Set Description
On April 18, 1938 Action Comics #1 (cover dated June) arrived on newsstands, introducing the world to Superman. Action Comics became the main theme of my CGC collection because of two pocket books published in 1993 and 1994, showcasing the first 600 covers. I found these books when I was 12 years old and just getting into comic books. I spent hours flipping through these little books, enjoying the great covers throughout the various decades, my parents also approved and enjoyed many of these covers with me. The covers of the 1970s became my favorite, thanks to artists like Nick Cardy, Neal Adams and José Luis GarcÃa-López. I also enjoy the fantastic World War II covers from the 1940s, the covers from the 1950s also have some enjoyable gems.
This set contains at least one 9.8, ‘WHITE Pages’ example from 1968 through 1994, I also have several pieces from the following pedigrees; John G. Fantucchio, Massachusetts (Mass. Copy), Oakland, Pacific Coast (2x), Rocky Mountain (15x), Suscha News, Twin Cities, Western Penn and Winnipeg (2x).
The first half of the 1970s (15 to 25-cent cover prices and 52 to 100 Page Giants) is my favorite era of Action Comics to collect. This is a time when the covers went back to simplicity, emphasizing figure drawing against a minimal background; the title logo was enlarged again for a time, going back to the title’s original look. After the campy Silver Age of comics in the 1950s and ‘60s, with Superman often looked perplexed, Superman started looking super again.
I also have an interest for issues 501 to 700 (1979-1994), if I can get them for the right price. Issues from this period were printed during a time of increasing popularity of specialty comic shops over newsstands and drug stores. The industry’s finest artists and writers continued to contribute during this period. Ross Andru and Dick Giordano teamed up for several amazing covers from the late '70s to mid ‘80s for example. Veteran artist Gil Kane (Green Lantern, Atom) also brought in several visually spectacular covers around 1983-84. Industry superstar John Byrne (X-Men) also lent his talents to revamp Superman for a new generation in the late ‘80s. The late ‘80s and early ‘90s have some of my favorite covers and stories from my childhood. While these issues are considered common, I still find collecting them to be rewarding, and a little more affordable.
Recommended References:
75 Years of DC Comics: The Art Of Modern Mythmaking by Paul Levitz, 2010.
Action Comics: 80 Years of Superman the Deluxe Edition by Various, 2018.
The Krypton Companion, 2006. This looks at Superman comics from 1958 to 1986.
The Photo-Journal Guide to Comics Volume 1 (A-J), by Ernst Gerber, 1989.
Superman in Action Comics: Volume 1, Featuring the Complete Covers of the First 25 Years, 1993.
Superman in Action Comics: Volume 2, Featuring the Complete Covers of the Second 25 Years, 1994.
~From the Fourth Annual Comics Registry Awards: July, 24, 2009
"One of the qualities that factors into the judging for this category is the participant’s ability to share their set in a unique and personal way. The comments in this set allow us a window into the mind of this collector where we can understand the excitement in acquiring some of these issues."