Crisis on Infinite Earths: Superman Key Issues to Collect

Published between April 1985 and March 1986,Crisis on Infinite Earthsby Marv Wolfman and George Pérez is the maxi-series that redefined the DC Comics universe. For Superman collectors, this event is doubly important: it marks the tragic death of Supergirl (Kara Zor-El) and the complete reboot of Superman continuity, paving the way for the John Byrne era.

This guide identifies key Crisis on Infinite Earths issues of specific interest to Superman collectors, along with their current odds, variants to watch out for, and oft-forgotten tie-ins that round out this major thematic collection.

Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 — The Death of Supergirl

Crisis on Infinite Earths #7(October 1985) is undoubtedly the most important issue of the series for Superman collectors. George Pérez's iconic cover shows Superman holding the lifeless body of Kara Zor-El — an image that has become one of the most famous in DC comics history.

This cover has been honored dozens of times since 1985, in titles ranging from Batman to Infinite Crisis, maintaining its cultural relevance with each new generation of readers.

Current odds (2026)

CGC 9.8: $250-400 — Demand remains strong, fueled by the film “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” and collectors’ nostalgia for the Bronze/Copper era.

CGC 9.6: $100-150 — A great entry point for this major issue.

CGC 9.4: $60-80 — Very affordable for such a historically significant issue.

Unranked, NM: $30-50 — Abundant on the market but copies with blank pages are becoming rare.

Variants and particularities

There is no significant newsstand variant for this issue, but Canadian Price Variant (CPV) copies priced in Canadian dollars are sought after by specialists and command a premium of 50-100% in high grades.

Crisis on Infinite Earths #12 — The End of the Multiverse

The final issue of the series (March 1986) concludes the destruction of the original DC multiverse and establishes the new One Earth. For Superman, it is the end of the pre-Crisis era: the Superman of Earth-2 (Kal-L) is exiled to a paradise dimension, a plot point which will be taken up in Infinite Crisis twenty years later.

Current odds (2026)

CGC 9.8: $80-150 — Cheaper than #7 because the emotional impact is less, but it is a structurally crucial number.

CGC 9.6:$40-70 — Very good value for a conclusion issue.

Unranked, NM: $15-25 — Easily found in dollar bins in VF condition or less.

Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 — The Beginning of the End

The first issue (April 1985) marks the start of the event with the first destructions of parallel Earths. George Pérez delivers dense coverage showing dozens of DC heroes. This is the first appearance of the Anti-Monitor (in shadow) and the Blue Beetle (Ted Kord) in the DC Universe.

CGC 9.8: $150-250 — Steadily rising since 2020, driven by nostalgia and the cinematic potential of the Anti-Monitor.

CGC 9.6: $60-90 — Recommended entry point for collectors on a budget.

Essential Superman tie-ins

Superman #414-415 (1985-1986)

These issues directly tie the Crisis storyline into the main Superman title. #414 shows Superman discovering the threat from the Anti-Monitor while #415 deals with the immediate aftermath. Value in NM: $8-15 each — very affordable to complete a Crisis collection.

Action Comics #583 — “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” (Part 2)

Published in September 1986,Action Comics #583contains the second part of the pre-Crisis Superman farewell story written byAlan Mooreand drawn by Curt Swan. This is the last story of the Silver Age Superman, published just before John Byrne's reboot. In CGC 9.8, this number is worth$150-250, carried by the prestige of Alan Moore.

Superman #423 — “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” (Part 1)

The first part of this Alan Moore masterpiece in Superman #423 (September 1986) trades at$120-200in CGC 9.8. The Swan cover showing Superman in front of the statue of his fallen allies is iconic.

DC Comics Presents #87 — First Appearance of Superboy-Prime

This often overlooked tie-in (November 1985) contains thefirst appearance of Superboy-Prime, who would become a major antagonist in Infinite Crisis and Final Crisis. CGC 9.8:$200-350. A sleeper that has exploded in value in recent years.

Crisis/Superman collection strategy

To assemble a cohesive Superman-centric Crisis collection, here is the recommended order of priority:

Priority 1: Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 (the death of Supergirl — the essential key issue)

Priority 2: Superman #423 + Action Comics #583 (the Alan Moore diptych, the perfect farewell to pre-Crisis Superman)

Priority 3: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 and #12 (start and end of the event)

Priority 4: DC Comics Presents #87 (Superboy-Prime, upside potential linked to adaptations)

Priority 5: The complete Crisis series #1-12 in uniform grades (9.4+ recommended for consistent display)

The total budget for a quality Crisis/Superman collection in CGC 9.6+ is between$800 and $1,500according to market opportunities. It's a reasonable investment to own one of the most important chapters in Superman history.