John Dolmayan, drummer of the rock band System of a Down and a dealer of rare comic books recently purchased Action Comics No. 1 featuring the first appearance of Superman at an Internet auction for $317,200.
According to Stephen Fishler, co-owner of the auction site ComicConnect.com, it is one of the highest prices ever paid for a comic books. Only about 100 copies of Action Comics No. 1 are known to exist.
“This is one of the premier books you can collect… It’s considered the Holy Grail of comic books,” says Dolmayan in a telephone interview.
Dolmayan did not buy the rare comic book for himself, but rather acquired it on behalf of a client whom he declined to identify.
Action Comics No. 1 original sold for 10 cents, and the previous owner had purchased it secondhand in the early 1950s for 35 cents.