CGC Registry

Superman in Action: longing for "the 10 cent era"


Set Type: Action Comics #1-#500
Owner: Crazy Ed
Last Modified: 10/2/2024
Views: 1929

Rank: 2
Score: 27302
Leading by: 8640
Points to Higher Rank: 3387

Set Description:

I am a baby boomer all the way, and I grew to love "Adventures of Superman" watching George Reeves and Noel Neill play Clark & Lois in the early Black & White shows taped in the early 1950's, but replayed for me in the early sixties.

By the publication of Action Comics # 300, a great book titled "Superman under a Red Sun", the 10 cent era of comics was virtually over. Though a few independant publishing stragglers had 15 cent or still 10 cent cover prices notwithstanding, by 1962 DC ended the "block 10 era" or "still 10 cent" cover price and announced, with regrets the change to 12 cents. For all of 1962, DC's employed the "block 12 cent" pricing. I know some collectors who favor these books as their childhood favorites, although I started collecting actively after the 300th issue of Action.

The Silver era of Superman appearances in Action comics through the end of the 60's  has some of the best Curt Swan (Superman OR Supergirl) covers of the Silver Age. By the end of the 60's, the 12 cent cover price era was replaced by 15 cents and with Action Comics, Curt Swan had been replaced by Neal Adams taking over many cover duties.

My block of CGC Action comics from 1-500 is heavy on the Silver age books; I have a complete run of Action from # 200 up in raw state. My CGC inventory of Action Comics concentrated on 1st appearances and major characters-my acquisition of Luthors' 1st appearance, Action 23 is a story in itself!  But major players regularly making appearances in Action comics pre-300 include Supergirl (Action 252, 285) Luthor (23 of course, but 292 & 298 have great Luthor covers!), Bizarro (Action 254-55), Comet the Superhorse (Action 292-293), early Legion (Action 267, 276) and Mon-el cameos (288, 297) were emphasized.

And even a golden age rehash called Congo Bill (I have what I believe is the 2nd best copy of Action 248, the 1st Congorilla).

I am, by the way, still looking for a nice CGC copy of the 1st Brainiac (Action 242)! My reader copy is waiting!

To see a shot of me during this era, CHECK OUT THE 2nd Picture-Issue 310 (my 1st Action owned as a kid).

WANT TO SEE ALL COVERS from ISSUE 1-300? Look at Issue 300 and the 2nd shot-I highly recommend the pocket book shown which is called "Superman in Action Comics". This tiny gem (there is a similar book for Detective Comics) publishes color images and artist info on every Action comics cover from # 1-300, the 1st 25 years of Superman. Its introduction was written by a long time industry friend of mine (and friend to DC fans worldwide), Mark Waid.

I also registered separately those CGC Action comics I own from 301-up.
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