First appearance

Superman's first appearance: Action Comics #1

Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1, cover dated June 1938, published by DC (then Detective Comics, Inc.) and created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Why it matters

The comic that created the superhero genre and kicked off the Golden Age of comics. Lois Lane also first appears. It's widely considered the most valuable comic book in the world.

Related key issues

• Superman #1 (Summer 1939), his first solo title, which expands his origin.

Before you buy or sell, check

• Like Detective Comics #27, Action Comics #1 was reprinted as an oversized "Famous First Edition" in the 1970s, and coverless copies have fooled owners for decades.
• Modern reprints and facsimiles are marked in the indicia and carry modern prices.

Then look up what copies in similar condition actually sold for. Prices for keys like this move with grade and with news about the character, so a recent sale tells you far more than a printed guide. Our guides on the grading scale and spotting reprints help you compare like with like.

More first appearances

• Batman: Detective Comics #27 (May 1939)
• Wonder Woman: All Star Comics #8 (December 1941 to January 1942)
• Harley Quinn: The Batman Adventures #12 (September 1993)
• The Joker: Batman #1 (Spring 1940)

Questions