Superman (1939)
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Superman #1
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
Premiere issue of headlining Superman title
Origin of Superman
1st appearance of Ma and Pa Kent - Superman was first said to be found by a passing motorist in Action Comics #1
First pin-up poster in comics, back cover
2nd and 3rd printings exist
💰 8.0 Edgar Church Pedigree sold for $5.3 million dollars in Jan 2022
💰 9.0 sold for $9.12 million dollars in November 2025
💰8.5 Edgar Church Pedigree sold for $7 million dollars in Feb 2026
Premiere issue of headlining Superman title
Origin of Superman
1st appearance of Ma and Pa Kent - Superman was first said to be found by a passing motorist in Action Comics #1
First pin-up poster in comics, back cover
2nd and 3rd printings exist
💰 8.0 Edgar Church Pedigree sold for $5.3 million dollars in Jan 2022
💰 9.0 sold for $9.12 million dollars in November 2025
💰8.5 Edgar Church Pedigree sold for $7 million dollars in Feb 2026
There were three printings of Superman #1 in 1939:
First printing - 500,000 copies
Second printing - 250,000 copies
Third printing - 150,000 copies
All printings have an advertisement on page 32 for Action Comics #14
The advertisement in copies of the first printing states an on-sale date of Action Comics #14 as June 2nd
The second and third printings of Superman #1 are indistinguishable from one another but differ from the first printing with ad copy that states "Now on Sale"
CGC does not differentiate the printings on the label but as of 2024 distinguishes between the two in the grader's notes
There were three printings of Superman #1 in 1939:
First printing - 500,000 copies
Second printing - 250,000 copies
Third printing - 150,000 copies
All printings have an advertisement on page 32 for Action Comics #14
The advertisement in copies of the first printing states an on-sale date of Action Comics #14 as June 2nd
The second and third printings of Superman #1 are indistinguishable from one another but differ from the first printing with ad copy that states "Now on Sale"
CGC does not differentiate the printings on the label but as of 2024 distinguishes between the two in the grader's notes
Reprint of Superman #1, complete with full story and advertisements
Distributed with the Superman Masterpiece Edition Boxed Set by Chronicle Books which was packaged with an 8-inch statue and a hardcover book that chronicled the Golden Age of Superman
Values listed represent the comic book as a standalone item
Reprint of Superman #1, complete with full story and advertisements
Distributed with the Superman Masterpiece Edition Boxed Set by Chronicle Books which was packaged with an 8-inch statue and a hardcover book that chronicled the Golden Age of Superman
Values listed represent the comic book as a standalone item
Golden Age-sized format
Limited to 1,000 copies
Limited to 1,000 copies
Superman #2
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
Cover art by Joe Shuster
Superman #3
DC
•
1939
•
Vol. 1
Cover art by Joe Shuster
Superman #4
DC
•
1940
•
Vol. 1
2nd appearance of Lex Luthor
Superman #5
DC
•
1940
•
Vol. 1
Lex Luthor appears with grey hair
Debut of Superman's photographic memory
First mention of Superman's suit being indestructible
Lex Luthor appears with grey hair
Debut of Superman's photographic memory
First mention of Superman's suit being indestructible
Superman #6
DC
•
1940
•
Vol. 1
First use of a splash page in a Superman comic
Superman #7
DC
•
1940
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of Perry White, editor-in-chief at the Daily Planet who was originally created for The Adventures of Superman radio program
1st appearance of Perry White, editor-in-chief at the Daily Planet who was originally created for The Adventures of Superman radio program
Superman #8
DC
•
1941
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #9
DC
•
1941
•
Vol. 1
Cover art by Fred Ray
Superman #10
DC
•
1941
•
Vol. 1
Lex Luthor appears as a bald-headed man for the first time in standard comic books
Lex Luthor appears as a bald-headed man for the first time in standard comic books
Superman #11
DC
•
1941
•
Vol. 1
Cover art by Fred Ray
Superman #12
DC
•
1941
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #13
DC
•
1941
•
Vol. 1
Previously referred to only as Office Boy in Action Comics #6, the character is first called 'Jimmy' in this issue and will be given the full name Jimmy Olsen in Superman #15
Previously referred to only as Office Boy in Action Comics #6, the character is first called 'Jimmy' in this issue and will be given the full name Jimmy Olsen in Superman #15
Superman #14
DC
•
1942
•
Vol. 1
Iconic cover art by Fred Ray
Superman #15
DC
•
1942
•
Vol. 1
Previously referred to only as Office Boy in Action Comics #6 and 'Jimmy' in Superman #13 - the character's full name, Jimmy Olsen is first used in this issue
Previously referred to only as Office Boy in Action Comics #6 and 'Jimmy' in Superman #13 - the character's full name, Jimmy Olsen is first used in this issue
Superman #16
DC
•
1942
•
Vol. 1
1st cover appearance of Lois Lane on the Superman title and third cover appearance overall
1st cover appearance of Lois Lane on the Superman title and third cover appearance overall
Superman #17
DC
•
1942
•
Vol. 1
Cover art featuring Hitler and Hirohito
Prototype of the Fortress of Solitude, referred to as the secret citadel and mountain retreat
Cover art featuring Hitler and Hirohito
Prototype of the Fortress of Solitude, referred to as the secret citadel and mountain retreat
Superman #18
DC
•
1942
•
Vol. 1
Advertisement for Wonder Woman #1, published prior to the issue's release
Advertisement for Wonder Woman #1, published prior to the issue's release
Superman #19
DC
•
1942
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #20
DC
•
1943
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #21
DC
•
1942
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #22
DC
•
1943
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #23
DC
•
1943
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #25
DC
•
1943
•
Vol. 1
Clark Kent joins the Army
Superman #37
DC
•
1945
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #41
DC
•
1946
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #43
DC
•
1946
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #46
DC
•
1947
•
Vol. 1
First mention of Superboy in the Superman series, appears in a flashback
First mention of Superboy in the Superman series, appears in a flashback
Superman #47
DC
•
1947
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #48
DC
•
1947
•
Vol. 1
Debut of Superman ability to travel through time
Superman #133
DC
•
1959
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #135
DC
•
1959
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of Ronal, an Atlantean
Superman #136
DC
•
1960
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #137
DC
•
1960
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #138
DC
•
1960
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #139
DC
•
1960
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #141
DC
•
1960
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance and death of Lyla Lerrol, a ryptonian love of Superman
Origin of Superman retold
Superman returns to Krypton
1st appearance and death of Lyla Lerrol, a ryptonian love of Superman
Origin of Superman retold
Superman returns to Krypton
Superman #142
DC
•
1960
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #143
DC
•
1961
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #144
DC
•
1961
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #145
DC
•
1961
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #148
DC
•
1961
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Superman #149
DC
•
1961
•
Vol. 1
"Death of Superman" story written by Jerry Siegel -non-continuity story
1st appearance of The Flash aka Barry Allen in the Superman title
"Death of Superman" story written by Jerry Siegel -non-continuity story
1st appearance of The Flash aka Barry Allen in the Superman title
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