Action Comics #1 Sells For Record $1.5 Million

The Holy Grail of comic books was sold earlier today for a record $1.5 million. Yes, you read that right. One and a half million dollars!

The 1938 copy of Action Comics #1, in which Superman made his first appearance, beat the $1.075 million record set at auction on February 25 for Detective Comics #27, where Batman debuted. Which in turn broke a record $1 million paid just three days earlier for another copy of Action Comics #1.

There are about 100 copies of Action Comics #1 believed to be in existence, and only a handful in good condition. This one was in a very good condition: 8.5 in the 10-point grading system:

For 50 years, the comic book was buried in a stack of old movie magazines from the 1930s. When the magazines were sold at a antique auction in Pittsburgh, the buyer was surprised to find Superman keeping company with Clark Gable and Joan Crawford.

Back in 1938 the Superman comic, boasting a cover picture of the red-caped hero lifting a green car, cost just 10 cents.

(via Associated Press)