> At a Glance
> – A pristine copy of Action Comics No. 1 traded hands for $15 million in a private sale
> – The deal smashes the old record of $9.12 million set by Superman No. 1 last November
> – The same copy was stolen from Nicolas Cage‘s Los Angeles home in 2000 and returned in 2011
> – Why it matters: The sale underscores the soaring value of pop-culture artifacts and the role notoriety plays in driving prices
A single 10-cent comic from 1938 has become a $15 million treasure, thanks to a headline-grabbing theft and the enduring power of the Man of Steel.
Record-Shattering Sale
Manhattan dealer Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect brokered the off-market transaction, announced Friday. Company president Vincent Zurzolo confirmed both the seller and the mystery buyer chose to stay anonymous.
The price obliterates the previous high of $9.12 million paid for Superman No. 1 just months earlier.
Stephen Fishler, CEO of the brokerage, says the comic’s theft and recovery saga helped cement its legendary status:
> “During that 11-year period (it was missing), it skyrocketed in value. The thief made Nicolas Cage a lot of money by stealing it.”
From Cage’s Vault to World Icon
| Milestone | Year | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Cage purchases copy | 1996 | $150,000 |
| Stolen from L.A. home | 2000 | – |
| Recovered from storage locker | 2011 | – |
| Cage auction sale | 2011 | $2.2 million |
| Private sale (present) | 2024 | $15 million |
Zurzolo calls the issue “the Holy Grail of comic books,” noting that only about 100 copies survive. He credits Superman with birthing the entire superhero genre:
> “Without Superman and his popularity, there would be no Batman or other superhero comic book legends.”
Fishler likens the comic’s aura to the Mona Lisa, whose 1911 theft transformed it from a masterpiece into a global icon:
> “It was kept under the thief’s bed for two years. The recovery of the painting made the Mona Lisa go from being just a great Da Vinci painting to a world icon – and that’s what Action No. 1 is – an icon of American pop culture.”
Key Takeaways
- A single Action Comics No. 1 now commands $15 million, the highest price ever paid for a comic
- The copy’s notorious theft from Nicolas Cage and dramatic recovery fueled its mystique – and value
- Around 100 copies of the 1938 debut are thought to exist, making high-grade examples ultra-rare
- The sale highlights how superhero culture continues to push collectibles into eight-figure territory
From a dime-store rack to a multimillion-dollar asset, the Man of Steel’s first adventure keeps flying higher.
