Rare Superman Comic Book Fetches $3.2 Million at Auction
By Jennifer Peltz ••
A rare, nearly flawless copy of Superman's comic-book debut has sold for a super-powered price: $3.2 million.
New York comics dealers Stephen Fishler and Vincent Zurzolo said Monday they submitted Sunday's record-setting bid in the eBay auction for Action Comics No. 1, the 1938 book in which the superhero first appeared. It's believed to be the highest price ever paid for a comic book, surpassing $2.1 million for a similarly high-quality copy of the same book in 2011.
"It's hard to believe that a kid's 10-cent comic could be worth that much money, but it is Superman. That's an iconic thing," Fishler said. "It's the first time anybody saw what a superhero was like."
EBay confirmed the price but said it couldn't yet disclose the buyer's name.
Created by Cleveland teenagers Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Action Comics No. 1 introduces the Man of Steel's Kryptonian backstory, earthly role as reporter Clark Kent and identity as a champion of the oppressed. It's seen as the dawn of the comic book superhero, paving the way for a roster of now-famous characters.
About 100 to 150 copies are believed to exist, only a handful of them in top condition. The book just sold got a seldom-seen 9.0 on a 10-point scale used to measure vintage comic books' condition.
It was kept for decades in a cedar chest in the West Virginia mountains by a man who had bought it off a newsstand, seller Darren Adams recently told The Washington Post. Adams, a Federal Way, Washington-based collectibles dealer, didn't immediately return a call Monday from The Associated Press.
After the original owner died, a collector bought it from his estate and built a similar cedar chest to store it, Adams told the Post.
Fishler and Zurzolo own ComicConnect.com, which auctioned the 2011 record-setter and a slightly less well-preserved Action Comics No. 1 for more than $1 million in 2010. The rising prices have been fueled by superhero movies and growing interest in comic books as investments — "an alternative place to put money that has a cool factor to it," Fishler said.
Getty Images
Jay-Z (c.) and daughter Blue Ivy Carter (l.) present the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award to Beyonce (r.) onstage during the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. Click through for more pics of the best moments from the ceremony.
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
Uzo Aduba, Laverne Cox and Taylor Schilling of "Orange Is the New Black" present at the MTV Video Music Awards
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
Ariana Grande performs "Break Free" as part of the opening number at the 2014 MTV VMAs.
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
Usher performs "She Came to Give It to You"
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
Nicki Minaj performs her single "Anaconda" as part of the MTV VMA opening number.
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
Taylor Swift performs "Shake It Off" during the MTV Video Music Awards
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
"Dumb and Dumber To" stars Jim Carrey, left, and Jeff Daniels present the award for Best Pop Video
Getty Images for MTV
My Friend's Place representative Jesse (l.) accepts Video of the Year (on behalf of Miley Cyrus) for "Wrecking Ball" from "Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon.
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
Lorde accepts the award for Best Rock Video
Getty Images for MTV
Snoop Dogg and Gwen Stefani present.
FilmMagic
5 Seconds of Summer perform performs "Amnesia"
Getty Images for MTV
Nominee Sam Smith performs his hit "Stay With Me."
FilmMagic
Video of the Year winner Miley Cyrus and Jesse (l.), who accepted the award for the singer.
Getty Images for MTV
Presenter Jennifer Lopez
Getty Images for MTV
Rapper Common on stage to deliver a stirring speech about the unfolding events in Ferguson. “Every one of our lives matters. Hip-hop has always been about truth, and has been a powerful instrument of social change.”
Getty Images for MTV
Presenters Jason Derulo and Demi Lovato
AFP/Getty Images
Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora perform "Black Widow"
Getty Images for MTV
"SNL" player Ray Pharoah does his best Jay Z impersonation.
Getty Images for MTV
Beyonce performs onstage during the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 24, 2014 in Inglewood, California.
Sunday's sale also marks a high point for San Jose, California-based eBay, which Adams selected to sell an item often handled by specialty dealers and auction houses. Gene Cook, the online marketplace's general manager of emerging verticals, said the sale demonstrates "how eBay plays a role in popular culture by connecting shoppers to must-have merchandise."
Some of the proceeds will go to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, in recognition of the late "Superman" movie star.
Fishler said he and Zurzolo have no specific plans yet for their new-bought copy but couldn't resist it, despite the price.
"It was just too good of an opportunity to pass up," he said.
AFP/Getty Images
Jennifer Lopez (wearing a gown by Charbel Zoe) arrives at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. Click through for more red carpet pics.
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Beyonce (in Nicolas Jebran) arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, in Inglewood, Calif.
Getty Images for MTV
Katy Perry (r.) and rapper Riff Raff pay homage to Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake's famous VMA denim ensembles.
FilmMagic
Taylor Swift
Getty Images
Jordin Sparks and her fiance Jason Derulo
FilmMagic
Jennifer Lopez greets fans on the red carpet at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 24, 2014 in Inglewood, California.
Getty Images for MTV
Rapper Riff Raff and Katy Perry in custom Versace
Getty Images
Nominee Miley Cyrus
Getty Images for MTV
Nominee Iggy Azalea
FilmMagic
Nicki Minaj
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Beyonce arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards. Click through for more of the hottest looks from the red carpet.
Getty Images
Singer and "Voice" coach Gwen Stefani
WireImage
Presenter Kim Kardashian
WireImage
Rita Ora
WireImage
Kesha on the red carpet at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards
WireImage
Jordin Sparks and Jason Derulo
Getty Images for MTV
attends the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 24, 2014 in Inglewood, California.
WireImage
Kesha at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards.
Getty Images
Kelly Rowland
FilmMagic
Taylor Swift
WireImage
Wiz Khalifa and wife Amber Rose
WireImage
Model Ireland Baldwin (l.) with her girlfriend, rapper Angel Haze
WireImage
Demi Lovato
WireImage
Mary Lambert
WireImage
Solange Knowles
Getty Images for MTV
Singer Jessie J
WireImage
EMPTY_CAPTION"Orange Is the New Black" actress Laverne Cox
Getty Images for MTV
Kim Kardashian
Getty Images
Becky G on the red carpet
Getty Images for MTV
Ed Sheeran
WireImage
EMPTY_CAPTION"Voice" coach Usher
Getty Images for MTV
Chris Brown
WireImage
EMPTY_CAPTION"Orange Is the New Black" star Uzo Aduba
WireImage
Actress Chloe Grace Moretz
WireImage
From left: Ashton Irwin, Calum Hood, Luke Hemmings, and Michael Clifford of 5 Seconds of Summer
WireImage
Model Olivia Culpo and Nick Jonas
Getty Images for MTV
Maroon 5 frontman and "Voice" coach Adam Levine with his wife, model Behati Prinsloo
Getty Images for MTV
Nominee Sam Smith attends the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 24, 2014 in Inglewood, California.
WireImage
Actress Alexandra Shipp
WireImage
EMPTY_CAPTION"Modern Family" actress Sarah Hyland
Getty Images for MTV
Charli XCX hits the red carpet at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards
Getty Images for MTV
Moschino fashion designer Jeremy Scott
WireImage
EMPTY_CAPTION"Pretty Little Liars'" actress Lucy Hale attends the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 24, 2014 in Inglewood, California.
Getty Images for MTV
Rocsi Diaz attends the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards
WireImage
Actress Nina Dobrev
Getty Images for MTV
Michelle Williams attends the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 24, 2014 in Inglewood, California.
