Action Comics No. 1 – original cover from June 1938: Superman lifting a car. Art by Joe Shuster.
Action Comics · June 1938 · First Issue

Action Comics No. 1
The comic that started it all.

Action Comics began in 1938 with No. 1 – the issue that introduced Superman to the world and ushered in the Golden Age of comics. Now available as a high-quality reprint.

Price
EUR 109.09
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* Only the reprint is for sale. Not an original.

Background

The History of Action Comics

The Beginning of an Era

In the summer of 1938, a single comic made history: Action Comics No. 1, published on April 18, 1938 with a cover date of June 1938. Published by National Allied Publications – later DC Comics – the comic cost just ten cents at the time. On its cover is a scene that has since become iconic: A man in a blue suit and red cape lifts a car over his head while bystanders flee. His name: Superman.

The Creators of the Man of Steel

Superman was the creation of two young men from Cleveland, Ohio: writer Jerry Siegel (1914–1996) and artist Joe Shuster (1914–1992). The two had developed their character in the early 1930s and fought for years to place him with a publisher. When National Allied Publications finally agreed, they had no idea they would forever change 20th-century pop culture. For their rights, Siegel and Shuster received only 130 US dollars – a sum still regarded as one of the most unfair deals in comics history.

Birth of the Superhero Genre

With Action Comics No. 1, not only was Superman born – an entirely new storytelling format emerged: the superhero comic. Within a short time, characters like Batman, Wonder Woman, and The Flash followed. The formula of superhuman abilities, dual identity, and a moral code that Siegel and Shuster established still shapes the genre today. Without these 72 pages, modern Marvel and DC cinematic universes would be unthinkable.

A Million-Dollar Piece – Literally

Of the first print run, an estimated 200,000 copies were printed – but because comics were thrown away rather than collected at the time, only about 50 to 100 copies in various conditions are known today. In 2022, a near-perfect original fetched a record price of 6.0 million US dollars at auction and is thus one of the most valuable collector’s items in the world.

The Cover – a Work of Art Ahead of Its Time

Joe Shuster’s cover art was far ahead of its time: dynamic, powerful, with a hero who does not sneak but takes action. The motif of lifting a car grew out of a newspaper story about domestic violence that Siegel had read. This social message – Superman as protector of the weak – runs through the entire early phase of the Action Comics series and sets Superman apart from later, purely commercially conceived superheroes.

Learn more about the history of the Action Comics series →  ·  History of the first issue in detail →

Series history

The Action Comics Series

What are Action Comics?

Action Comics is an American comic series from DC Comics that has been published continuously since April 1938 and thus ranks among the longest-running comic series in the world. Each issue carries a consecutive number – a practice known in the industry as “legacy numbering.” The series was founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson and Harry Donenfeld under National Allied Publications, the forerunner of today’s DC Comics.

The name “Action Comics” was programmatic: the comics were meant to deliver pulp thrills and fast-paced stories – and from issue No. 1 onward they succeeded spectacularly. With the introduction of Superman, not only was an iconic character born, but an entirely new entertainment format that would lastingly shape 20th-century pop culture.

Milestones of the Action Comics Series

Over more than eight decades, the Action Comics series has set numerous milestones in comics history:

  • Action Comics No. 1 (1938): First appearance of Superman, written by Jerry Siegel and drawn by Joe Shuster. The birth of the superhero genre.
  • Action Comics No. 252 (1959): Introduction of Supergirl (Kara Zor-El), Superman’s cousin from the planet Krypton – one of the most significant female superheroes in DC history.
  • Action Comics No. 500 (1979): Anniversary issue summarizing Superman’s life and adventures – a spectacular format for a comic at the time.
  • Action Comics No. 775 (2001): “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?” – one of the most acclaimed Superman stories ever, later adapted as an animated film.
  • Action Comics No. 900 (2011): Superman renounces his American citizenship – a politically much-discussed issue that made headlines worldwide.
  • Action Comics No. 1000 (2018): A historic anniversary: As the first American comic book ever, Action Comics reached issue No. 1000. The 80-page special featured contributions from writers and artists across all decades of the series’ history.

Action Comics and Collector Value Today

Few other comic series have had a comparable impact on the collector market. While most early issues of the Action Comics series change hands only as expensive rarities, the market for high-quality Action Comics reprints has established itself as an accessible alternative. Collectors seeking the historic experience of the original without investing six- or seven-figure sums turn to carefully produced reprints. More on this: What is Action Comics No. 1 worth? and Original vs. Reprint.

Naturally, the reprint of Action Comics No. 1 is especially sought after: the comic that founded not only a series, but an entire genre and a billion-dollar entertainment industry. Such a reprint in very good condition is of inestimable value both as a decorative piece and as a conversation starter for every comic fan and cultural historian.

The current issue of the Action Comics series continues to appear monthly from DC Comics and ranks among the best-selling comic series in the USA. Superman remains the heart of it – complemented by rotating backup stories and guest appearances by other DC heroes.

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The lead character

Superman – the Hero from Action Comics No. 1

Who is Superman?

With Action Comics No. 1 in 1938, a character stepped onto the world stage who would become the blueprint for all superheroes: Superman. The story tells of a child from the doomed planet Krypton, sent to Earth as an infant in a rocket and raised by the farming couple Jonathan and Martha Kent in the fictional Smallville. Under his civilian name Clark Kent he works as an unassuming reporter – and secretly transforms into the “Man of Steel,” who protects the weak and fights injustice. This dual identity of hero and everyman was already laid out in the Action Comics of 1938 and still shapes the genre today.

Superman’s Powers: 1938 vs. Today

Anyone reading the early Action Comics will notice: the Superman of 1938 could not yet fly. In Action Comics No. 1 he is described as “more powerful than a locomotive” – he could lift heavy loads, deflect bullets, and leap “over the tallest building” in a single bound. Only over the following years and issues did the character receive the power set known today: true flight, heat vision and X-ray vision, super-breath, and nearly limitless strength. The Action Comics series served as an experimental field in which the writers expanded Superman’s abilities step by step.

First Appearances in Action Comics

Action Comics No. 1 was not only Superman’s debut, but also the first appearance of his longtime reporter colleague and later partner Lois Lane. Later in the series, many fixtures of the Superman mythos debuted – including the super-intelligent villain Brainiac (Action Comics No. 242, 1958) and Superman’s cousin Supergirl (Action Comics No. 252, 1959). The series is thus far more than the home of a single character: it is the birthplace of an entire cosmos.

Why Superman Still Matters

Superman embodies a clear moral promise: power in the service of the weaker. This idea – laid out in the early Action Comics as a socially critical protector of “ordinary people” – made the character a cultural symbol of hope and justice. No other comic character is so closely tied to the birth of an entire medium. Anyone who wants to own a piece of this history will find an authentic entry point in the reprint of Action Comics No. 1.

Placing comics history

The Eras of Action Comics

Comics historians divide the history of American comics into several “ages.” The Action Comics series is the only series that has passed through every one of these ages from first to last – a unique thread through more than 85 years of comics history. The following overview places the most important Action Comics highlights in their respective eras.

Era Period Highlights in Action Comics
Golden Age 1938–1956 Action Comics No. 1 with the debut of Superman and Lois Lane (1938); birth of the superhero genre.
Silver Age 1956–1970 Brainiac (No. 242, 1958) and Supergirl (No. 252, 1959); colorful science-fiction adventures.
Bronze Age 1970–1985 More mature, socially relevant stories and a modernized Superman.
Modern Age 1985–today Relaunches and highlights such as No. 775 (2001) and the historic No. 1000 (2018).

A detailed list of the most significant comics can be found on the Action Comics Issues page; everything about today’s collector value on What is Action Comics No. 1 worth?.

In the German-speaking world

Action Comics in Germany

How did Action Comics reach Germany?

In the USA, Superman was already a mass phenomenon in the 1940s – but the adventures of the “Man of Steel” only reached Germany much later. The first German-language Superman comics appeared from the 1960s onward at Ehapa Verlag, which translated many stories from the American Action Comics and adapted them for the German market. In the 1990s, Dino Verlag took over the license before finally Panini Comics became the current publisher of DC and Superman titles in the German-speaking world.

Reading Action Comics in German

Because the original series is numbered consecutively, Germany saw both classic single-issue series and collected paperbacks and high-quality hardcovers over the decades. Anyone who wants to read Action Comics in German today usually turns to Panini collected editions that gather entire story arcs. The historic first issue – Action Comics No. 1 from 1938 – is written in the English original; the reprint offered here accordingly reproduces the English original version.

Collecting Action Comics in Germany

For German collectors, original Golden Age comics are practically unattainable – when they change hands at all, it is only through international auction houses. That makes faithful reprints and German-language collected editions all the more popular. Anyone who wants to own the iconic 1938 cover as a physical piece of comics history will find in the reprint an affordable and decorative alternative to the million-dollar original. More on this topic: Original vs. Reprint and Reprints at a glance.

Impact beyond the comic

Action Comics in Film & Pop Culture

What began in 1938 on ten-cent comic pages is today a billion-dollar industry. The Superman born in Action Comics became the template for radio plays, animated series, TV shows, and some of the most successful films in history – and thus the foundation of modern superhero cinema.

Superman on the Big Screen

  • Superman (1978): Richard Donner’s classic with Christopher Reeve established the modern superhero blockbuster and shaped the image of the flying Superman for generations.
  • Man of Steel (2013): Zack Snyder’s reinterpretation with Henry Cavill launched an entire film universe around the DC heroes.
  • Superman (2025): The James Gunn–directed reboot with David Corenswet brought the character to a new generation and renewed interest in the origins in Action Comics.

Why the Origins Are So Sought After

Each of these films points – consciously or unconsciously – back to that first comic of 1938. The cover on which Superman lifts a car over his head is considered one of the most famous images in pop culture. Exactly this connection between film phenomenon and historic origin makes Action Comics No. 1 and its faithful reprints so appealing to fans: you hold the literal beginning of one of the greatest narratives of the 20th and 21st centuries in your hands.

To the Action Comics No. 1 reprint
Why this reprint?

For Fans & Collectors

Faithful Reproduction

The reprint reproduces the cover and contents of the historic first issue of 1938 with the greatest possible fidelity.

A Piece of Comics History

Own the issue that founded Superman, DC Comics, and the entire superhero genre.

Top Condition

According to the seller, the offered copy is in very good condition – ideal as a gift or decorative piece.

Current offer

Buy Now

Action Comics No. 1 – Reprint

Available
Cover of the Action Comics No. 1 reprint – product view
€109.09 incl. VAT, plus shipping
  • High-quality reprint of the 1938 issue
  • Condition: Very good
  • Language: English (original language)
  • Fast shipping & secure packaging
  • Handled via eBay with buyer protection
Note: Only the reprint is for sale. This is not an original copy from 1938.
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Frequently asked questions

FAQ about Action Comics

What are Action Comics?

Action Comics is an American comic series from DC Comics that has been published continuously since April 1938. It is best known as the series in which Superman was first published in issue No. 1. More background: all issues of the series and history of the first issue.

Why is Action Comics No. 1 so valuable?

Action Comics No. 1 (1938) is the first appearance of Superman and is considered the birth of the superhero comic. Of the original print run, only about 50–100 copies are known worldwide. A near-perfect original fetched a record price of 6.0 million US dollars at auction in 2022. Details: collector value and auction prices.

How much does an original Action Comics No. 1 cost?

Original copies of Action Comics No. 1 are extremely rare and correspondingly expensive. Depending on condition, they fetch prices at auction ranging from several hundred thousand to several million US dollars. The most expensive copy to date was auctioned in 2022 for 6.0 million US dollars. An accessible alternative is a high-quality reprint – see also difference between original and reprint.

Who created Action Comics and Superman?

Superman and thus the Action Comics series were created by Jerry Siegel (writer) and Joe Shuster (artist), two young men from Cleveland, Ohio. They developed the character in the early 1930s and sold the rights to National Allied Publications (later DC Comics) for 130 US dollars. In detail: Superman and the first issue.

How many issues of Action Comics are there?

Action Comics has been published almost continuously since 1938 and has now surpassed 1,000 issues. In 2018, Action Comics No. 1000 became the first American comic book ever to reach that milestone – a historic moment for the entire comics industry. Overview: Action Comics Issues.

What is the difference between an Action Comics original and a reprint?

An original copy of Action Comics No. 1 is a historic collector’s item from 1938 that, due to its rarity, reaches million-dollar values. A reprint is a high-quality reproduction that faithfully reproduces the cover and contents of the original. It allows fans and collectors to own and experience the historic comic without investing a million-dollar sum. Comparison: Original vs. Reprint · Reprints at a glance.

Could Superman already fly in Action Comics No. 1?

No. The Superman of 1938 could not yet fly. In Action Comics No. 1 he is described as “more powerful than a locomotive”: he could lift heavy loads, deflect bullets, and leap tall buildings in a single bound. True flight as well as heat vision and X-ray vision were added only in later issues. More in the section about the character Superman.

When did Action Comics appear in Germany?

Superman stories from Action Comics first appeared in Germany from the 1960s onward at Ehapa Verlag. In the 1990s, Dino Verlag took over the license before Panini Comics became the current publisher of DC and Superman titles in the German-speaking world. The original Action Comics No. 1 from 1938 is in English. Details: Action Comics in Germany.

Which Action Comics issue introduced Supergirl?

Supergirl (Kara Zor-El), Superman’s cousin from the planet Krypton, debuted in Action Comics No. 252 in 1959. Earlier, in Action Comics No. 242 (1958), Brainiac – one of Superman’s best-known foes – made his first appearance. An overview of all key issues is under Action Comics Issues.

Knowledge for collectors

Action Comics Glossary

Many technical terms circulate around collecting Action Comics. This short glossary explains the most important terms you will encounter with originals, reprints, and auctions.

Key Issue
A particularly significant issue, for example because of a first appearance. Action Comics No. 1 is the key issue par excellence, since Superman debuts here.
Golden Age
The “Golden Age” of comics (approx. 1938–1956). It began with Action Comics No. 1 and the birth of the superhero genre.
Reprint
A faithful new edition of a historic comic. Reprints make classics like Action Comics No. 1 affordable for everyone.
Grading
Assessment of a comic’s condition, often on a scale from 0.5 to 10.0. The higher the grade, the more valuable an original collector’s item.
Legacy Numbering
Consecutive numbering across decades. Thanks to it, Action Comics became the first US comic to reach issue No. 1000 in 2018.
Cover Date
The date printed on the comic – for Action Comics No. 1, June 1938, even though the comic went on sale in April 1938.
From our blog

Stories around Action Comics

Background on legendary issues, characters, and villains of the Action Comics series – from Supergirl’s debut in 1959 to Superman’s major adversaries. With links to current films.

View all blog posts