Rare Superman comic sells for record $3.25M

[left-of-center2012]

One of the few copies of the comic book that introduced Superman to the world has sold for a super-sized, record-setting price. The issue of Action Comics #1 went for $3.25 million in a private sale, ComicConnect.com, an online auction and consignment company, announced Tuesday.

It narrowly bested the previous record for the comic, set in the auction of another copy in 2014 for slightly over $3.2 million.

The comic, published in 1938, "really is the beginning of the superhero genre," said ComicConnect.com COO Vincent Zurzolo, who brokered the sale. It told readers about the origins of Superman, how he came to Earth from another planet and went by Clark Kent.

The seller of this particular issue bought the comic in 2018 for slightly more than $2 million.

https://www.kob.com/news/man-a-steal-rare-superman-comic-sells-for-record-325m/6066017/?cat=648

[exboyfil]

1. What a gorgeous book

8.5

Almost off the rack. 50% appreciation in three years. Not bad.

[joetheman]

2. When I think about all the comic books we (my family) threw out in 1962...

We would be billionaires. Even had Plastic man troves. Lulu, Nancy, Archie, Bat Man, FranKenstein and my favoritE" DICK TRACY!

[left-of-center2012]

3. We gave away a good size cardboard box full of comics in 1960

We moved from the country to the city when I entered high school and had to downsize.

[MurrayDelph]

12. I had a large storage shed full of my childhood collection

(minus the ones of particular sentimental value)

In the nine years after this became my vacation house, the roof on the shed had collapsed and rainwater had destroyed most (but not all) of the 14K comics that lived there, along with other memorabilia. We spent a week clearing out the shed and dumping most of the stuff into a rented dumpster, with the intention of having a friend of mine who is friends with a comics dealer check out to see if anything is saleable. Anything not saleable, but still readable, would be donated to a local library. I would get them to my friend when I came back to California for my birthday in a couple of weeks.

And then the plague hit. And the comics sat

That friend is moving to another state in a couple of weeks, so since he and I are now fully vaccinated, I am delivering the comics in about an hour-and-a-half.

At one time I felt badly about the loss of my comics, but I have managed to take it into perspective: I was friends with the late Len Wein, creator of (among many other things) Swamp Thing. Years ago, Len's house burned down, taking a more-impressive collection of comics and artwork, and one of his beloved dogs. I lost things from my childhood, but no one died in my damage.

[Deminpenn]

13. Yeah, inherited a stack of comic books

from an older family member, but tossed them years ago. Sigh...

[brooklynite]

4. Where's the criticism?

I'm expecting to read "why does someone have $3+ million to spend on a comic book?"

[left-of-center2012]

5. I've been expecting it too n/t

[Deminpenn]

14. Ok, then "someone with more money than brains"

[brooklynite]

15. Bought for $2 Mil, sold three years later for $3.25 M...sounds brainy to me.

[Deminpenn]

16. The buyer, not the seller

[ScratchCat]

6. Here is the funny thing:

There is a huge "scam market" out there for collectibles like comics, sports cards and toys where people who have more money than sense are getting taken for a ride. Certain collectibles have become "status symbols" like a Bentley or a Breitling and there are people out there more than willing to separate them from their money. There are all sorts of schemes where they alter the comic/card and have it "re-graded", increasing the price substantially in many cases. The grading companies are in on it too. Its a virtual game of "hot potato" where the buyers think there are more buyers than there really are. One group even got caught last year and had to get a "Mob attorney"
(the guy who defended El Chapo, he is a collector also) to help bail them out with the Feds. Ebay is 100% complicit in fraud as they allow the shilling of auctions(owner of item bids it up under a different user name). Complete scam industry full of scumbag crooks.

[left-of-center2012]

8. "Ebay is 100% complicit in fraud"

[ZonkerHarris]

7. Vinnie Zurzulo is an old friend of mine. He's a great guy.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

9. Holy crap, an 8.5?

That's gorgeous.

[edhopper]

10. Compared to

$70 million for an NFT, this is a steal.
It is a true rarity and of significant cultural value.

[Carlitos Brigante]

11. If I only had a time traveling DeLorean.... nt