The title of "most valuable comic book in the world" changed hands again Friday.
But the record still belongs to the Man of Steel.
Less than two months after a copy of Superman No. 1 went for a record price, that all-time mark was shattered when a rare issue of Action Comics No. 1 sold for an eye-popping $15 million in a private sale, which was first reported by the Associated Press.
Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect in New York brokered the sale for the comic book that featured the first appearance of Superman, according to the AP. The buyer wishes to remain anonymous.
The sale come after a new high-water mark was established by the Nov. 20 sale of Superman No. 1 at Heritage Auctions for $9.12 million. That book was graded CGC 9.0, the highest graded copy ever assessed by the leading authenticator.
The issue of Action Comics No. 1 that sold Friday (also graded CGC 9.0) was stolen from the home of actor Nicolas Cage in 2000, per the AP, and later recovered in 2011.
Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect president Vincent Zurzolo said that backstory likely contributed to the record price.
“This is among the holy grail of comic books. Without Superman and his popularity, there would be no Batman or other superhero comic book legends,” Zurzolo told the AP. “Its importance in the comic book community shows with his deal, as it obliterates the previous record."
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