A valuable edition of a comic book that was previously stolen from the residence of famous actor Nicolas Cage has been sold for a historic $15 million (£11.19m).
The undisclosed transaction for “Action Comics No. 1”, originally priced at just 10 cents upon its 1938 release, was announced on Friday. Both the seller and buyer have chosen to remain anonymous. This sale surpasses the previous record for a comic book set in November, when “Superman No. 1″ was auctioned for $9.12 million.
The negotiation was facilitated by Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect, based in Manhattan. Vincent Zurzolo, the company’s president, highlighted the comic’s significance in the superhero genre, asserting that only approximately 100 copies are still in existence worldwide.
Zurzolo stated, “This comic is a prized possession in the world of comics. Its immense value is attributed to the foundational role of Superman in shaping the superhero narrative, paving the way for characters like Batman. This sale has set a new benchmark in the industry.”
The comic was stolen from Nicolas Cage’s residence in west Los Angeles in 2000 but was recovered in 2011 after being found by an individual who had purchased the contents of an old storage unit in southern California. Cage, who had acquired it for $150,000 in 1996, eventually regained possession of the comic.
Subsequently, Cage auctioned the comic for $2.2 million, six months after its recovery. Stephen Fishler, CEO of Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect, noted that the theft significantly contributed to the comic’s increased value.
Fishler remarked, “During the 11-year period it was missing, its value soared. The thief inadvertently generated substantial profits for Nicolas Cage through the theft.”
Drawing a parallel, Fishler likened the incident to the theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre museum in 1911, emphasizing the transformative effect of its recovery on the painting’s status.
He added, “Just as the Mona Lisa became a global icon post-recovery, ‘Action No. 1’ holds the same iconic status in American pop culture.”
The comic featured various storylines of mostly lesser-known characters. However, within a few panels, it narrated Superman’s origin story, from his birth on a dying planet to his arrival on Earth and subsequent decision to use his immense powers