Joe Palooka #No. 1
Harvey Comics • Joe Palooka Vol. 1
Writer
Ham Fisher
Interior Artist
Ham Fisher
Cover Artist
Ham Fisher
Publication Date
1942 (approximate)
Cover Variant
Regular
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
First issue of the Joe Palooka series by Harvey Comics. Based on the popular newspaper comic strip, it follows the adventures of Joe Palooka, a kind-hearted heavyweight boxing champion. This issue features Joe joining the Foreign Legion and battles in the desert.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Good/Very Good (CGC 3.0)
Condition Details
Moderate to heavy spine wear with visible paper loss along the spine and corners. Significant color breaking creases, soiling, and light foxing visible on the cover. Corner blunting and minor rounding. General tanning due to age and paper stock quality.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $300 - $600; Graded CGC 3.0: $800 - $1,200
Recent Sales
Very rare in any condition. Mid-grade copies (5.0-6.0) have fetched over $2,500 in past auctions, while lower grade copies (2.0-3.0) stay in the high hundreds due to Golden Age scarcity.
Grading Recommendation
Highly recommended for professional grading due to significant age and historical importance. Despite the lower grade, a slabbed No. 1 Harvey Golden Age key ensures authenticity and adds massive liquidity to the asset.
Notable Features
First appearance of Joe Palooka in his own solo comic title. Golden Age key. Contains racial caricatures typical of the era (his friend Smokey). Features 10c cover price.
Authentication Notes
The paper aging and spine chipping are consistent with 1940s newsprint. Cover saturation and ink diffusion patterns appear authentic for the period.