Sold for: $350,000.00CGC: 9.0 Released whilst Marvel were still called Timely, Marvel Comics #1 saw the first appearance of the Human Torch! But, just to throw you off, this was a different Human Torch to the hothead who was later part of the Fantastic Four, Marvel's first family. This Human Torch was a robot who burst into flames due to the solar cells that powered him getting overloaded. Or something. Then he fought Nazis, because superheroes had real-life supervillains to fight back in those days. That clears it up, right? Or not. Perhaps that's why somebody stumped up the cash to buy a near mint copy of Marvel Comics #1 in a private sale in 2003. Or maybe it's because it's the first appearance of the Marvel name, which would later become synonymous with superhero comics and, later, superhero films. Either/or.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
