The first comic book to ever feature Captain America just became one of the world's most valuable after selling at auction for more than $3 million.
"Captain America Comics No. 1" sold Thursday for $3.1 million. The 45-page first edition comic book features super soldier Steve Rogers' debut. It also introduced Cap's sidekick Bucky and their Nazi nemesis Red Skull.
The cover features Cap punching Adolph Hitler and fighting against the Nazis. The issue is dated March 1941 — nine months before the United States entered World War II, the New York Times reported.
The sale puts the issue among the most-expensive comics ever sold. The top spot belongs to "Amazing Fantasy #15," featuring the first appearance of Spider-Man, which sold for a record $3.6 in 2014. Two copies of "Action Comics No. 1," marking Superman's first appearance, are the second and third most expensive comic books at $3.2 million. That makes the Captain America issue the world's fourth most expensive comic.
The comic was sold to an unidentified bidder during the first day of Heritage Auctions' Comics and Comic Art Signature Auction. The copy is considered near-mint, with a grade of 9.4 from Certified Guaranty Company.
Bidding opened at $1.8 million and "immediately jumped" to $2.2 million, Heritage Auctions said in a statement.
"When bidding finally closed on this stunning book, the auction room erupted with applause," the statement said.
Barry Sandoval, vice president of Heritage Auctions, said a resurgence of interest in superheroes has turned comic books into hot ticket items.
"The Covid-19 era sort of led to a general explosion in collectibles. That's part of it," Sandoval told The Post. "The fact that Captain America has been in so many recent movies, I think that gives people a better comfort level."
During the same auction, a copy of the Fantastic Four's 1961 debut sold for $1.5 million, marking the first time Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, the Human Torch and The Thing's introduction has ever crossed the million-dollar mark.
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