Ever dream of finding a hidden treasure in your own home? For some lucky folks, that dream came true in the most colorful way imaginable – by discovering incredibly valuable comic books tucked away in attics, basements, and even walls! These aren’t just old funny papers; they’re cornerstone pieces of pop culture history, worth astounding amounts of money. You might be surprised at what could be hiding in plain sight. Get ready to be amazed by these ten true stories of comic book riches unearthed from unsuspecting homes!
10. Superman Saves the House from Foreclosure
Imagine facing foreclosure, your dreams of a new business crumbling during the tough economic times of the Great Recession. That’s exactly what a couple in the American South experienced in 2010. Behind on their mortgage payments, the bank was about to take their home. With heavy hearts, they began packing, preparing for the worst.
While searching for packing boxes in their basement, they stumbled upon a small stack of old comic books. Most were ordinary, but one stood out – a copy of Action Comics #1, the 1938 debut of Superman! Understanding they might have something special, they contacted ComicConnect, an auction house specializing in comics. Experts at Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) graded the comic a 5.0 (Very Fine/Good). This incredible find sold for a life-changing $436,000, literally saving their home from foreclosure. It seems Superman’s heroism extends beyond the comic pages!
9. Priceless Treasures Saved from the Trash
In early 1977, Chuck Rozanski, owner of Mile High Comics in Boulder, Colorado, received a phone call that would change comic book collecting forever. A realtor was trying to sell a house, but there was a big problem: the basement was overflowing with comic books that needed to be removed immediately. Rozanski had to agree to take all of them to make a deal.
The collection belonged to Edgar Church, a commercial illustrator who bought nearly every American comic published between 1937 and 1957 to stay current with industry trends. His family just wanted them gone to sell the house. It appeared Church read most comics once, penciled a date on them, and then carefully stored them away. The result? What CGC calls “the most remarkable collection of vintage comic books ever discovered.” Known as the Edgar Church/Mile High Collection, it features key issues in pristine condition, setting new standards for grading and pricing rare comics. A true treasure trove saved from almost certain disposal!
8. The Action Comics #1 Used as Insulation
In 2013, contractor David Gonzalez and his wife Deanna bought a fixer-upper home in Elbow Lake, Minnesota, for a mere $10,100. While renovating and knocking down a wall, David discovered newspapers used as makeshift insulation. Mixed in with the old papers was an absolutely astonishing find: a copy of Action Comics #1! The house was built in 1938, the same year Superman first flew onto newsstands.
Even though it wasn’t in perfect condition, such an iconic and rare comic was bound to be valuable. Sadly, during an argument with a relative over the book’s worth, the back cover was ripped. This unfortunate incident dropped its estimated CGC grade from 3.0 to 1.5. Stephen Fisher of ComicConnect, after the comic sold for $175,000, remarked, “That was a $75,000 tear.” Still, a phenomenal discovery inside a wall!
7. The Previously Unknown Comic Book
Today’s Marvel Comics, a giant in movies and publishing, began as Timely Comics in 1939. That fall, Timely released Marvel Comics #1, introducing characters like the Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner, who are still popular today. For decades, it was believed this was the very start of the Marvel legacy. However, a shocking discovery in 1974 in the home of an art studio head changed everything.
Lloyd Jacquet was the head of Funnies, Inc., the studio that supplied artwork to Timely in 1939. After he passed away, his heirs found six copies of a previously unknown comic, Motion Pictures Funnies Weekly #1, among his belongings during an estate sale. This comic contained the same Sub-Mariner story that appeared in Marvel Comics #1, rewriting Marvel’s early history. It turned out this book was intended as a movie theater giveaway, but the idea never took off. The stories were then sold to Timely. This closet find is not only incredibly rare but also a vital piece of Marvel history.
6. Nicolas Cage’s Comic in the Storage Unit
Action Comics #1, the world’s most valuable comic book with only about 100 copies known to exist, has a knack for appearing in unexpected places. While this particular copy wasn’t found in a home, it was discovered where people store items that don’t fit in their houses – a storage unit.
In 2011, a stunning copy of Action Comics #1 surfaced in an abandoned California storage unit. The lucky buyer of the unit’s contents knew they had something special. After some investigation, it was revealed to be the very copy stolen from actor Nicolas Cage in January 2000! Cage, a huge Superman fan, once owned pristine copies of both Action Comics #1 and Detective Comics #27 (Batman’s debut), both of which were stolen from his home. Though he’d sold the rest of his collection, he wanted his Superman comic back. It’s unclear if he was reunited with it after his insurance company had covered the theft. The “storage unit” Action Comics #1 was auctioned in 2011, but the seller’s identity (Cage, the insurance company, or the unit buyer) remains a mystery.
5. The Allentown Pedigree
CGC recognizes exceptional collections of vintage comics, originally bought new and preserved by their first owner, as “Pedigree Collections.” Only 61 collections currently hold this prestigious title. One of the most treasured pedigrees was literally found forgotten in a closet for decades. We’ve all heard stories of moms throwing out comic book collections, but what if Mom carefully boxed them up and saved them?
That’s the heartwarming story behind the Allentown Pedigree, named for the Pennsylvania town of its origin. The original owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, bought just 135 comics in his youth. Yet, this relatively small collection included monumental key issues like Detective Comics #27, Marvel Comics #1, Captain America #1, and Batman #1. This dates the collection to between 1939 and 1941, when the owner’s mother packed them away in a closet. They remained untouched and undiscovered until 1987, when two comic dealers purchased them. Though now spread among various owners, the Allentown Pedigree is still celebrated as one of the highest-graded Golden Age comic collections ever found.
4. Treasure in the Hoarder House
Many of us have seen hoarder houses on TV and wouldn’t dream of venturing inside. But in 2017, Rene Nezhoda, a thrift store owner from the San Diego area, decided the risk was worth it. He heard a hoarder house in Los Angeles might contain valuable collectibles. His gamble paid off spectacularly! The house was indeed packed with rarities, including some highly sought-after 1960s comic books.
Among the piles of clutter and, unfortunately, less desirable items, Nezhoda found a copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 – the first appearance of Spider-Man and one of the most valuable Silver Age comics. Video footage shows Nezhoda in a hazmat suit navigating through mountains of items. “There were also rats and rat poop,” Rene admitted. “I’ve bought a lot of collections and houses in my life, and I have never been overwhelmed, but this house makes me overwhelmed.” A true testament to finding treasure in the most unlikely (and challenging) conditions!
3. The $3.5 Million Closet Find
In 2011, Heritage Auctions presented an unbelievable collection of 345 vintage comic books that ultimately sold for a staggering $3.5 million. Amazingly, these comics had only recently been discovered in a closet, where they had sat forgotten for many decades. Michael Rorrer of Oxnard, California, found them while helping to settle his late great-aunt’s affairs at her Virginia home. There, in a basement closet, lay the long-lost collection.
The hoard included several monumental key issues, such as Action Comics #1, Detective Comics #27, and Batman #1. They had originally belonged to his great-uncle, Billy Wright, who purchased them over nine years. This batch of comics was so impressive that CGC designated it as one of its newest Pedigree Collections, named the Billy Wright Pedigree. It’s a powerful reminder to always double-check those old closets and basements in family homes – you never know what treasures might be waiting!
2. Batman in the Attic
For most homeowners, discovering bats in the attic spells trouble. But what if the “bat” in question is the iconic Batman, in his incredibly rare and valuable first appearance? That’s a reason to celebrate! In 2007, a Pennsylvania man cleaning out his attic stumbled upon a near-mint copy of Detective Comics #27, the 1939 comic that introduced the Caped Crusader to the world. He subsequently sold this amazing find to Todd McDevitt, owner of New Dimension Comics.
McDevitt mentioned he’d been saving since 1986 for the day a truly rare and valuable comic might come through his shop. Reports after the 2007 sale indicated McDevitt was keeping his prized possession in a bank vault. It’s unknown if he has since sold it, but with copies of Detective Comics #27 now fetching as much as $1.5 million, it wouldn’t be surprising if this attic treasure has since found a new home through auction.
1. The Promise Collection
The newest addition to CGC’s Pedigree Collection list is one of the largest, boasting over 5,000 Golden Age comics, and it comes with one of the most touching origin stories. It involves two anonymous brothers, known only as Robert and Junie. In the early 1950s, Robert was drafted into the Army to fight in Korea. His younger brother, Junie, soon enlisted as well. Before leaving, Junie asked Robert for one thing: if he didn’t make it back, he wanted Robert to take care of his beloved comic book collection. Robert promised he would.
Tragically, Junie was killed in combat at the young age of 21. True to his word, Robert kept his promise. He carefully boxed up all of Junie’s comics and stored them in the attic of their family home. There they remained, forgotten for nearly seventy years. When the comics were finally rediscovered, the family realized the collection’s immense size and importance. They meticulously transferred the comics to protective bags and cataloged them. In honor of Robert’s solemn vow to his brother, CGC named this incredible find the Promise Collection. Starting in 2021, parts of this collection, with books in phenomenal condition, began to hit the auction market, capturing massive attention from collectors worldwide.
These incredible stories show that sometimes, the greatest treasures are hidden right under our noses – or over our heads in the attic! While finding an Action Comics #1 might be rarer than winning the lottery, it’s always fun to dream and maybe, just maybe, take a peek in those old boxes.
Have you ever stumbled upon an unexpected treasure in your home? Or do you dream of finding a rare comic? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below!
