Action Comics No 1, the iconic comic book that introduced Superman to the world in 1938, has sold for a staggering $15 million (£11.2 million) to an anonymous collector. This auction breaks the record for the highest price paid for any comic book. It only deepens the comic’s importance as one of the most pivotal pieces of American pop culture history. The transaction was made possible through the joint efforts of New York, NY-based Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect. They are the ones brokering the transaction between the public buyer and private seller, both of whom wish to remain anonymous.
In fact, this exact copy of Action Comics No. 1 set a record for the most expensive comic auctioned at $9.12 million in November. Its worth has skyrocketed in relatively little time. Fewer than 100 copies of this historic and influential comic are known to exist. This one specific copy earned a remarkable rating of nine out of ten points by the Certified Guaranty Company, an organization that authenticates fields. That grade is the joint-highest score ever given to any known copy of Action Comics No 1.
The comic’s dramatic backstory only enhances its mystique. Hollywood superstar Nicolas Cage purchased this very copy in 1996 for a then-record $150,000. At that time, a new record price! Just six months later, he sold it out from under himself at auction for a cool $2.2 million. He took advantage of the comic’s meteoric rise to fame and value.
Stephen Fishler, co-owner of Metropolis Collectibles, reflected on the effect of Cage’s connection to the comic on its worth.
“During that 11-year period, it skyrocketed in value. The thief made Nicolas Cage a lot of money by stealing it,” – Stephen Fishler.
Every comic collector knows Action Comics No. 1 is worth a lot of money. It was the comic that truly defined the superhero genre as we know it today. It’s full of beautiful stories. Included in that batch was Superman’s historic debut, which captivated readers and paved the way for thousands of superhero stories yet to be told. The comic’s influence has been compared to that of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, which was famously stolen from the Louvre museum in Paris in 1911.
“The recovery of the painting made the Mona Lisa go from being just a great Da Vinci painting to a world icon – and that’s what Action No 1 is. An icon of American pop culture,” – Stephen Fishler.
The record-breaking sale of Action Comics No 1 is just one sign of the developing trend of vintage comic books becoming popular investment assets. Fervent devotees and investors alike are keeping demand for the limited releases high, pushing prices to stratospheric levels. Comic book market is changing fast right now. We can’t wait to see what ever-increasing prices will set in the reauthorization of 2019!