http://slyoyster.com

Yup, the motorized La-Z Boy, which can reach speeds of up to 20 MPH, comes equipped with a stereo, a cup holder and a bumper sticker that reads “hell yeah it’s fast!” can now be yours.  It’s going up sometime next week on eBay because former owner Dennis Anderson will be serving a two-year suspended sentence for driving under the influence on this badboy.   [via]

So the speculation can end, now that Action Comics number one has gone to auction and sold for the tidy sum of $317,200. Who placed the high bid? System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan, although he is a dealer of rare and vintage comics, and may have been bidding for a client.

The amount is one of the highest prices ever paid for a comic book, according to ComicConnect.com co-owner Stephen Fishler. “Maybe in a booming economy, it would have done a hundred grand more,” Fishler commented, “but in this economy, I think the price is great.”

Action Comics number one really is the holy grail, so to speak, and finding a copy today is hard to do. The $317,000 issue was originally picked up in the early 1950s for 35 cents, meaning the appreciation on the collectible is a lot.  Love that fuzzy math.

The price reflects a new record: Flash Comics #1 brought a staggering $273,125 in 2006.

[via Get the Big Picture]

How much?  Try $28 milli (actually it was 22 million Irish pounds but semantics).  That’s $28 million, not $2.8 million.

Thankfully, it’s better than an exploding office chair, but still that chair better shit gold nuggets or rainbows or unicorns or come with a miniature Neil Patrick Harris.  Because, otherwise, whomever dropped that kind of money just got ripped off.

But there was no doubting the real star item on offer.

Known as the Fauteuil aux Dragons or “dragons’ armchair” because of the ornate sculptures on its sweeping armrests, the one-off rounded brown leather piece was designed by Ms Gray when she was in her early 30s and after she had moved from Enniscorthy to London to study art.

She became renowned for the luxurious finish of her lacquered furniture, but it was not until after her death in 1976 that she was truly recognised as one of the most important furniture designers and architects of the early 20th century.

The buyer was the same dealer who had sold it to Mr Saint Laurent in the early ’70s. Cheska Vallois raised his bid in increments of €500,000 to see off a phone rival with a bid of €21.9m, and was applauded by the 1,000 people present.

The highest amount ever paid for a piece of furniture was €27.5m — paid for an 18th century Badmington cabinet in 2004.

In April 1938, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster introduced Superman to the masses and Hollywood has been trying to make a decent Supes movie ever since.  Har, har. 

The Man of Steel first appeared in Action Comics #1, and today it’s almost impossible to find a copy of the book. This is akin to a rare baseball card, but it’s pop cultural significance is that much greater.  Superheros weren’t invented with Superman, but in terms of iconography there may be no greater creation. 

Strange things do happen, and the valuable issue — in good condition, no less — has come to light. (The owner purchased it in 1960 when he was 9 years old. It cost him 35 cents.)

The book goes up for auction Feb. 27 on ComicConnect.com. Bidding starts at $1.  There’s no telling how high it will go, but Action Comics #1 is estimated to be worth $126,000 in “fine condition.” So extrapolate what you will from that.  Experts expect it to sell for more. 

Depending on how the bidding goes, it wouldn’t surprise me if this sold for mid-six-figures.  The auction closes on March 13.  If, like me, you can only dream of such a precious collectors item, you can always read the comic online.