On January 9-12, Heritage hosted their first Comics & Comic Art Signature Auction of 2025, realizing a total of $10.79 million. Al Milgrom’s cover for The Amazing Spider-Man #194, introducing the Black Cat, who began as a villain, then became Spidey’s love interest, and eventually an antiheroine, sold for $1 million. It marks the first time a Spider-Man cover has eclipsed seven figures at auction. Per the consignors direction, a portion of the proceeds are going to the artist.
“As we’ve been seeing for some time in our auctions, it’s impossible to predict the ceiling for the best comic art,” Heritage Executive Vice President Todd Hignite said. “The market is just incredibly deep for such singular examples, and this cover’s record-setting price led to a diverse group of amazing results.”
“Little did I know that my artistic effort on this cover would go on to become one of the most iconic covers of the 1970s,” Milgrom said. “I’ve signed hundreds, perhaps thousands, of autographs on this comic for legions of fans.”
The auction house set a new record for Robin the Boy Wonder when Detective Comics #38 CGC 8.0, which featured the character’s debut as Bruce Wayne’s ward and Batman’s sidekick, realized $132,000. Hailing from The Lester Schilke Collection, it opened live bidding at $85,000 and quickly rose to its final price, setting a record for the issue in any grade.
Superman’s debut in Action Comics #1 CGC Apparent 6.5 went for $384,000, and Supergirl’s introduction in Action Conics #252 CGC 9.0 brought $48,000.
The Silver Surfer graphic novel cover by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer featuring a powerful image of Silver Surfer and Galactus – two characters closely associated with Kirby – soared to $312,000. Kirby and Joe Sinnott’s Fantastic Four #83 title splash page with great visuals of Mr. Fantastic, Human Torch, and the Thing cleared $117,000.
Carl Barks’ Money Lake painting based on Uncle Scrooge McDuck’s first solo comic reached $264,000. Dale Keown and Bob McLeod’s cover for The Incredible Hulk #379 with a close-up of Hulk with his multiple incarnations drawn in the logo went for $168,000. Wally Wood’s Daredevil #5 pin-up illustration with the Man Without Fear walking a highwire, created in twice-up scale cleared $108,000.
Detective Comics #39 CGC 8.5 with Clayface’s cameo debut before his first full appearance in the following issue, sold for $33,600 – setting another record. Suspense Comics #3 CGC 4.0 with a striking cover by Alex Schomburg hammered for $156,000, becoming the most valuable copy of the book in that grade.
“Bidders were particularly excited about fresh to market material, particularly new material from the Golden Age,” Heritage Auctions Vice President Barry Sandoval said. “These comics are now more than 80 years old, and collectors often wonder if there are any discoveries yet to be made. For now, at least, that answer is a resounding yes.”
