A unique copy of the comic that first presented Superman to the world and was previously stolen from actor Nicolas Cage’s residence has been purchased for a groundbreaking $15 million US. This private transaction for Action Comics No. 1, jointly created by Toronto-born artist Joe Shuster and American comic writer Jerry Siegel, was revealed on Friday. Surpassing the previous comic book sale record set in November with the $9.12 million auction of Superman No. 1, the sale of Action Comics was arranged by Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect in Manhattan. Both the seller and the buyer opted to remain anonymous.
Vincent Zurzolo, the president of the company, highlighted the significance of this comic book, which originally sold for 10 cents in 1938, as it marks the inception of the superhero genre and is deemed one of the most valuable comics globally, with an estimated 100 remaining copies. Shuster and Siegel conceived Superman in 1933, five years prior to the release of Action Comics No. 1. In that edition, Superman’s civilian guise was a reporter at The Daily Star (later renamed The Daily Planet), drawing inspiration from Shuster’s childhood experiences delivering newspapers for the Toronto Daily Star, now known as the Toronto Star.
Describing the comic as a coveted treasure in the comic book world, Zurzolo emphasized its pivotal role in shaping the superhero genre, paving the way for iconic characters like Batman. He noted the historical significance of the sale, which shattered previous records. The comic was pilfered from Cage’s Los Angeles residence in 2000 but resurfaced in 2011 after being discovered by an individual who had acquired the contents of an old storage unit in southern California. Cage, who had purchased the comic for $150,000 in 1996, regained possession of it following its recovery. Six months later, he auctioned it for $2.2 million.
Stephen Fishler, the CEO of Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect, highlighted the impact of the theft on the comic’s value over the 11-year period it was missing, likening it to the theft and subsequent recovery of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre museum in 1911, which elevated the painting to an international icon. Fishler emphasized that Action Comics No. 1 holds a similar status as an American pop culture icon.