A unique edition of the comic book that introduced Superman to the world and was once stolen from actor Nicolas Cage’s residence has been sold for a groundbreaking $15 million US. The private transaction for Action Comics No. 1, co-crafted by Toronto-born artist Joe Shuster and U.S. comic writer Jerry Siegel, was disclosed on Friday. This sale surpasses the previous comic book record set last November when a copy of Superman No. 1 was auctioned for $9.12 million.
Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect, headquartered in Manhattan, facilitated the sale of Action Comics. The parties involved in the transaction, including the comic book’s owner and the buyer, opted to remain anonymous. Vincent Zurzolo, the company’s president, highlighted the significant historical value of the comic, originally priced at 10 cents upon its release in 1938. He emphasized that this comic book, one of approximately 100 remaining copies, marks the genesis of the superhero genre and ranks among the most prized comics globally.
The concept of Superman was conceived by Shuster and Siegel in 1933, five years before the release of Action Comics No. 1. The inaugural issue depicted Superman’s alter-ego working as a reporter at The Daily Star, later renamed The Daily Planet, inspired by Shuster’s childhood experiences with the Toronto Daily Star, now known as the Toronto Star.
Zurzolo described the sale as monumental within the comic book community, asserting that Superman’s popularity paved the way for other iconic superhero legends like Batman. He emphasized the comic’s significance by obliterating the previous sales record.
The comic book was pilfered from Cage’s residence in west Los Angeles in 2000 but was recovered in 2011 after being found in an old storage locker in southern California. Cage had originally acquired the comic for $150,000 in 1996, and six months after its recovery, he auctioned it for $2.2 million. Stephen Fishler, CEO of Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect, noted that the theft inadvertently increased the comic’s value over the 11-year period it was missing, drawing a parallel to the theft of the Mona Lisa, which transformed the painting into a global icon upon its recovery.
Fishler likened the comic’s importance to that of the Mona Lisa, emphasizing its status as an American pop culture icon. Additionally, the restoration of the stolen comic boosted its value significantly, similar to the impact of the recovery of the Mona Lisa painting.
The article also features a video from the CBC Archives showcasing the creation of Superman, highlighting the character’s debut and the role of Canadian artist Joe Shuster in bringing the Man of Steel to life.