Batman's debut comic book beats out Superman's first issue, sells for over $1M

[Dave]

For a little change of pace, here's a fun story. How many of us had comics or baseball cards when we were kids that we now wish we would of kept? I'm sure there are a few comics and cards i've had over the years I wish I would of kept.
NEW YORK — A rare copy of the first comic book featuring Superman sold Monday for $1 million, smashing the previous record price for a comic book.

A 1938 edition of Action Comics No. 1, widely considered the Holy Grail of comic books, was sold from a private seller to a private buyer, neither of whom released their names. The
issue features Superman lifting a car on its cover and originally cost
10 cents.

The transaction was conducted by the auction site ComicConnect.com. Stephen Fishler, co-owner of the site and its sister dealership, Metropolis Collectibles, orchestrated the sale.

Fishler said it transpired minutes after the issue was put on sale at around 10:30 a.m. ET. He said that the seller was a "well known individual" in New York with a pedigree collection,
and that the buyer was a known customer who previously bought an Action
Comics No. 1 of lesser grade.

"It's considered by most people as the most important book," said John Dolmayan, a comic book enthusiast and dealer best known as the drummer for System of a Down. "It kind of ushered in the age of the superheroes."

Dolmayan, who owns Torpedo Comics, last year paid $317,000 for an Action Comics No. 1 issue for a client. Others have sold for more than $400,000, he said, but this copy fetched a much
higher price because it's in better condition. It's rated an "8.0
grade," or "very fine."

Dolmayan said he didn't buy this copy but he wishes he could have.

"The fact that this book is completely un-restored and still has an 8.0 grade, it's kind of like a diamond or a precious stone. It's very rare," he said.

There are only about 100 copies of Action Comics No. 1 believed to be in existence, and only a handful have been rated so highly. It's rarer still for those copies to be made available for
sale.

"The opportunity to buy an un-restored, high-grade Action One comes along once every two decades," Fishler said. "It's certainly a milestone."

The sticker shock was astounding to Fishler, nevertheless.

"It is still a little stunning to see 'a comic book' and '$1 million' in the same sentence," Fishler said. "There's only one time a collectible hits the $1 million threshold."

[XLFD]

Great Caesar's Ghost! One million dollars for a comic book. Lois, Clark, find out who purchased this comic-- I want a scoop.

[AQUAMAN]

Good thread there Dave. Like that cover too, thanks for posting it. Yupper, people are starving, homeless, jobless, in higher numbers than ever, then you see an article like this. Spellbinding. Oh yeah, great Caesars ghost, indeed there X, you remembered the publisher's favorite saying. Does the Donald collect this stuff? I don't think so, or if he does, wouldn't pay that. Second guess would be Michael, if he was still here. Any other guesses? Anyone remember the hot debate and arguing early last year two guys had at LT over comics? It went on for quite a while, and really got heated over whom had the most knowledge, and the most valuable comics. That was a blast to watch!

[XLFD]

That sounds like a geek riot, Aq, I'm going to have to check the archives over there.

[Dave]

It seems Superman's reign as best selling comic was short to say the least.... the first Batman issue sold this week as well for a little a million dollars. Got to kind of wonder if the same buyer bought both comics. I know if I had the cash to throw around that I could afford one, I would probably have enough for both.

By Jamie Stengle, Associated Press Writer
DALLAS — A 1939 comic book in which Batman makes his debut sold at auction Thursday for more than $1 million, breaking a record set just three days earlier by a Superman comic, Heritage Auction Galleries said.

The Dallas-based auction house said the rare copy of Detective Comics No. 27 sold for a total of $1,075,500, which includes the buyer's premium, to a buyer who wished to remain anonymous. The consigner wanted to remain anonymous as well.

"It pretty much blew away all of our expectations and now it's the highest price ever raised for a comic book," said Barry Sandoval, director of operations of Heritage's comics division.

A copy of the first comic book featuring Superman, a 1938 edition of Action Comics No. 1, sold Monday for $1 million in a sale between a private seller and a private buyer, with the transaction conducted by the New York City auction site ComicConnect.com.

"We can really say that Batman has nosed out Superman, at least for now," Sandoval said.

He said the consigner had bought the Batman comic in the late 1960s for $100. With a bright yellow background, the comic features Batman swinging on a rope above city rooftops.

"That cover is just one of the most famous of all comic book covers," Sandoval said.

J.C. Vaughn, associate publisher of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, said most people had predicted it would be the comics with the first appearance of Superman and Batman that broke the $1 million barrier. Both comics that sold this week were in great condition — scoring an 8.0 on a scale that goes up to 10, he said.

"I think that you can greenly ascribe this to a real comfort with the liquidity of rare, high grade vintage collectibles," Vaughn said.

George Pantela, owner of Melbourne, Australia-based GP Analysis, which tracks sales of certified comics from more than 20 auction houses and dealers, said the previous record was about $317,000 paid a year ago for a lesser grade Action Comics No. 1 than the one sold this week.

Vincent Zurzolo, chief operating officer of Comicconnect.com, took the breaking of their record in stride.

"It's an exciting week in comic books when you have two comics selling for $1 million," he said.

[AQUAMAN]

The peeps that buy these comics, or anything else, for ridiculous amounts of money, I do hope they give somewhat generously to charity, imho. It's only fair, cause this kinda splurging, is nothing but total insanity, for the rest of us regular peeps. And if it's stimulus moneys, WHAT?

[XLFD]

Dave, you have to feel a little better now, since your own signature superhero outdid the man of steel. This cover is so cheesy, however, what with the yellow background and the batarang rope seems to be attached to something way above the roofline (probably Superman's leg).

[AQUAMAN]

I doubt it, it's probably Aquamans fin. Hardy har har har, sayeth TOM! Where is that Torqueman?

[XLFD]

Aquaman is too busy throwing Polar Behrs at Fur Seal poachers, to be flying above Gotham City.