Updated
Collecting Superman comics in the UK: a beginner's guide
Collecting Superman comics in the UK: the key issues, how to spot an Action Comics #1 reprint, UK pence copies and annuals, grading basics and UK shops.
The short answer
The most valuable Superman comics are Action Comics #1 (1938) and Superman #1 (1939), whose best copies have sold for millions. Most 'loft finds' of Action Comics #1 are reprints, so measure before you get excited. UK collectors also look for pence-priced DC comics from the 1970s and British Superman annuals. Values vary widely; this isn't financial advice.
Not financial advice. Comic values vary widely with grade, demand and timing. The figures on this page are past sales, not offers or valuations, and they can’t tell you what your copy is worth. Always check recent sold prices, and get expert advice before buying or selling anything valuable.
Whether you’ve inherited a box of old comics or want to start a collection, this guide covers the basics for Superman fans in the UK. We don’t use photos of real covers; we describe them in words.
Is my old Superman comic worth anything? Five checks
- Is it a reprint? Measure it (see below). Most “original” Action Comics #1 copies are reprints.
- Check the cover date and price. A cents price means a US copy; a pence price or stamp means a UK copy of the same printing.
- Is it a key issue? See the table below.
- Judge the condition honestly. Creases, tears, missing pieces and restoration all lower the grade.
- Check sold prices, not asking prices: eBay UK’s sold listings, GoCollect and the latest Overstreet guide.
Key Superman issues
Example past sales only; values change and depend heavily on grade.
| Issue | Why it matters | Example past sale | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Action Comics #1 (June 1938) | Superman’s first appearance | CGC 8.5: $3.25m (2021) and $6m (2024); CGC 6.0: $3.5m (private sale, 2023) | Confirmed |
| Superman #1 (Summer 1939) | His first solo title | CGC 8.0: $5.3m (private sale, 2022) | Confirmed |
| Action Comics #2–#20 | Early Golden Age | Often tens of thousands of dollars; #2 in CGC 7.5 sold for $95,000 (2017) | Likely |
| Action Comics #23 (April 1940) | First Lex Luthor | A record of about $65,000 | Likely |
| Action Comics #242 (July 1958) | First Brainiac and Kandor | A major Silver Age key | Likely |
| Action Comics #252 (May 1959) | First Supergirl | One of the most valuable Silver Age Superman keys | Likely |
| All Star Comics #58 (1976) | First Power Girl | A rising Bronze Age key | Likely |
| Superman (vol. 2) #75 (January 1993) | The Death of Superman | Printed in huge numbers, so ordinary copies are common | Likely |
Other first appearances worth knowing: Superman #10 (1941, the first bald Luthor), More Fun Comics #101 (1945, Superboy), Adventure Comics #210 (1955, Krypto), Adventure Comics #247 (1958, the Legion), Adventures of Superman #500 (1993, Conner Kent and Steel) and Convergence: Superman #2 (2015, Jon Kent). We haven’t checked values for these. For the stories behind them, see the Superman comics reading order.
Spotting an Action Comics #1 reprint
| Edition | What it is | How to tell | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Famous First Edition (1974) | A tabloid-sized reprint | About 10 × 13.5 inches, against about 7 × 10 inches for a real copy. The outer cover says “Famous First Edition”; some sellers remove it to pass off the inner cover as the original | Confirmed |
| Millennium Edition (2000) | A comic-sized reprint | Modern paper and a “Millennium Edition” marking | Likely |
| Facsimile Edition (2022) | A modern reprint, with the original ads | A modern barcode and price, glossy paper and small differences | Likely |
| “Found in Grandad’s loft” | Usually one of the above | Measure it, then ask a specialist or a grading company | Likely |
A genuine 1938 copy turning up in a loft is extremely rare. Sources disagree on the 1974 edition’s catalogue number (C-26 or C-28).
UK pence copies
From the early 1970s, DC comics sold in Britain often carried a UK price in pence, usually stamped on the cover rather than printed. Collector research dates DC’s pence copies to cover dates from about July/August 1971 to 1981 (Likely; the exact windows still need checking).
- They’re the same printing as the US copies, not “UK reprints”.
- They usually sell for less than the US cent copy, though some UK collectors seek them out.
British Superman annuals
Superman annuals were a Christmas staple in Britain. These are UK-only collectables:
| Annual | Publisher | Years | What they are | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superman Annual | Atlas Publishing, London | About 1951–70 (around 16 annuals) | Hardback, black-and-white reprints of DC stories | Likely |
| Superboy Annual | Atlas / Top Sellers | Mid-1950s and 1967 | DC reprints | Likely |
| Superman Story Book Annual | World Distributors, Manchester | 1968 | A text-and-picture annual | Likely |
In the 1980s, Titan Books brought DC graphic novels to UK bookshops for the first time. For more UK links, see Superman and Britain.
Grading basics
Grading companies seal a comic in a plastic case with a label showing its grade on a 0.5 to 10 scale. The best-known is CGC; CBCS and PGX are alternatives. CGC’s label colours tell you what kind of grade it is:
| Label colour | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Blue | Universal: the standard grade |
| Yellow | Signature Series: a signature witnessed by CGC |
| Green | Qualified: a significant defect or an unwitnessed signature |
| Purple | Restored |
| Blue and silver | Conserved |
Where to buy in the UK
From published shop guides. We don’t endorse any shop, and we haven’t checked current opening hours.
| Where | Shop | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| London (Soho) | Gosh! Comics | Knowledgeable staff and small-press comics |
| London (Shaftesbury Avenue) | Forbidden Planet Megastore | New releases; one of the UK’s first comic shops |
| London (Camden) | Mega City Comics | Back issues |
| Nottingham | Page 45 | Founded in 1994; co-founder Stephen Holland was Comics Laureate (2021–23) |
| Leeds, Manchester, York, Newcastle | Travelling Man | Singles, graphic novels and signings |
| Leeds | OK Comics | An Eisner-nominated independent shop |
| Brighton | Dave’s Comics | A long-running independent |
| Poole | Paradox Comics | An independent shop |
Dealers at MCM Comic Con, London Film and Comic Con and Thought Bubble also sell back issues: see Superman in the UK: events. On eBay UK, check seller feedback and ask for measurements and clear photos.
Remember: values vary widely and change over time. This page is general information for fans, not financial or investment advice.
Questions
Is my old copy of Action Comics #1 real?
Almost certainly not, if it turned up in a loft. The most common reprint, the 1974 Famous First Edition, is tabloid-sized, about 10 × 13.5 inches, and sellers sometimes tear off its outer cover. A real 1938 copy is about 7 × 10 inches. Later reprints from 2000 and 2022 are modern comic size with modern paper. Have a specialist or a grading company check it.
What is a UK pence copy?
A US-printed DC comic sold in Britain with a UK price in pence, either printed on the cover or stamped on. Collector research dates DC's pence copies to roughly 1971–81. They're not reprints, and they usually sell for less than the US cent copy, though some UK collectors prefer them.
How much is my Superman comic worth?
It depends on the issue, its condition (grade), demand and timing. Check recent sold prices, not asking prices: eBay UK's sold listings, GoCollect's grading-company sales data and the latest Overstreet guide are good starting points. We don't value comics, and this isn't financial advice.
What do the CGC label colours mean?
CGC grades comics from 0.5 to 10. A blue label is Universal, the standard grade. Yellow is Signature Series, for a signature CGC witnessed. Green is Qualified, for a significant defect or an unwitnessed signature. Purple means restored, and blue and silver means conserved. CBCS and PGX are other grading companies.
Sources and further reading
- Quality Comix: the most valuable Superman comics
- Guinness World Records: most valuable comic
- Zap-Kapow: the most valuable Superman comics
- My Comics Collection: Action Comics key issues
- CGC: guide to Action Comics #1 reprints and facsimiles
- 30th Century Comics: Famous First Editions
- 13th Dimension: Action Comics #1 Facsimile Edition
- CGC: labels and holders
- CGC boards: DC Comics UK price variants
- CPV Price Guide: UK price variants
- 30th Century Comics: UK Superman and Batman annuals
- 30th Century Comics: UK Superboy and Superman annuals
- Wikipedia: World Distributors
- Wikipedia: Titan Publishing Group
- Time Out: London's best comic shops
- downthetubes: Page 45 spotlight
- Yorkshire Evening Post: Leeds comic shops (2025)