Ask Onix
Rare Superman debut comic fetches $15m
A copy of Action Comics No. 1, the 1938 issue that introduced Superman, has been sold privately for $15 million (£11.2 million), setting a new benchmark for comic book sales, brokers announced on Friday.
Record-breaking sale details
The transaction, arranged by New York-based Metropolis Collectibles and Comic Connect, surpasses the previous record of $9.12 million set in November for a pristine copy of Superman No. 1. Both sales dwarf the comic's original 10-cent cover price-equivalent to roughly $2.25 today.
Provenance and condition
The sold copy, graded nine out of ten by the Certified Guaranty Company, is one of the highest-rated surviving editions of the landmark issue. Its value was further elevated by its connection to actor Nicolas Cage, who originally purchased it in 1996 for $150,000-a record at the time.
A storied past
The comic was stolen from Cage's home during a party in 2000 and resurfaced in 2011 inside a California storage unit. Cage later auctioned it for $2.2 million in 2012.
"During that 11-year period, it skyrocketed in value. The thief made Nicolas Cage a lot of money by stealing it."
Stephen Fishler, CEO of Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect
Cultural significance
Fishler drew parallels between the comic's history and the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre, which propelled the painting to global fame. He described Action Comics No. 1 as "an icon of American pop culture," noting its role in defining the superhero genre. Fewer than 100 copies are believed to exist today.
Anonymity maintained
Both the seller and the buyer opted to remain anonymous, according to Metropolis Collectibles. The firm did not disclose further details about the transaction.
