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Your narrator, the Leader
The Library of Congress has one of the largest comic book collections in the world. The librarians claim to have at least 6,000 separate titles from the 1930s to present for a total of over 200,000 issues. The comic books are in the James Madison building and can be viewed by visitors in the Newspaper & Current Periodicals Reading Room. The Library acquires its comic books from the copyright laws that require a publisher to submit two copies of a new publication to the Copyright Office to secure the copyright. The Leader visited the Library on 25 October 2012 to enjoy and photograph some old comics. All of the comics shown are the earliest issue of that title possessed by the Library.

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Library Of Congress's James Madison Building
The Leader is pleased that one of the largest comic book collections on planet Earth has suitable accommodations. This colossal marble edifice named after America's fourth President is more than adequate. In addition to comic books, many more of the nation's historical, literary and art treasures are stored here.
Newspaper & Current Periodical Reading Room
Visitors, not even the Leader, are allowed to enter the storage vaults where the comic books are kept. The librarians bring you the comics you requested and you view them here. Photography of this room is forbidden but the Leader took a picture anyway when the library staff wasn't looking and smuggled it out for you. The scanner at left in the foreground is where he photographed the comic books shown here.
Action Comics #52, 1942
The Leader knows Superman of course but not being a DC fan he doesn't know who these other four guys are.
Adventure Comics #60, 1941
Sandman cover
All-American Comics #20, 1940
Green Lantern cover
All Star Comics #8, 1941
Justice Society Of America cover
Batman #135, 1960
Strange that the first 134 issues aren't available.
Detective Comics #1, 1937
Analomous high grade copy. Most of the older comics here aren't this nice.
Detective Comics #1 interior pages
Buck Marshall with b&w artwork.
Detective Comics #1 interior pages.
Showcase #1, 1956
Superman #1, 1939
High grade reading copy. Your tax dollars at work: the Library didn't have a sample of Superman #1 so the librarians bought a CGC graded Apparent Very Fine copy. They took the book out of the plastic CGC slab so it could be read by visiting researchers. The Leader is sure that with this high grade book being used as a reading copy it won't stay high grade forever.
Superman #1 interior pages
Baby Superman arrives on Earth from Krypton and is adopted by Ma and Pa Kent.
Superman #1 interior pages
Young Superman testing his powers and applying for a job at the Daily Star newspaper.
Superman #1 interior pages
Marvel Mystery Comics #62, 1945
Mystic Comics #9, 1942
Destroyer vs. Hitler cover
Mystic Comics #9 interior pages
Adolf Hitler panels.
Human Torch #35, 1949
Amazing Fantasy #15, 1962
All of the Library's comic books are stored in a cardboard envelope with a clear plastic front.
Amazing Fantasy #15, 1962
Identification stickers are on the back of each envelope.
Fantastic Four #5, 1962
Dr. Doom cover. This copy has the Copyright Office seal.
The Incredible Hulk #3, 1962
This copy has the Copyright Office seal.
The Amazing Spider-Man #1, 1963
This copy has the Copyright Office seal.
The X-Men #3, 1964
This copy has the Copyright Office seal.