> At a Glance
> – A copy of Action Comics No. 1-the 1938 comic that introduced Superman-sold privately for $15 million, a new record.
> – The same copy was stolen from Nicolas Cage in 2000, recovered in 2011, and previously fetched $2.2 million at auction.
> – Only about 100 copies of the issue survive; the sale beats last year’s $9.12 million record for Superman No. 1.
> – Why it matters: The landmark price cements the Man of Steel’s first appearance as the ultimate pop-culture collectible.
A single comic book just obliterated auction records. The issue that launched the superhero era-Action Comics No. 1-quietly changed hands for $15 million, Manhattan dealers Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect revealed Friday.
The Journey from 10¢ to $15 Million
Published in 1938 for a dime, the issue marks Superman’s first appearance. Metropolis president Vincent Zurzolo calls it “the Holy Grail” of comics, noting that without this story there would be no Batman or modern superhero genre.
Key sale details:
- Buyer and seller remain anonymous
- Price eclipses the previous record-$9.12 million for Superman No. 1 last November
- Estimated 100 surviving copies exist worldwide
Theft, Recovery, and Skyrocketing Value
This particular copy has a Hollywood twist. It was stolen from actor Nicolas Cage‘s Los Angeles home in 2000 and remained missing for 11 years. A California man found it inside a storage-unit purchase; authorities returned it to Cage in 2011. Six months later he sold it for $2.2 million.
Stephen Fishler, CEO of Metropolis, says the theft actually boosted the book’s cachet:
> “During that 11-year period it was missing, it skyrocketed in value. The thief made Nicolas Cage a lot of money by stealing it.”
Fishler likens the saga to the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa:
> “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.”
Key Takeaways
- $15 million sets a new benchmark for comic-book values
- The copy’s theft-and-return narrative amplified its legend-and price
- Superman’s debut remains the cornerstone of superhero collecting
- Only ~100 copies of Action Comics No. 1 survive, ensuring continued scarcity
From a 10-cent newsstand curiosity to a $15 million treasure, the Man of Steel’s first adventure continues to leap tall records in a single bound.
