A rare edition of the comic book that introduced the iconic character Superman to the world and was previously stolen from actor Nicolas Cage’s residence has recently been sold for a groundbreaking $15 million in the United States. The undisclosed transaction for “Action Comics No. 1,” co-crafted by Toronto-born illustrator Joe Shuster and American comic writer Jerry Siegel, was revealed on Friday, surpassing the previous comic book sale record set last November when a copy of “Superman No. 1” fetched $9.12 million at an auction.
The negotiation for the sale of “Action Comics” was facilitated by Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect, based in Manhattan, with both the seller and buyer opting to remain anonymous. Vincent Zurzolo, the company’s president, emphasized the historical significance of the comic, which was originally priced at 10 cents upon its release in 1938. He highlighted its pivotal role in the inception of the superhero genre and its esteemed position as one of the most valuable comic books globally, estimating that around 100 copies of the comic still exist.
The genesis of Superman can be traced back to 1933 when Shuster, who relocated to Cleveland at the age of nine, and his schoolmate Siegel conceived the superhero concept, predating the release of “Action Comics No. 1” by five years. The comic featured Superman’s alter-ego working as a journalist at The Daily Star, later renamed The Daily Planet, inspired by Shuster’s childhood experience delivering newspapers for the Toronto Daily Star, now known as the Toronto Star.
Zurzolo hailed the significance of the comic within the comic book community, describing it as one of the Holy Grails of comic books. He underscored its pivotal role in shaping the superhero landscape, noting that without Superman, iconic characters like Batman would not have existed. The sale of the comic shattered previous records, emphasizing its enduring impact and cultural significance.
The comic book had been stolen from Cage’s west Los Angeles residence in 2000 but was recovered in 2011 after being found by an individual who had acquired the contents of an old storage unit in southern California. Cage, who had purchased it in 1996 for $150,000, regained possession of the comic, only to sell it at auction for $2.2 million six months later. Stephen Fishler, CEO of Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect, highlighted how the theft incident inadvertently contributed to the comic’s increased value over the years.
Fishler drew parallels between the comic’s theft and the historic theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre museum in 1911, emphasizing how the recovery of stolen artifacts can elevate them to iconic status. He likened “Action No. 1” to the Mona Lisa, symbolizing an icon of American pop culture and underscoring its enduring legacy and cultural significance.