A particularly prized copy of the first-ever Marvel comic book sold for more than $2.4 million in an online auction. Known as the Marvel Comics #1 “pay copy,” it’s “arguably one of the top three comic books in the world of comics collecting,” said Vincent Zurzolo, chief operating officer of ComicConnect. The New York-based auctioneer sold the book Thursday night for a bit under $2,427,800. No words on who bought the thing. Published in 1939, Marvel Comics #1 introduced characters including Sub-Mariner and the original Human Torch, a precursor of the character of the same name that was later a member of Marvel’s Fantastic Four. The book launched what became the Marvel universe of comics, movies, TV shows and video games. The well-preserved “pay copy” is especially sought-after because it bears the publisher’s handwritten notes recording how much the multiple writers and artists were paid. For example, Frank R. Paul earned $25 for drawing the cover of a book now worth nearly 100,000 times as much.
Marvel Comics #1, published in 1939, just sold at auction for $2,427,800. As a special “pay copy”, it is one of rarest comics in the world. | #Marvel #MarvelComics pic.twitter.com/tmcDRtERMJ
— IGN (@IGN) March 19, 2022
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