Only Batman #1 With 9.4 CGC Grade Sets World Record at Heritage Auctions’ Comics & Comic Art Auction

Nearly all of the top comic books offered in Heritage Auctions’ extraordinary Jan. 14-17 Comics & Comic Art Auction carry CGC grades, including the top lot, which soared to new heights as it crossed the auction block.

The finest known copy of 1940's Batman No. 1 sold for $2.22 million, more than double its pre-auction estimate and easily the highest price ever realized for a comic book starring Bruce Wayne and his caped-and-cowled alter ego. The issue, the sole copy ever to receive a 9.4 grade from CGC, already was a record-setter before the start: a week before the auction even began, it surpassed the $1.53-million mark, topping the previous world record set for a Batman title when Heritage sold Detective Comics No. 27 for $1.5 million.

Part of the appeal is in the first appearances of the Joker, arguably the greatest villain in the history of comics and the star of his own feature film, and the Catwoman (called the Cat in her first appearance here) is of course a household name in her own right, also star of a solo movie and at or near the top of the list for the best female villain ever.

Heritage Auctions Jan. 14-17 Comics & Comic Art Auction:

https://comics.ha.com/c/auction-home.zx?saleNo=7239

Batman #1 (DC, 1940) CGC NM 9.4 White pages: $2,220,000

https://comics.ha.com/itm/golden-age-1938-1955-/batman-1-dc-1940-cgc-nm-94-white-pages/p/7239-98005.s

Captain America Comics #1 (Timely, 1941) CGC VF+ 8.5 Off-white pages: $384,000

https://comics.ha.com/itm/golden-age-1938-1955-/superhero/captain-america-comics-1-timely-1941-cgc-vf-85-off-white-pages/p/7239-211001.s

Detective Comics #359 Boston Pedigree (DC, 1967) CGC NM/MT 9.8 Off-white to white pages: $132,000

https://comics.ha.com/itm/silver-age-1956-1969-/detective-comics-359-boston-pedigree-dc-1967-cgc-nm-mt-98-off-white-to-white-pages/a/7239-91032.s

Daredevil #1 (Marvel, 1964) CGC NM+ 9.6 Off-white to white pages: $102,000

https://comics.ha.com/itm/silver-age-1956-1969-/daredevil-1-marvel-1964-cgc-nm-96-off-white-to-white-pages/a/7239-91030.s