CGC-certified First Appearances of Batman and Captain Marvel in Heritage Sale
Posted on 6/7/2024
An amazing selection of Golden and Silver Age grails and key issues certified by Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®), including some of comics’ most iconic and valuable issues, is available now. Bidding is already underway for a Heritage Auctions sale on June 20-23, 2024.
Leading the way is a Detective Comics #27 graded CGC 4.5 (lot 91006), featuring the first appearance of Batman in 1939. First published in 1939, Batman in Detective Comics (by creators Bob Kane and Bill Finger) was an attempt to mimic the success of Action Comics' Superman. The new superhero was indeed a success, which led to the Caped Crusader's own solo series in 1940.
Detective Comics #27 is one of only 11 comic book titles to ever have at least one issue realize more than $1 million. Earlier this year, a CGC 6.5 copy sold for a record $1.82 million.
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Another Golden Age grail blowing up the bids is a Whiz Comics #2 (#1) graded CGC 7.0 (lot 91019). Published by Fawcett Publications in 1940, this comic includes the first appearance of Captain Marvel. Before this issue was released, Fawcett printed two copies of a black-and-white limited ashcan comics, each identical but with different names — “Thrill Comics” and “Flash Comics” — to solicit to advertisers and copyright the character of Captain Thunder. That ashcan became known as issue #1. When the series was officially published, debuting as issue #2, the title was changed to Whiz Comics and Captain Thunder became Captain Marvel. DC Comics, however, sued Fawcett over Captain Marvel’s similarities to Superman, and Fawcett eventually shut down and sold its library to DC. Captain Marvel is now known as Shazam in the DC Comics universe.
Also in this auction is a rare Science Adventure Picture Story Godzilla graded CGC 3.5 (lot 91114), featuring the first manga appearance of Godzilla. This is the only graded example in the CGC census, and you can read more about it here.
Other CGC-certified comics in this auction include:
- an Amazing Fantasy #15 graded CGC 6.5 (lot 91152)
- a Batman #1 graded CGC 4.0 (lot 91002)
- a Captain America Comics #1 graded CGC 5.0 (lot 91003)
- a Detective Comics #29 graded CGC 5.0 (lot 91007)
- a Fantastic Four #1 graded CGC 8.5 (lot 91010)
- a Marvel Comics #1 graded CGC 4.5 (lot 91012)
- a Superman #1 graded CGC 1.5 (lot 91124)
- a Suspense Comics #3 graded CGC 1.5 (lot 91133)
- a Tales of Suspense #39 graded CGC 9.2 (lot 91017)
- a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 graded CGC 9.8 (lot 91018)
About CGC
Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. The newest division of CGC, CGC Home Video, provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of home media.
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