Twenty (20) Legitimate Comic Book Rarities Worth a Fortune
Every time I bring up comic book rarity on my YouTube channel, someone inevitably responds, “Just because something is rare doesn’t mean it’s valuable,” which, of course, is true. Many rare comic books see little to no demand and, therefore, fetch only modest sums. On the other hand, some rare books attract the attention of a relatively large group of passionate collectors. When supply is low and passion is high, sparks fly. For the purposes of this article, a comic is considered rare and valuable if it has fewer than 50 copies on the CGC census and sells for $30,000 or more in 6.0 condition. (A methodology note is provided at the conclusion of this article.)
We have a tie at #20. Just making the cut are two books from the most famous Golden Age series of all: Action Comics. The second issue features Superman’s second appearance. Though Superman is not on the cover, the art by Leo O’Mealia is breathtaking.
Action Comics #10 is Superman’s third cover appearance, proving that a plane’s propeller is no match for his fist.
My favorite comic book of all time – Suspense Comics #3 – slides in with 47 copies. The anti-German propaganda cover from 1944 showcases a human sacrifice scene orchestrated by the Nazi Occult. A spear-wielding hero lurks in the distant background. Classic cover enthusiasts argue whether Suspense #3 is the best cover of all time or if it’s Detective Comics #31. What’s not in question is which book is rarer (Detective Comics #31 has 109 copies on the CGC census).
Adventure Comics #40 marks the debut of the Sandman in the series. Cover artist Creig Flessel asked the question, "What type of outfit best complements a gas mask?" A fedora, a cape, a bespoke suit, and spats, obviously!
Ah, yes, Punch Comics #12 features one of the coolest covers on the planet. This Gus Ricca cover grabs your attention with the skull image. But, as you look closer, a complicated story of lust, crime, and greed emerges from the orifices.
The last Action Comics book to make the list. This time, it’s issue #3, and Superman’s third appearance. Leo O’Mealia provides the cover art for this rare book.
Pep Comics #22 is arguably the rarest first appearance of an A-list comic book character. However, you’ll need to open the cover to see Archie Andrews. While some may prefer to see the teenager on the cover, it’s hard to deny the coolness of the Shield protecting the world from the Axis boot.
Detective Comics #1 has been revered for decades. It’s the series from which DC took its name. Also notable is that, twenty-six issues later, a Dark Knight emerged. Even considering its overall rarity, Tec #1 is infamous for being difficult to find in high grade. At the time of this writing, three CGC copies have received a 6.5 grade, with only a single copy graded higher at an 8.0!
Fantastic Comics #3 also boasts a classic cover. This is Lou Fine’s masterpiece where he pits Samson against an army of monster robots. It’s easy to get lost in the details of the robots’ wires and mechanisms.
Many brave collectors attempting a pre-Batman Detective Comics run have been thwarted by this book, Detective Comics #2. Creig Flessel renders an aggravated, red-eyed villain at the moment of capture.
Dynamic #8 features a classic cover that has recently heated up in price, just enough to make this list. Gus Ricca – the same artist who drew Punch Comics #12 (#17 on this list) – creates another masterpiece. This time, we encounter a villain whose flesh resembles the melting wax oozing from the candle he grasps. The exposed brain, single dagger-like tooth, and skull pupils add to the charm.
Wonder Comics #1 from 1939 features the first and only appearance of Wonder Man. Why was this superhero so short-lived, you ask? Wonder Man faced an enemy so powerful that he could no longer continue: the lawyers at DC. They believed Wonder Man was a little too similar to the Man of Steel. Publisher Fox Features listened, forcing Wonder Man to hang up his tights for good.
As we dip under #10, the census count numbers drop dramatically. Amazing-Man Comics #22 from Centaur Publications showcases Amazing Man himself trying to save the city from green, furry, Nazi monsters. Note that this WWII propaganda book hit the newsstand several months before the United States declared war on the Germans, Japanese, and Italians. For collectors interested in rare comic books, Centaurs are notorious for being difficult to find. Few collectors have been brave enough to attempt a full Centaur run, and to my knowledge, only three have succeeded.
Scoop Comics #2 is the rarest classic cover on this list. The hero, MasterKey, has been lost to the ages, but the sublime underwater cover lives on. I finally own a copy of this book, which took me the better part of a decade to acquire. The artist is uncredited on the CGC label, but Channel friend – RedRock Shane– makes a strong argument for Charles Sultan.
While Famous Funnies #1, Series 1 may not contain characters that are culturally relevant today or feature a wild cover, it does carry a mark of distinction: It’s the first comic book to ever appear on the newsstand!
With only a baker’s dozen on the CGC census, Captain America Comics NN (No Number) is an oddity. It contains 128 interior pages, which are black-and-white reprints of Marvel Mystery #33 and Captain America Comics #18. When I say it is impossible to find this book in high grade, it’s not hyperbole. Literally, the highest grade on the census is a middling 5.0!
Birds of a feather flock together at #5 we have Timely’s other bizarre 128-page Frankenstein in Marvel Comics NN. It too consists of reprints from two other books: Captain America Comics #22 and Marvel Mystery #41. However, its highest-graded copy tops out at a 6.5.
Adventure Comics #26 and the #2 book on the list are among the ultimate rarities for DC collectors. The dynamic cover by Creig Flessel adds to its desirability. For those unfamiliar, this series began as New Comics from issues #1 through #11, changed to New Adventure Comics in issue #12, and changed once again to Adventure Comics starting with issue #32.
Epic books are tied for second place. First up is Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1, which boasts the first appearance of Sub-Mariner. Far and away, this is the rarest first appearance of a major superhero. The existence of this 1939 book was unknown to the comic book community until the 1970s. Prior to that, it was believed that Subby’s debut was alongside the Human Torch in Marvel Comics #1. Lo and behold, Bill Everett’s creation actually appeared first in this giveaway for moviegoers! How much would this book cost in a 6.0? Who knows. The last recorded sale, for any grade, was in 2017 for $27,500. It was a 3.5.
The most famous hippopotamus comic book of all time, Double Action Comics #2 shows a ferocious jungle scene. When DC collectors talk about rarity, this and Adventure #26 lead the way. Recently, Heritage sold a 7.0 copy for over $130,000.
While the two previous books exude coolness, #1 has oddball charm. It features the first and only appearance of the Green Giant by a little-known publisher, Pelican Publications. A rare sighting of this book occurred recently. ComicConnect sold a 6.0 copy for just over $28,000. You might say, “Keston, I thought the criterion was for a 6.0 to be worth $30,000 or more.” Well, this 6.0 copy had slightly brittle pages. I assume if it had better page quality, the ultimate rarity would have eclipsed $30,000. It fits that Green Giant #1 would awkwardly top this list.
I hope you enjoyed this list. If you are considering acquiring any of these books, I can tell you from experience that the hunt will likely be both exhilarating and frustrating. I’ve been in the situation where I’ve waited three years for a book, made an aggressive bid at auction, only to be an underbidder. The waiting then continues for an unknown number of years. But when you finally land a copy, it’s one of the best feelings in the world!
Acknowledgements & Note
Images of all comic books are from Heritage Auctions (HA.com).
Price estimates were gleaned from extrapolating data from GPAnalysis.com.
CGC census numbers were collected on 3/30/2025.
Methodology Note: To be considered rare, for the purposes of this article, a comic must have fewer than 50 copies on the CGC census and likely fewer than 100 in existence. For reference, Action Comics #1 currently has 81 copies on census. Regarding value, the comic must be worth $5,000 or more a point in low to mid-grades. So, at a 6.0, any comic on this list should sell for $30,000 and above. Some exceptionally valuable books just barely miss the rarity cut, like Detective Comics #27 (the first appearance of Batman) and Marvel Comics #1. And thousands of low-CGC-count books miss the cut based on value. A confounding issue is that a high proportion of low-CGC count books are not rare; they are simply not valuable enough to justify CGC grading. By including only books that sell for $5,000 a point and higher, the assumption is that a relatively high proportion of these books have been graded by CGC. In other words, I doubt any of the books on this list have more surviving copies than Action Comics #1.
