A valuable edition of the comic book that first introduced Superman to the world, famously stolen from actor Nicolas Cage’s residence, has fetched a record-breaking sum of $15 million in a recent private transaction. The sale of “Action Comics No. 1,” a creation by Toronto-born cartoonist Joe Shuster and American comic writer Jerry Siegel, was confirmed on Friday, surpassing the previous comic book auction record set by “Superman No. 1” last November at $9.12 million.
Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect, based in Manhattan, facilitated the undisclosed deal for “Action Comics,” with both the seller and buyer opting to remain anonymous. Vincent Zurzolo, the company’s president, emphasized the historical significance of the comic, originally priced at 10 cents upon its 1938 release, as a pivotal work heralding the superhero genre and ranking among the most prized comic books globally. It is estimated that approximately 100 copies of this edition still exist.
The superhero concept of Superman, conceived by Shuster and Siegel in 1933, predates the publication of “Action Comics No. 1” by five years. The issue features Superman’s alter-ego functioning as a reporter at The Daily Star, later rebranded as The Daily Planet, drawing inspiration from Shuster’s childhood experiences delivering the Toronto Daily Star.
Zurzolo remarked on the comic book’s cultural impact, describing it as a cornerstone in the comic book realm that paved the way for subsequent superhero legends like Batman. The unforeseen theft of the comic from Cage’s home in Los Angeles in 2000, its fortuitous recovery in 2011 from a purchased storage locker, and subsequent resale for $2.2 million after being absent for 11 years, significantly contributed to its heightened value.
Stephen Fishler, CEO of Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect, highlighted the parallel between the comic’s theft and the theft of the Mona Lisa, underscoring how the dramatic recovery enhanced the item’s status as an icon of American pop culture. The enduring legacy of “Action No. 1” continues to resonate as a symbol of comic book history and cultural significance.