According to BBC, a copy of Action Comics No.1 was recently sold in a private transaction on 9/1. The deal was facilitated by intermediary Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect, with both the seller and buyer wishing to remain anonymous.
Published in 1938, Action Comics No.1 marked Superman's first appearance, narrating the superhero's journey from birth, to Earth, and using his powers to serve humanity. Experts consider the work the genesis of the superhero archetype in comics. Vincent Zurzolo, president of Metropolis Collectibles, stated: "Without Superman, there would be no Batman or other legendary superheroes." The auction house reports that fewer than 100 copies of the work currently exist.
 |
The "Action Comics No 1" print sold for 15 million USD. Photo: AP News |
Certified Guaranty Company (CGC), a service specializing in evaluating collectibles including comic books, rated the comic as being in excellent condition, achieving a 9/10 appraisal score and placing it among the highest-graded copies ever recorded.
The comic was previously owned by actor Nicolas Cage. In 1996, he purchased the issue for 150.000 USD (nearly 4 billion VND), a record price at the time. The comic was stolen from a party at his home in 2000, only to be rediscovered in a California storage locker in 2011. Six months after its recovery, Nicolas Cage auctioned the work, receiving 2,2 million USD. Stephen Fishler, CEO of Metropolis/ComicConnect, told AP News that the comic's value "skyrocketed" due to the theft.
The previous sales record belonged to a copy of Superman No 1 (1939), discovered in an old attic. That work sold for 9,12 million USD in 11/2025 at a Heritage Auctions sale.
Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1933. They later sold the rights to DC Comics for 130 USD, receiving 10 USD per drawn page. Since his debut, Superman has remained one of the most recognizable and enduring characters in American popular culture, inspiring blockbuster films, books, toys, and chewing gum.
Chau Anh (according to BBC, AP News)
