The finest known copy of Marvel Comics #1 CGC 9.4 sold for $1,260,000 at Heritage, propelling their November Comic & Comic Art Auction to $14,936,295. This was their second largest comic auction, just trailing their May 2019 sale that totaled $15,121,405. There were 15 lots in this auction that sold for at least $100,000.

The top lot set a world record for the most expensive Marvel comic sold in a public auction, as well as the highest selling comic at Heritage. This copy of Marvel Comics #1 was purchased by postal carrier who bought ever first issue he could of comics and magazines, beginning in the 1940s. Graded 9.4, this copy is the highest graded known copy, according to CGC.

“This is a historic copy of a historic comic book,” Heritage Auctions Senior Vice President Ed Jaster said. “Without question, this is the granddaddy of all Marvel Comics, without which we would not have the characters and stories we enjoy in today’s comics and feature films.”

Over two dozen bidders competed for the Robert Crumb Your Hytone Comix #nn “Stoned Agin!” inside back cover original art, pushing it to $690,000. Rendered during the height of Crumb’s popularity, this sale broke the record for the most paid for an interior piece of comic art, according to Heritage.

The Batman #251 original cover by Neal Adams soared to $600,000, becoming the most ever paid for DC art at Heritage. This excellent Joker cover comes from the character’s reintroduction as a more frightening villain and would heavily influence his future portrayal.

The Jack Kirby and Chic Stone Fantastic Four Annual #2 splash page 1 original art was driven to $288,000. Considered one of the best 1960s major character splash pages, it introduced the powerful “The Fantastic Origin of Doctor Doom!” story.

Also drawing in $288,000 was the Kirby and Syd Shores Captain America #103 original cover art. One of the Red Skull’s most iconic covers, it was so dramatically rendered that his facial expression was toned down for the printed cover.

Additional top highlights were the Kirby and Chic Stone Fantastic Four Annual #2 page 11 art for $180,000, Whiz Comics #2 (#1) CGC 6.0 for $150,666, Superman #1 CGC 2.0 for $150,000, Batman #1 CGC 4.0 for $150,000, Captain America Comics #1 CGC 6.0 for $132,000, and Sensation Comics #1 CGC 8.5 for $132,000.