Superman can leap more than tall buildings in a single bound. The Man of Steel proved in a Texas auction he can also hurdle the magical seven-figure barrier.
A 1938 comic book, Action Comics No. 1, that introduced Superman to the world sold for an online bid of $1.4 million on May 7. The sale to an anonymous buyer culminated a process shepherded by Ventura and Newbury Park comic book store owner Timmy Heague, who was contracted by the book’s seller to make all arrangements.
“I’m over the moon,” Heague said in a phone interview, explaining his excitement at helping sell the book that gave life to the genre of superheroes. “It’s the Holy Grail of comic collectibles.”
There are believed to be about 125 copies of the comic book in the world. One, in near-mint condition, sold for $15 million earlier this year.
The book Heague and the owner used Heritage Auctions in Dallas to put out to bid was in good shape. It was also “conserved,” meaning work had been done to pump up its colors. The $1.4 million price marked a new record for conserved comic books, said Jesse Hughey, spokesperson for Heritage.
“Anytime you see seven digits, that’s exciting,” Hughey said of the sales price.
Heague said the vast amounts of money involved explain why many comic book collectors want anonymity. Even Heague, who watched a livestream of the auction from his Arsenal Comics and Games shop in Ventura, said he doesn’t know who the buyer is.
“I don’t need to or want to,” he said. “It’s awesome someone will have that in their collection.”
Heague, 33, of Ventura is the son of immigrants from Liverpool, England. He owns two comic book stores and also writes comics, including stories in the Lost Fantasy series revolving around a new character called Bombshell.
Heague has developed a reputation for selling big-name books. He was connected by friend to a collector who lives outside of California. The man was looking to sell his Action No. 1. He contracted Heague to lead the process.
Before long, Heague was on a plane headed to Florida to have the comic book evaluated and graded. The valuable book was protected in a hard-cased shell and bubblewrap Heague carried it all in a backpack on his lap.
“I didn’t want (the book) not touching me,” he told The Star in January.
Heague receives a commission for the sale. His contract also calls for some proceeds to go to charities connected to the comic book industry. On May 11, he was in New York City readying for a gala event for one of the charities, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation dedicated to bookstore and comic store employees.
His journey with the conserved Action No. 1 is ending. But Heague has plans to represent the same collector in other sales of rare and valuable comic books.
It’s part of a life that has revolved around comic books since he was a young boy. He credits the comics that took him to new worlds for teaching him to read. His payback includes an annual event held in May that drew long lines at his stores. Each visitor received free comic books.
“I love doing what I do so much I would not stop,” he said. “I love comics.”
Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com.
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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura man ‘over the moon’ at $1.4M sale of rare Superman comic book
Reporting by Tom Kisken, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
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