Action Comics 23 CGC 6.5

Just as Sherlock had Moriarty, so does Superman have his Alexei "Lex" Luthor, the template for all super-nemeses to follow, and arguably one of the best-known literary creations of the 20th Century in his own right. Initially, a standard evil-genius-with-a-death-ray stereotype developed by Siegel and Shuster for one of the anti-war potboilers for which the series was first known, Luthor quickly gained a style all his own, with a subsequent fan following, and flourished into one of the all-time great baddies. This comic features the first appearance of the character and is among the rarest of Golden Age keys.

Released in April 1940, Action Comics #23 shaped Superman’s legend for decades to come, the issue historically included the first appearance of Lex Luthor as well as the first mention of the Daily Planet. Thanks to the introduction of Superman's arch-villain and his famous workplace, this is one of the most resounding of Superman's key issues. This copy of Action Comics #23 earned a 6.5 CGC Universal Grade and has off-white to white pages.

The classic Shuster cover looks stunning here, with a sharp red logo and a beautiful central figure of the Man of Steel rushing to the aid of a damsel in distress.

This is a major key and a rare find. There are only 10 CGC Universal Grade copies higher than 6.5, with less than 150 total copies recorded on the CGC Census. Lex Luthor has appeared in Superman serials, shows, movies, cartoons, comics, and other media since his first appearance in this issue.

Along with Ma and Pa Kent, Lois Lane, and Jimmy Olsen, Lex Luthor is one of the most frequently recurring and important characters in the Superman mythos. Every generation and every fan has their own take on Lex Luthor, and this is a gorgeous copy of his very first appearance.