Marvel Comics #1 was one of the best-selling comics in February, attracting those who like to sell comic books with its huge historical importance. As the first comic published by Marvel (then Timely Comics) in 1939, it introduced some of the most iconic characters.
Marvel Comics Comic Series
The Marvel Comics series began in October 1939 with Marvel Comics 1, published by Timely Comics, the company that would later become Marvel. It was created by Martin Goodman, with stories from writers and artists like Bill Everett, Carl Burgos, and Paul Gustavson. The series was one of the first big successes in superhero comics.
The series introduced some of Marvel’s earliest and most legendary characters. The Human Torch (an android version, not the Fantastic Four’s member) and Namor the Sub-Mariner made their first appearances here. Unlike most early comic heroes, Namor was an anti-hero, a concept that was very rare for the time.
Later, Marvel Comics rebranded into Marvel Mystery Comics and continued until issue #92 in 1949.
Marvel Comic Issue #1
Marvel comics issue 1, published by Timely Publications in October 1939, was the debut of what would become Marvel Comics. Marvel Comics (1939) #1 introduced readers to several iconic characters, like the original Human Torch, an android created by Carl Burgos, and Namor the Sub-Mariner, an anti-hero conceived by Bill Everett. The comic also showed the first appearances of the Angel, a vigilante detective by Paul Gustavson, and Ka-Zar the Great, a jungle adventurer.
Priced at 10 cents, the initial marvel comics #1 1939 print run sold about 80,000 copies, which was a big success, leading to a second printing that brought total sales to nearly 800,000 – it was a titanic achievement by the time. The success of this issue not only created the basis of Timely Publications in the comic book industry but was also the beginning of the Marvel Universe.
How much is the How much is the Marvel Comics #1
Marvel Comics 1 value varies greatly based on condition, like with any other comic book issue. A low-grade copy can sell for around $68,000, while mid-grade marvel comics #1 value is about $400,000. High-grade copies in near-mint condition can reach $1.2 million.
One of the most notable sales was in March 2022, when a unique CGC 9.2 “Pay Copy” (a version with publisher notations tracking creator payouts) sold for $2.42 million.
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Pete Przysiezny, owner of Comic Buying Center, has been buying and selling comics and collectibles for over 30 years. He lives in Northern Illinois and specializes in buying large comic book collections. He has a vast knowledge of all eras and types of comic books ranging from the 1930s to the 2000s. Pete spent his childhood going to comic book conventions with his father, so you could say he was raised in the industry.