Image source: AmazonComic book collectors and collectibles investors should understand the history and creative lore of comic books to a certain extent. It helps a lot if you want to invest in the most valuable comic books of the 1950s. For example, did you know that comic books have always been as popular with adults as children?
In 1945, over 70 million Americans, or almost half the population, read comic books. Remember, this was Depression-era and post-WWII America. About 41 percent of adult men and 28 percent of adult women over the age of 18 read comic books.
Why is this data important to you? A lot of historically important comics from the Golden and Silver Age were lost or destroyed. That makes them incredibly rare and valuable today to collectors. Collectors pay top dollar for Golden and Silver Age comics, and those eras blur together in the 1950s.
You don’t need to become a comic book historian to understand such nuance, but it helps to know about the four ages of comic book history. (Or you can just randomly pay a fortune for comic books you know nothing about.)
This article will cover five of the most valuable comic books of the late 1950s, also known as the Silver Age of comic books. Firstly, here is a quick primer on the Ages of comics.
Quick Primer on Comic Book Eras
There are certain epochs in comic book publishing; these include the Golden Age, the Silver Age, the Bronze Age, and the Modern Age of comic books.
The Golden Age of comic books spans from 1938 to 1956 roughly. It began with the publication of Action Comics #1 in 1938, the first appearance of Superman.
The Silver Age of comics spans from 1956 to 1970. It marks the superhero-centric reemergence of comic books. Superheroes were born in the Golden Age, but after WWII, sci-fi, horror, western, war, anthology, and simplistic superhero comics were the norm in the Silver Age.
During the Bronze Age, from 1970 to 1985, comics got less silly and tackled darker subjects, social issues and included more graphic character deaths.
In the Modern Age, from 1985 to the present, comic books reflect society even more. Also, comics became more commercialized. We live in an era where Iron Man, not a popular character at all pre-2008, is now a household name.
The rarity of a comic, the era in which it was published, the famous creators attached to the project, and pivotal storylines contribute to its value. Silver Age comic books were made with cheap paper, featured the first appearances of some famous characters, and are generally rare.
So, with that out of the way, let’s examine five of the most valuable comics of the 1950s.
1. Showcase # 4 (October 1959) DC Comics
This comic features the first appearance of the Silver Age Flash, Barry Allen, and Iris West. These characters now wildly popular on TV and in film. Also of significance is the fact that this comic updated the Flash as a legacy character for the Silver Age.
The Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick, also appears in this issue. A 9.2 CGC grade copy of this comic is worth $99,450. A copy of this issue in any grade is a good investment. Currently, a raw copy of this comic with no grade is worth almost $6,000.
This comic may be one of the most valuable comic books of the 1950s. Check out a digital copy of Showcase #4 on Kindle for $1.99 now.
Recommended If You Like: If you want to read some of the Flash’s Silver Age stories, check out Flash: The Silver Age. This 432-page paperback features 10 of the Flash’s best Silver Age stories, including Showcase #4. Get it at Amazon now for $45.
2. Showcase #22 (October 1959) DC Comics
The Golden Age version of Green Lantern was a character named Alan Scott who first appeared in 1940. Since the introduction of the Golden Age Flash was a success, a new Silver Age Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, was introduced in Showcase #22 in 1959.
This comic also features the first appearance of Carol Ferris and Abin Sur, as well as his death. A 9.8 CGC-graded copy of this comic is worth $230,000. You could invest in a 6.0 CGC of this comic for $8,100.
Check out a digital copy of Showcase #22 on Kindle for $1.99 now.
Recommended If You Like: Want to check out the Silver Age adventures of Hal Jordan Green Lantern? Check out Green Lantern the Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1. this 1,000-page hardcover features 38 silver Age Green Lantern stories. Get it now for $89 at Amazon.
3. Action Comics #242 (July 1958) DC Comics
Brainiac is a cult-favorite supervillain of hardcore DC comics fans. The character debuted in Action Comics #242. Brainiac is a cosmic collector obsessed with collecting information. He likes to shrink cities and destroy their home planets so that he alone owns the data and cultures of obsolete worlds.
In Action Comics #242, Brainiac shrinks and steals Metropolis. Superman infiltrates Brainiac’s ship. While saving Metropolis Superman is shocked to discover that Brainiac owns a miniaturized Kandor, the capital city of his destroyed home world, Krypton.
While Brainiac has been adapted in superhero TV shows, cartoons, and video games, he has yet to be adapted to the big screen. The value of this pivotal comic book is certain to increase once that happens. A copy of this issue with a 9.8 CGC grade is worth $149,000.
Recommended If You Like: Want to learn more about Brainiac? Check out 2008’s Superman: Brainiac. This trade paperback reinvents Brainiac for modern comic book readers, recreates the story beats from Action Comics #242 and stays true to the character’s Silver Age origins. Get the 128-page hardcover now at Amazon for $102.
4. Action Comics #252 (May 1959) DC Comics
Action Comics #252 marked the first appearance of Supergirl, or Kara Zor-El. It is also the first appearance of the character Metallo. A 9.8 CGC graded copy of this comic is worth $196,000 on the collectibles market.
Depending on the success of 2026’s Supergirl film, the value of this comic could increase. Download the digital version of Action Comics #252 for $1.99 on Kindle.
Recommended If You Like: Want to learn more about Silver Age Supergirl? Supergirl: The Silver Age Vol. 1 collects 30 stories that were featured as backup stories in the Silver Age run of Action Comics. Get the 383-page paperback for $24.99 now at Amazon.
5. Superboy #68 (October 1958) DC Comics
Most comic book fans believe that Bizarro is a clone of Superman, but that is only true for the Modern Age version of the character.
Bizarro debuted in Superboy #68. A scientist creates a replicating device and uses Superboy as a test subject. Bizarro is created as a result. Bizarro has chalky white skin, a grotesque appearance, a child-like intellect and speech cadence, and is basically a Frankenstein version of the superhero. Still, he basically has the powers of Superboy, and in later versions of the character, Superman.
A copy of this issue with a 9.8 CGC grade is worth almost $51,000. A raw and ungraded copy of this issue is worth almost $500. If I were you, I would buy any lower CGC-grade version of this comic. When WBD figures out a way to bring Bizarro to the big screen, the value of this comic will surge.
Recommended If You Like: Want to learn more about Bizarro? Check out Bizarro, a 2015 trade paperback that follows Bizarro’s attempt to understand what it means to become a hero. Get the 144-page paperback at Amazon now for $12.98.
A Hobby of Patience
If you are going to start buying and collecting valuable comics, you really need to understand the associated protocols. Touching them with your bare hands isn’t advisable. They need to be slabbed in a protective casing to protect their value. You’ll be collecting for sentimental value. Or strategically bidding your time in the hopes of profiting off of another collector.
Consult with a comic book expert, comic book store owner, or collectibles market expert before you start investing in comic books.
Collect some paperback Silver Age stories to learn more about the characters and comic books you want to invest in.
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