CollectionPlnr

Golden Age Key Comics

We list 118 Golden Age key issues dated 1935 to 1955, from DC, Archie and Marvel and 24 other publishers.

We count a book as Golden Age by its cover or on-sale year: 1955 and earlier.

They are ranked by how many copies CGC has graded, a rough measure of collector demand, then by release date. 84 of them have CGC census counts.

List as of October 9, 2026, from the CollectionPlnr catalog.

Showing 61-118 of 118

  1. Sure-Fire Comics #1

    #61

    Sure-Fire Comics #1 (1940)

    Ace Magazines [1940s-1950s]

    First appearance of The Raven.

    The Raven

    CGC graded: 20

  2. Large Feature Comic #16

    #62

    Large Feature Comic #16 (1941)

    Dell

    First appearance of Daisy Duck.

    Daisy Duck

    CGC graded: 19

  3. Pep Comics #62 cover

    #63

    Pep Comics #62 (1947)

    Archie

    First appearance of Li'l Jinx.

    Li'l Jinx

    CGC graded: 18

  4. Leave It to Binky #1 cover

    #64

    Leave It to Binky #1 (1947)

    DC

    First appearance of Binky Biggs, Peggy Baxter, Allergy Biggs.

    Binky Biggs, Peggy Baxter

    CGC graded: 18

  5. Green Hornet Comics #1

    #65

    Green Hornet Comics #1 (1940)

    Temerson / Helnit / Continental

    First appearance of Britt Reid, The Green Hornet, Kato.

    Britt Reid, Kato, The Green Hornet

    CGC graded: 16

  6. Joker Comics #2 cover

    #66

    Joker Comics #2 (1942)

    Marvel

    First appearance of Tessie the Typist.

    CGC graded: 16

  7. Pep Comics #46 cover

    #67

    Pep Comics #46 (1943)

    Archie

    First appearance of Pop Tate.

    Pop Tate

    CGC graded: 16

  8. Archie's Pal Jughead #5

    #68

    Archie's Pal Jughead #5 (1951)

    Archie

    First appearance of Midge Klump.

    Midge Klump

    CGC graded: 16

  9. Pep Comics #1 cover

    #69

    Pep Comics #1 (1939)

    Archie

    First appearance of Joe Higgins, The Shield, The Comet.

    Joe Higgins, The Comet, The Shield

    CGC graded: 13

  10. Lightning Comics #6

    #70

    Lightning Comics #6 (1941)

    Ace Magazines [1940s-1950s]

    First appearance of Dr. Nemesis.

    Dr. Nemesis

    CGC graded: 13

  11. Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1

    #71

    Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 (1939)

    First Funnies, Inc.

    First appearance of The Sub-Mariner.

    The Sub-Mariner

    CGC graded: 9

  12. Black Diamond Western #9

    #72

    Black Diamond Western #9 (1949)

    Lev Gleason [1930s-1950s]

    First appearance of The Black Diamond.

    CGC graded: 9

  13. Tim Holt #25

    #73

    Tim Holt #25 (1951)

    Magazine Enterprises

    First appearance of Black Phantom, Helena.

    Black Phantom, Helena

    CGC graded: 9

  14. Dennis the Menace #1

    #74

    Dennis the Menace #1 (1953)

    Pines

    First appearance of Dennis Mitchell, Alice Mitchell, Henry Mitchell.

    Alice Mitchell, Dennis Mitchell, Henry Mitchell

    CGC graded: 8

  15. Pep Comics #26 cover

    #75

    Pep Comics #26 (1942)

    Archie

    First appearance of Veronica Lodge.

    Veronica Lodge

    CGC graded: 7

  16. Flash Comics #1 cover

    #76

    Flash Comics #1 (1939)

    DC

    First appearance of The Flash, The Hawkman, Johnny Thunder.

    Johnny Thunder, The Flash

    CGC graded: 6

  17. Feature Comics #23

    #77

    Feature Comics #23 (1939)

    Quality Comics

    First appearance of Charlie Chan.

    Charlie Chan

    CGC graded: 4

  18. Leave It to Binky #2 cover

    #78

    Leave It to Binky #2 (1948)

    DC

    First appearance of Sherwood Nelson.

    CGC graded: 4

  19. Four Color #552

    #79

    Four Color #552 (1954)

    Dell

    First appearance of General Halftrack.

    General Halftrack

    CGC graded: 3

  20. Popeye #33

    #80

    Popeye #33 (1955)

    Dell

    First appearance of O. G. Wotasnozzle, Sappo.

    CGC graded: 3

  21. Action Comics #1 cover

    #81

    Action Comics #1 (1938)

    DC

    First appearance of Clark Kent, Superman, Lois Lane. Origin of Clark Kent. Origin of Superman.

    Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Superman

    CGC graded: 2

  22. Marvelman #25 cover

    #82

    Marvelman #25 (1954)

    L. Miller & Son

    First appearance of Micky Moran, Marvelman.

    Marvelman

    CGC graded: 2

  23. Startling Comics #1

    #83

    Startling Comics #1 (1940)

    Pines

    First appearance of Captain Future, Dr. Andrew Bryant.

    Captain Future

    CGC graded: 1

  24. Wonder Woman #1 cover

    #84

    Wonder Woman #1 (1942)

    DC

    First appearance of Aphrodite. Origin of Wonder Woman. Origin of Hippolyte.

    Aphrodite

    CGC graded: 1

  25. New Fun #6 cover

    #85

    New Fun #6 (1935)

    DC

    First appearance of Dr. Occult.

    Dr. Occult

  26. Wags [UK] #46

    #86

    Wags [UK] #46 (1938)

    Editors Press Service

    First appearance of Sheena.

    Sheena

  27. New York World's Fair Comics #[1]

    #87

    New York World's Fair Comics #[1] (1939)

    DC

    First appearance of The Sandman.

    The Sandman

  28. Superman #[1]

    #88

    Superman #[1] (1939)

    DC

    First appearance of Mary Kent, Pa Kent, George Taylor. Death of Mary Kent. Death of Pa Kent.

    George Taylor, Mary Kent, Pa Kent

  29. Amazing Man Comics #5

    #89

    Amazing Man Comics #5 (1939)

    Centaur

    First appearance of Amazing Man.

    Amazing Man

  30. Marvel Comics #1 cover

    #90

    Marvel Comics #1 (1939)

    Marvel

    First appearance of The Human Torch, The Angel. Origin of Jim Hammond. Origin of The Human Torch.

    The Angel, The Human Torch

  31. Flash Comics [ashcan] #1

    #91

    Flash Comics [ashcan] #1 (1940)

    Fawcett

    First appearance of Dr. Thaddeus Bodog Sivana, Shazam. Death of Shazam.

    Dr. Thaddeus Bodog Sivana, Shazam

  32. The Spirit #6/2/1940

    #92

    The Spirit #6/2/1940 (1940)

    Register and Tribune Syndicate

    First appearance of The Spirit, Commissioner Dolan, Ebony White. Origin of Kenneth St. Germain. Origin of Mr. Mystic.

    Commissioner Dolan, Ebony White, The Spirit

  33. The Spirit #6/9/1940

    #93

    The Spirit #6/9/1940 (1940)

    Register and Tribune Syndicate

    First appearance of Ellen Dolan.

    Ellen Dolan

  34. Marvel Mystery Comics #13 cover

    #94

    Marvel Mystery Comics #13 (1940)

    Marvel

    First appearance of Aarkus, The Vision. Origin of Aarkus. Origin of The Vision.

    The Vision

  35. The Human Torch #2 cover

    #95

    The Human Torch #2 (1940)

    Marvel

    First appearance of Toro.

    Toro

  36. Blue Bolt #8 [8]

    #96

    Blue Bolt #8 [8] (1940)

    Novelty / Premium / Curtis

    First appearance of George Washington.

    George Washington

  37. Prize Comics #7 (7)

    #97

    Prize Comics #7 (7) (1940)

    Prize

    First appearance of Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein. Origin of Frankenstein.

    Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein

  38. Exciting Comics #3 (9)

    #98

    Exciting Comics #3 (9) (1941)

    Pines

    First appearance of The Black Terror.

    The Black Terror

  39. Marvel Mystery Comics #21 cover

    #99

    Marvel Mystery Comics #21 (1941)

    Marvel

    First appearance of Death.

    Death

  40. U. S. A. Comics [USA Comics; U.S.A. Comics] #1

    #100

    U. S. A. Comics [USA Comics; U.S.A. Comics] #1 (1941)

    Marvel

    First appearance of The Whizzer.

    The Whizzer

  41. The Spirit #6/22/1941 cover

    #101

    The Spirit #6/22/1941 (1941)

    Register and Tribune Syndicate

    First appearance of Algernon Tidewater.

  42. The Funnies #61

    #102

    The Funnies #61 (1941)

    Dell

    First appearance of Andy Panda.

    Andy Panda

  43. Marvel Mystery Comics #27 cover

    #103

    Marvel Mystery Comics #27 (1941)

    Marvel

    First appearance of Lucifer Satan.

  44. The Funnies #64

    #104

    The Funnies #64 (1942)

    Dell

    First appearance of Woody Woodpecker.

    Woody Woodpecker

  45. Air Fighters Comics #2 [2]

    #105

    Air Fighters Comics #2 [2] (1942)

    Hillman

    First appearance of David Nelson II, Airboy. Origin of David Nelson II. Origin of Airboy.

    Airboy

  46. Air Fighters Comics #3 [3]

    #106

    Air Fighters Comics #3 [3] (1942)

    Hillman

    First appearance of The Heap.

    The Heap

  47. Air Fighters Comics #2 [14]

    #107

    Air Fighters Comics #2 [14] (1943)

    Hillman

    First appearance of Valkyrie.

    Valkyrie

  48. Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #9 (69)

    #108

    Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #9 (69) (1946)

    Dell

    First appearance of Chip, Dale.

    Chip, Dale

  49. The Spirit #10/6/1946

    #109

    The Spirit #10/6/1946 (1946)

    Register and Tribune Syndicate

    First appearance of P'Gell.

    P'Gell

  50. Dynamic Comics #23

    #110

    Dynamic Comics #23 (1947)

    Superior

    First appearance of Yankee Girl.

    Yankee Girl

  51. Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan #3

    #111

    Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan #3 (1948)

    Dell

    First appearance of Jane Porter.

    Jane Porter

  52. The Spirit #7/31/1949 cover

    #112

    The Spirit #7/31/1949 (1949)

    Register and Tribune Syndicate

    First appearance of Sammy.

    Sammy

  53. Charles Starrett as the Durango Kid #1

    #113

    Charles Starrett as the Durango Kid #1 (1949)

    Magazine Enterprises

    First appearance of The Durango Kid.

    The Durango Kid

  54. Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #8 (140)

    #114

    Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #8 (140) (1952)

    Dell

    First appearance of Gyro Gearloose.

    Gyro Gearloose

  55. The Adventures of Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis #1 cover

    #115

    The Adventures of Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis #1 (1952)

    DC

    First appearance of Jerry Lewis.

    Jerry Lewis

  56. The Phantom Stranger #1 cover

    #116

    The Phantom Stranger #1 (1952)

    DC

    First appearance of The Phantom Stranger.

    The Phantom Stranger

  57. The Purple Claw #1

    #117

    The Purple Claw #1 (1952)

    Toby

    First appearance of Dr. Jonathan Weir, The Purple Claw. Origin of Dr. Jonathan Weir. Origin of The Purple Claw.

  58. The Mad Reader #93 [1]

    #118

    The Mad Reader #93 [1] (1954)

    Ballantine Books

    First appearance of Alfred E. Neuman.

    Alfred E. Neuman

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