1938 Superman Comic Sells for Record $15 Million

Historic Action Comics No. 1 Sets New Auction Record

A rare copy of Action Comics No. 1, the comic book that introduced Superman to the world in 1938, has been sold for a staggering $15 million (approximately €13 million) in a private deal, setting a new world record for comic books. The sale was conducted through online auction house ComicConnect and surpasses the previous record of $9.12 million set in November for Superman No. 1.

The Holy Grail of Comic Books

Vincent Zurzolo, COO of ComicConnect, described the significance of this historic issue: 'This is the Holy Grail of comic books. Without Superman and his popularity, there would be no Batman or other legendary superheroes.' The comic originally sold for just 10 cents in 1938 and marked the beginning of the entire superhero genre. Experts estimate only about 100 copies of this historic issue still exist today.

The 13-page Superman story was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, who were paid just $130 for their work on this issue. According to Wikipedia, the comic had an initial print run of 200,000 copies and featured Superman lifting a car over his head on its iconic cover.

A Stolen Treasure with Hollywood History

This particular copy has a dramatic history involving Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage. The comic was stolen from Cage's Los Angeles home in 2000 during a burglary that targeted his extensive comic collection. It remained missing for over a decade before being discovered in 2011 by a man who purchased the contents of an abandoned storage locker in California.

'The finder contacted authorities, and the comic was authenticated and returned to Cage,' explained Zurzolo. Cage had originally purchased the comic in 1996 for $150,000 and sold it at auction in 2011 for $2.2 million after its recovery. The current sale represents a massive appreciation in value over just 13 years.

Market Impact and Collector Interest

The record-breaking sale highlights the growing market for vintage comic books as serious investments. 'This sale says everything about the importance of this book,' Zurzolo noted. 'It's not just a comic - it's a piece of cultural history that launched an entire industry.'

ComicConnect, which holds multiple Guinness World Records for comic sales, has pioneered third-party grading systems that have made comics more accessible to investors. The company's unique auction system allows extended bidding in the final minutes to prevent 'sniping' and ensure fair competition.

Both the buyer and seller in this record transaction have chosen to remain anonymous, adding to the mystery surrounding this historic sale. The previous record for Action Comics No. 1 was $3.25 million in 2021, making this $15 million sale a remarkable leap in comic book valuation.