Last Christmas, while sorting through their late mother's loft in California, three brothers stumbled upon something that would change their lives forever. Buried beneath a stack of yellowing newspapers was a time capsule no one expected — an original June 1939 Superman comic, one of the earliest issues ever printed.
The comic, featuring the Man of Steel in his early adventures, was shockingly well-preserved despite being hidden away for decades. Experts say its condition alone places it among the rarest surviving pieces from the golden age of comics.
Last week, the brothers’ astonishing find shattered industry records when it sold for $9.12 million (£7 million) at auction, making it the most valuable comic book ever sold.
Heritage Auctions, the Texas-based house that handled the sale, described the discovery as “the pinnacle of comic collecting” — a piece so rare and iconic that it now sets a new benchmark for the entire comic world.
According to Heritage Auctions, the brothers discovered six vintage comic books — including the legendary Superman #1 — hidden beneath old newspapers in a dusty cardboard box in their late mother’s loft in 2024.
They waited a few months before reaching out, but once they did, Heritage’s vice-president Lon Allen travelled to San Francisco within days to inspect the find. The brothers, now in their 50s and 60s, chose to stay anonymous. Their mother had often told them she owned “valuable comics” but never revealed where she kept them.
Heritage says she and her brother originally bought the comics between the Great Depression and World War Two. Luckily, the cool northern California climate kept them in remarkable condition — a major reason CGC awarded the Superman #1 an exceptional 9.0 grade, surpassing the previous record of 8.5.
At over $9 million, including buyer’s premium, the comic now stands as the most expensive ever sold, beating the previous record-holder, Action Comics No. 1, by $3 million.
The youngest brother said the forgotten box had simply been part of the attic for decades:
“Life kept moving… and the box of comics was forgotten. Until last Christmas.”
He added,
“This isn’t just about a collectible. It’s about memory, family, and the unexpected ways the past returns to us.”
