Nic Cage's Stolen Comic Expected To Shatter Expensive Record (VIDEO)

Nicolas Cage has had his fair share of eccentric purchases in the past, from luxury dinosaur bones to a pyramid tomb to a $150,000 comic book. It turns out that last one was a pretty good investment, as that same comic is now expected to break the auction record for most expensive comic.

This comic book, telling the triumphs of Superman in the collection 'Action Comics,' has a long and suspenseful history. Three years after Cage bought it in 1997, it was stolen from his California home. In 2011, the comic was found in a San Fernando Valley storage locker. Cage referred to the surprising return as "divine providence."

The copy is legendary among comic collectors and fans due to its pristine condition. With a 9/10 grading, it is the highest graded issue of that particular comic known to exist. In 2010, an 8.5-rated copy sold for $1.5 million, breaking the record for most expensive comic at the time. This upcoming auction is predicted to shatter this previous record. The history behind the comic is as riveting as any adventure story. Get a glimpse of the famed pages below:

Comments

[F4G Phantom]

04:25 AM on 11/30/2011

How many copies of that comic went unceremoniously to the dump? Or still rest somewhere in pristine condition, unnoticed? Ah, if we only knew. On the other hand, my mint-condition 2002 Pontiac Firehawk ought to bring big-bucks; when I'm 90!

l o l

(though I do enjoy just looking at it)

[headly67]

07:21 PM on 11/29/2011

This must be a tough read for anyone who is not a comic fan, not one mention of the year it was published or the publisher.

And in the video he says it's the first edition Superman, which is wrong.

It's Action Comics #1, a DC comic from June 1938.

[lakeside laffer]

07:13 PM on 11/29/2011

It is easy for vampires to collect these things. He bought it new and has held on to it for years.

[SBB77]

06:45 PM on 11/29/2011

Has anyone else ever noticed how bad the drawing perspective is on the front cover of Action Comics issue #1?

Somehow the left front tire of the car Superman is smashing into a rock(?) is on the other side of the car in the air at an angle that seems impossible.

Also notice how the guy under the car seems to be at a safe distance from the car. Yet his left leg appears to be directly below where Superman is smashing the car! It just doesn't make any sense!

[TruEngineHearing]

07:18 PM on 11/29/2011

...so, uh, I guess you'd like me to sell my copy to you for 3 bucks while I can still get it, eh?... oh, ok.

[F4G Phantom]

04:28 AM on 11/30/2011

Oh, please. Suspend disbelief just this once.

l o l

[1reasonedtruth]

06:14 PM on 11/29/2011

I can't imagine how much the comics I threw away as a kid would be worth today.
Sgt. Rock, Sgt. Fury, Silver Surfer, FF, MAD, Haunted Tank, CarToons.
Sigh............

[headly67]

07:16 PM on 11/29/2011

I kept mine nice a safe.

[hottingers]

06:01 PM on 11/29/2011

Nicholas Cage in National Treasure: One Decent Investment

[ummm]

05:33 PM on 11/29/2011

A one-percenter gets to buy back his childhood and spend a couple mil to win (a super-hero comic-book) or a filthy-rich Gen-Y gamer gets game...what tops out the value of this thing? What is the inflation rate of $150,000 to 2 million in 14 years?

[headly67]

07:22 PM on 11/29/2011

Childhood? If he was around 83 maybe.

[David DEsposito]

02:04 PM on 11/30/2011

Aside from the fact that Cage is NOT a "one-percenter" (That title correctly reserved for those worth over roughly $10 Billion.), you seem to think someone (who, exactly?) should cap the value of irreplaceable, unique pieces of art and American literature and history.
What tops out the value of these things? Demand. Plain and simple.
The less you have of something unique, the more demand you have for it, creating a competitive marketplace for it, which drives the value up. What restricts the value, as with anything else, is the market.
That's the nature of a free market system.
Why do so many of the "I hate anyone more successful than me" gang seem to have such a hard time grasping this simple concept?

[ummm]

03:48 PM on 11/30/2011

u misunderstood completely

[rockgolf]

05:08 PM on 11/29/2011

SPOILER: The guy in the blue suit is also the nerd reporter.

[jcolvin325]

05:21 PM on 11/29/2011

What? Noooooooooo. I hate you now.

[darquelourd]

04:50 PM on 11/29/2011

I was so hoping that Nic Cage's megalomania would someday be rewarded!

[PuzzledinPeoria]

05:06 PM on 11/29/2011

Not with an Oscar, I'm sure.

[mmsuki]

05:43 PM on 11/29/2011

He has one of those already, for Leaving Las Vegas.

[ChaCubed]

05:22 PM on 11/29/2011

So, DarqueLourd, YOU'RE the one we blame for this!

You must have an "in" with divine providence!

:-P

[MountPanic]

04:38 PM on 11/29/2011

(psst... it's been reprinted.)

[headly67]

07:23 PM on 11/29/2011

and?

[MountPanic]

03:29 AM on 12/02/2011

Just sharing a cost-cutting tip with the people.

[Forester]

04:20 PM on 11/29/2011

Gee, I wonder if the IRS has any interest in this story?

[Realist2011]

05:48 PM on 11/29/2011

They do now.

[robertelessar]

06:30 AM on 11/29/2011

maybe you should mention it is not just a Superman comic, but the FIRST Superman comic.

[ChaCubed]

05:20 PM on 11/29/2011

Oh, Robert, details details.

;-)

[headly67]

07:23 PM on 11/29/2011

It's the first appearance of Superman.