Amazing Fantasy #15, Certified by CGC, Swings into Heritage Sale

Bidders are crawling the walls to catch the first appearance of Spider-Man in their web. The hero’s earliest adventures are just a few of the Golden and Silver Age grails, certified by CGC®, found in Heritage Auctions’ Key Comics Showcase Auction on July 31, 2026.

Among the top highlights of the auction is an Amazing Fantasy #15 graded CGC 4.5 (lot 81007). Stan Lee and Steve Ditko introduced Spider-Man here in 1962, revolutionizing the superhero genre. Lee wanted to create a hero who felt real, someone readers could relate to: a teenager facing the challenges of life, from school and work to family problems, all while fighting crime. Spider-Man’s debut in the final issue of a fading comic series was a gamble, and it quickly paid off.

In a 2000 interview with Larry King on CNN, recounted by Marvel.com, Stan Lee shared the story of his creation.

“I saw a fly crawling on the wall, and I said, ‘Wow, suppose a person has the power to stick to a wall like an insect.’ So I was often running and I thought, ‘What do I call him?’ I tried Mosquito Man, but that didn’t have any glamor. Insect Man, that was even worse. I went down the line and I got to Spider-Man. It sounded mysterious and dramatic, and lo a legend was born.”

This auction also includes a copy graded CGC 4.0 Restored (lot 81009), and one graded CGC .5 (lot 81008).

Following his smash debut in Amazing Fantasy, Marvel rushed the hero into his own series. Collectors can also bid on that issue here — Amazing Spider-Man #1 graded CGC 5.5(lot 81010). The comic focuses on Spider-Man’s adventures with stories that recount how Peter Parker received his powers and teamed with the Fantastic Four against the Chameleon. If you miss your chance on this sale, the auction also includes a copy graded CGC 4.0 (lot 81011), and one graded CGC 3.5 with a JSA-authenticated Stan Lee signature (lot 81012).

Over the decades, Spider-Man has grown into one of the most beloved and recognizable characters in the world and a cultural icon. Both Amazing Fantasy #15 and Amazing Spider-Man #1 are among the most valuable comics ever sold. Spider-Man returns to theaters in the summer of 2026 with “Brand New Day” — the hero’s fourth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and 12th theatrical release since 2002.

Want to learn more? You can Get to Know Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man here!

Other CGC-certified comics in this sale include:

• an Amazing Spider-Man #129 graded CGC 9.4 (lot 81036)
• a Batman #17 graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81050)
• a Batman #18 graded CGC 7.5 (lot 81050)
• a Giant-Size X-Men #1 graded CGC 9.8 (lot 81089)
• an Incredible Hulk #2 graded CGC 7.5 (lot 81095)
• an Incredible Hulk #4 graded CGC 9.2 (lot 81096)
• an Incredible Hulk #181 graded CGC 9.2 (lot 81100)
• a Playboy #1 graded CGC 4.0 (lot 81184)
• a Tales to Astonish #13 graded CGC 7.5 (lot 81157)
• an X-Men #1 graded CGC 6.0 (lot 81172)

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.