In Marvel Universe news, the first appearance of Captain America and his sidekick Bucky, from the 1940 comic Captain America Comics No. 1 has been sold for $3.1 million. On Thursday, the sale marks the record for the comic as it becomes one of the topmost expensive comics ever sold. The final price came in as $3,120,000, including the buyer’s premium. It was sold as a part of Heritage Auctions comics and comic arts event that continues through this Sunday. The comic was first seen on news stands in December 1940, a full year before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that would send the U.S. into World War Ⅱ. The comic features the iconic image of the hero punching Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. 

Jack Kirby and Joe Simon created the hero for the Timely Comics, Marvel’s predecessor, with the well-known story of the frail Steve Rogers who enlists in the army only to be injected with a serum that would make him a super-soldier. Bucky, the captain’s sidekick, was also introduced, who in contemporary times is known as The Winter Solider. The character is largely featured in Marvel studio movies and the Disney+ series. The comic was an instant hit and sold hundreds of thousands of copies a month. 

There are only three copies at the high CGC 9.4 grade left, and only one other time has one been up for auction. Vintage comics continue to draw in higher demand and higher price points, as this is only one of the three that has publically been sold for over $3M.  Prior, an Amazing Fantasy featuring the first appearance of Spider-Man sold for $3.6M, which holds the record for the most expensive comic. An Action Comic No. 1 was sold in 2014 for $3.2M before the craze for comics and comic art hit.