action Comics #17
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
6th cover appearance of Superman on the Action Comics title
Action Comics #18
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
Final issue to not include anything Superman related on the cover until Action Comics #602 (1988)
Final issue to not include anything Superman related on the cover until Action Comics #602 (1988)
Action Comics #19
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
Iconic cover
Action Comics #20
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Action Comics #21
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Action Comics #22
DC
•
1940
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Action Comics #23
DC
•
1940
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of Lex Luthor, depicted with red hair
1st appearance of Black Pirate, an adventurer who later appeared as a ghost in present day stories
First mention of The Daily Planet
1st appearance of Lex Luthor, depicted with red hair
1st appearance of Black Pirate, an adventurer who later appeared as a ghost in present day stories
First mention of The Daily Planet
Action Comics #24
DC
•
1940
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Action Comics #25
DC
•
1940
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Action Comics #26
DC
•
1940
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Adjust Your Filters To See More Comics!
By default Key Collector searches for Standard Cover Key Issues.
Adjust the "Variants" and/or "Non-Key Issues" search filters above for additional content:
- Variant Covers ([[totalVariants]])
- Non-Key Issues ([[totalNonKeys]])
At Key Collector, our primary focus is on unearthing those rare Standard Cover Key Issues for you. However, the world of comic collectibles is vast and varied. We want to make sure you have the tools to explore it all!