A valuable edition of a comic book, previously stolen from the residence of famous Hollywood star Nicolas Cage, has been sold for a staggering $15 million (£11.19m). The undisclosed transaction for “Action Comics No. 1”, initially priced at just 10 cents upon its release in 1938, was disclosed recently, with both the seller and buyer choosing to remain anonymous. This sale surpasses the previous record set last year for a comic book, when a copy of “Superman No. 1” was auctioned for $9.12 million.
The negotiation for this sale was facilitated by Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect, a company based in Manhattan. Vincent Zurzolo, the president of the company, highlighted the significance of this comic, stating that it signifies the inception of the superhero genre and is among the most valuable comic books globally, with an estimated remaining quantity of only about 100 copies.
Zurzolo expressed, “This comic is considered one of the most sought-after in the comic book world. Its importance lies in the fact that without Superman, iconic heroes like Batman would not exist. The exceptional value attached to this deal clearly surpasses previous records.”
Initially stolen from Nicolas Cage’s residence in west Los Angeles in 2000, the comic was eventually recovered in 2011 after being found among the contents of an old storage locker in southern California. Cage had acquired the comic for $150,000 in 1996. Upon its recovery, he sold it at an auction for $2.2 million, just six months after its return. Stephen Fishler, the CEO of Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect, acknowledged the role of the theft in enhancing the comic’s value.
Fishler noted, “During the 11-year period it was missing, its value surged significantly. The thief inadvertently contributed to Nicolas Cage profiting from the sale.” Drawing a parallel, Fishler likened the comic’s theft to the infamous Mona Lisa heist, highlighting how the recovery of stolen art can transform it into a cultural icon.
“Action No. 1” was a compilation of stories featuring now lesser-known characters. However, within a few panels, it narrated Superman’s origin story, from his birth on a doomed planet to his arrival on Earth and his subsequent choice to utilize his immense powers for the betterment of humanity. This publication marked the dawn of the superhero genre.