A rare copy of Action Comics No 1 just sold for 15 million dollars. This is the 1938 book that introduced Superman to the world, and it originally cost about ten cents. To be fair, most ten cent investments do not usually end up buying you a private island or a fleet of supercars, but Clark Kent clearly has some serious staying power.
This particular copy has a history that reads like a script from a Hollywood blockbuster. It once belonged to the king of quirky cinema himself, Nicolas Cage. He bought it for 150,000 dollars back in 1996, which was a record at the time. Then, in a twist straight out of National Treasure, someone stole it from his house during a party in 2000.
The Great Comic Heist
The book stayed missing for eleven years. It eventually turned up in 2011 inside an abandoned storage unit in California. Apparently, the thief did Nicolas Cage a massive favour by nicking it. During the decade it was missing, the value of the comic shot up like a rocket. When Cage finally got it back, he sold it for 2.2 million dollars just six months later.
The broker who handled this latest 15 million dollar deal, Stephen Fishler, compared the theft to the time the Mona Lisawas stolen from the Louvre. He claims the mystery and the media circus made the comic an international icon. It is now the most expensive comic book in history, easily beating a Superman No 1 that sold for a measly 9 million dollars last November.
| Comic Book Facts | The Details |
| Original Price | 10 cents (roughly £1.70 today). |
| Recent Sale Price | 15 million dollars (£11.2 million). |
| Total Copies Left | Fewer than 100 in existence. |
| Quality Grade | 9 out of 10 (Joint highest score ever). |
Why So Much Cash?
Apart from the Nicolas Cage drama, this copy is in near perfect condition. The Certified Guaranty Company gave it a nine out of ten. Most comics from the thirties look like they have been through a washing machine, but this one is pristine. It defines the entire superhero genre. Without this book, we would not have the Marvel Cinematic Universe or grown adults arguing about capes on the internet.
The buyer and the seller have both chosen to remain anonymous. We can only assume the new owner is either a billionaire with a very secure safe or a supervillain looking for inspiration. Either way, it is a staggering amount of money for a few pages of ink and paper.
The Ultimate Collectable
The sale proves that pop culture is now the new fine art. Investors are ditching gold and oil to bet on the Man of Steel. If you find a copy in your loft, just make sure you don’t invite any suspicious people over for a party.
It turns out that Superman’s real superpower isn’t flying or heat vision. It is his ability to turn a dime into a fortune while sitting in a locker for ten years.
Just remember that your old Beano annuals probably won’t pay for your retirement.
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