A CGC-certified 9.2 copy of Tales to Astonish #27, the first appearance of Ant-Man, was sold for $65,000 by Pedigree Comics on December 15, according to Scoop.
 
The book’s record price has gone up considerably since the same copy sold for a (then record) price of $45,000, also by Pedigree Comics in May 2010.  The same copy sold for $32,500 by Pedigree in October 2009 – which makes that a 100% appreciation in a little over 4 years.
 
"Featuring the first appearance of the Ant-Man, Tales to Astonish #27 is one of the earliest, most popular and valuable early Silver Age keys, ranked as #12 according to latest listing in The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #43," said Doug Schmell, President and CEO of Pedigree Comics.  "It is also universally considered the most difficult Silver Age Marvel first appearance issue to locate in high grade, more so than even Incredible Hulk #1."  This copy is the second highest CGC-certified example, and is considered the third best copy extant behind only two in 9.4.  (It is also the only 9.2 certified to date.)
 
The cover of Tales to Astonish #27 was done by Jack Kirby, and "The Man in the Ant Hill!" story by Stan Lee was penciled by Kirby and inked by Dick Ayers.
 
Ant-Man is a relatively minor character in the Marvel pantheon, but it was one of the first, and is getting added heat now due to the plans for a movie (see "Paul Rudd as Ant-Man").