A unique edition of the comic book that introduced Superman to the world and was previously stolen from actor Nicolas Cage’s residence has been sold for a groundbreaking $15 million US. The undisclosed transaction for Action Comics No. 1, crafted by Toronto-born artist Joe Shuster and American comic writer Jerry Siegel, was made public on Friday, setting a new record in the comic book realm. This sale surpasses the previous record set last November when a copy of Superman No. 1 fetched $9.12 million at an auction.
Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect, based in Manhattan, facilitated the negotiation of the Action Comics sale. The comic book’s current owner and the purchaser opted to remain anonymous. Vincent Zurzolo, the company’s president, highlighted the significance of the comic, originally priced at 10 cents upon its 1938 release, as the cornerstone of the superhero genre and one of the most prized comic books globally. Approximately 100 copies of this iconic issue are believed to still exist.
The genesis of Superman dates back to 1933 when Shuster and Siegel, childhood friends from Cleveland, conceptualized the character, five years ahead of Action Comics No. 1. The issue features Superman’s alter-ego as a reporter at The Daily Star, later renamed The Daily Planet, inspired by Shuster’s hometown daily paper, the Toronto Daily Star, which he delivered in his youth.
“This comic is considered one of the most coveted items in the comic book universe. Without the popularity of Superman, the superhero genre as we know it today would not have flourished,” remarked Zurzolo, emphasizing the record-breaking nature of the deal.
The comic book was stolen from Cage’s residence in west Los Angeles in 2000 but resurfaced in 2011 when it was discovered by an individual who had acquired the contents of an old storage locker in southern California. It was eventually returned to Cage, who had purchased it for $150,000 in 1996. Cage later auctioned it off for $2.2 million, six months after its recovery.
Stephen Fishler, the CEO of Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect, noted that the theft significantly contributed to the comic’s increased value during the 11-year period it was missing. Drawing a parallel to the theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre museum in 1911, Fishler underscored how the recovery of stolen items can elevate their cultural significance, transforming them into iconic symbols.
The resurgence of Action Comics No. 1 mirrors the rise of Superman, solidifying its status as a cornerstone of American pop culture.
