CGC-certified 'Rocket Copy' of Action Comics #1 Realizes $2.76 Million

The founding fathers of comics, Superman and Batman, led the ComicConnect Event Auction 66 on June 22, 2026, with some of their earliest adventures certified by CGC®. Doing most of the heavy lifting, with a $2.76 million result, was an Action Comics #1 graded CGC 6.0 — famously known as the “Rocket Copy” for its red rocket stamp that was placed on the front cover by its young owner decades ago.

Published in 1938 by National Press, Action Comics #1 launched the Golden Age of comics with the introduction of Superman by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster. The comic was an immediate hit, and the franchise rapidly expanded with merchandise, radio programming and movies. Despite having only 87 copies recorded in the CGC Population Report, the rare book has appeared in several auctions this year already, including a CGC 7.0 Conserved that realized $1.4 million in May, a CGC 2.0 Qualified that realized $625,250 in February, and a CGC 5.0 Restored that realized $378,200 in February.

Also lurking in the shadows was a Batman #1 graded CGC 6.0, which realized $471,500. Published in 1940 by DC, shortly after his debut in Detective Comics, this Golden Age grail features the Dark Knight’s earliest adventures under his own title — as well as the first appearances of the Joker and Catwoman.

Other CGC-certified comics offered in this sale included:

• an Amazing Fantasy #15 graded CGC 8.0, which realized $211,600
• a Fantastic Four #1 graded CGC 9.0, which realized $208,150
• a Daredevil #1 graded CGC 9.6, which realized $115,000
• a Detective Comics #38 graded CGC 5.0, which realized $45,232
• an All-Star Comics #8 graded CGC 5.5, which realized $40,250
• an Incredible Hulk #1 graded CGC 6.0, which realized $29,325
• a Captain America Comics #3 graded CGC 6.0, which realized $27,702
• an Amazing Spider-Man #1 graded CGC 7.0, which realized $24,150
• an Avengers #57 graded CGC 9.8, which realized $21,530
• an Action Comics #17 graded CGC 7.5, which realized $21,390

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 sports cards, TCGs, 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. CGC Home Video provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes, DVD, Blu-ray, and more. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services.

CGC is part of the Certified Collectibles Group, a global provider of expert and impartial authentication, and grading services for collectibles. Since 1987, the Certified Collectibles Group companies have certified more than 110 million collectibles, including coins, banknotes, comic books, cards, autographs, and stamps.