Heritage Auctions Offers Golden Age Classics Certified by CGC

Dozens of Golden Age comics that are certified by Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) are featured in a Heritage Auctions sale this month. Published during the time when comics were transitioning from the boom of superheroes to the rise of crime and romance comics, the selections are available in the Golden Age Century Comics Showcase Auction, which ends on July 18, 2025.

Among the highlights of this auction is a Pep Comics #20 graded CGC 5.0 (lot 82061), which was published in October 1941 by MLJ Magazines. This issue features America’s first patriotic superhero, The Shield — whose 1940 debut preceded Captain America. Alongside The Shield, the issue features other recurring classic action heroes like The Hangman and The Black Hood, delivering high-octane wartime adventure and crime-fighting drama.

MLJ began in the late 1930s with a lineup of patriotic and pulp-inspired superheroes, but everything changed with the debut of Archie Andrews in Pep Comics #22 in 1941. His lighthearted teen antics quickly struck a chord with readers, and as Archie’s popularity soared, MLJ shifted its focus away from costumed heroes toward humor and romance. By the mid-1940s, superheroes were phased out entirely, and MLJ rebranded as Archie Comics, building an empire around Riverdale’s favorite redhead.

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Also offered here is a Giant Comics Edition #12 Diary Secrets graded CGC 4.0 (lot 82038). This issue stands out as an early and influential entry in the romance genre's post-war boom. Known for its Matt Baker artwork, the issue features dramatic tales of love, betrayal and heartache, framed through the confessional lens of a diary.

Baker was a talented and influential comic artist, among the first Black artists in the industry, and he was known for his significant contributions during the Golden Age of comics. He gained widespread recognition for his dynamic artwork, particularly in the realms of romance, horror, crime and “Good Girl” comics with provocative images of women.

Other CGC-certified Golden Age comics in this auction include:

• an Adventure Comics #37 graded CGC 3.5 (lot 82002)
• an Amazing-Man Comics #5 (#1) graded CGC 1.5 (lot 82003)
• a Catman Comics #31 graded CGC 6.5 (lot 82020)
• a Crime Does Not Pay #33 graded CGC 5.0 (lot 82022)
• a Fight Comics #40 graded CGC 8.5 (lot 82029)
• a Scoop Comics #2 graded CGC 1.0 (lot 82064)
• a Target Comics #7 graded CGC 2.0 (lot 82081)
• a Top Love Stories #3 graded CGC 8.5 (lot 82085)
• a Whiz Comics #3 (#2) graded CGC 7.0 Conserved (lot 82096)
• a Wow Comics #9 graded CGC 4.5 (lot 82100)

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for sports cards, TCGs and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. CGC Home Video provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes, DVD, Blu-ray and more. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services.