An ultra rare copy of the comic book that introduced Superman to the world hits the auction block today and bids could soar as high as the "man of steel."
"Action Comics #1," published in June 1938, is considered to be the world's most valuable comic book and valued at an estimated $126,000.
"It's the Holy Grail of comic books," comic expert Stephen Fishler, who created the 10-point grading scale used to evaluate comic books, told Reuters.
"This is the one that started it all. There was no such thing as a super hero before it. No flying man. Comics weren't even that popular. It's the single most important event in comic book history," he said.
Only 100 copies of the No. 1 edition are known to exist and those in "fine" condition are worth about $126,000, he said, but this one could sell for several times that.
Bidding for the comic book begins at $1 and is sure to go up, up and away.
The owner, who has not been identified, bought the comic in 1950 when he was 9-years-old after begging his father for 35 cents.
"Lots of kids bought comic books in the '50s, but almost all of them eventually tossed them out," Fishler told Reuters. "This guy understood its value and took good care of it — that almost never happens either."
Fishler and Vincent Zurzolo, co-owners of Metropolis Collectibles, will offer the comic on their Web site for two weeks beginning Friday.
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