Gallery: The World's Most Expensive Comic Book Art (And Why Prices Keep Climbing)
01action-comics-1-2
*Action Comics* No. 1 --------------------- *Considered by some to be the "holy grail" of comics collecting, an issue of* Action Comics *No. 1 sold in late 2011 for $2.161 million. Other copies have sold for prices ranging from $1.5 million to $300,000. (The one pictured went for $323,000.)*
02amazing-fantasy-15
*Amazing Fantasy* No. 15 ------------------------ Right after *Action Comics* No. 1 comes [*Amazing Fantasy* No. 15](http://marvel.wikia.com/Amazing_Fantasy_Vol_1_15) – known for the first appearance of Spider-Man. In 2011, an issue of this 1962 Stan Lee-Jack Kirby comic with a CGC grade of 9.6 sold for $1,100,000.
03detective-comics-27
*Detective Comics* No. 27 ------------------------- Very close behind *Amazing Fantasy* No. 15 is [*Detective Comics* No. 27](http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Detective_Comics_Vol_1_27), famous for containing the first appearance of Batman. In early 2010, a CGC-graded 8.0 copy of this 1939 comic sold for $1,075,500.
04mcfarlane-amazing-spider-man-328
Todd McFarlane Original Art From *The Amazing Spider-Man* No. 328 ----------------------------------------------------------------- When this piece of original art by Todd McFarlane sold at auction for [an astounding $657,250 earlier this year](http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7063&lotNo=92030), many were surprised, simply because a piece of art from 1990 had reached a level that not even an original piece by Jack Kirby had ever commanded.
05the-x-men-1
*The X-Men* No. 1 ----------------- This summer also had a huge sale for a copy of *The X-Men* No. 1. Graded 9.8 by the CGC, [it brought in $492,937.50](http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7063&lotNo=91418).
06flash-comics-1
*Flash Comics* No. 1 -------------------- This *Flash Comics* No. 1 from 1940 sold for $273,125 in 2006. Then someone made an offer to the buyer, and this Golden Age comic [resold for $450,000 in 2010](http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=819&lotNo=2174).
07frank-miller-dark-knight-returns
Frank Miller Original Artwork from *The Dark Knight Returns* ------------------------------------------------------------ When bidding for this piece of Frank Miller art from 1986 hit $100,000 in early bidding in 2011, comics watchers were amazed – especially since the [auction house's record for comics art](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2011/05/dark-knight-returns-auction/) at the time was $195,000. When the *Dark Knight Returns* piece sold for $448,125, everyone was stunned.
08captain-america-comics-1
*Captain America Comics* No. 1 ------------------------------ In the summer or 2011, this first edition of *Captain America Comics* from 1941 sold for $343,057.
09fantastic-four-1
*Fantastic Four* No. 1 ---------------------- This [original issue of *Fantastic Four*](http://marvel.com/digital_comics/issue/91/fantastic_four_1961_1) with a CGC grade of 9.4 brought in $300,000 when it sold in 2011.
10mcfarlane-spider-man-1
Todd McFarlane Original Artwork From *Spider-Man* No. 1 ------------------------------------------------------- This piece of Todd McFarlane cover art from *Spider-Man* No. 1 went on sale at the same time as the McFarlane piece that sold for north of $600,000 but didn't bring in nearly as much cash – [it sold for $358,500](http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7063&lotNo=92025).
