Selling Superman

Owning a $3.5M Superman #1 comes with a price: 40 years of oppressive family secrecy, untreated Asperger’s (ASD), and an obsession that causes great mental strife. How have comics like this one become so highly valued, and is it all worth it? The underbelly of the comics fanatics subculture starts to show itself.

In a search for help to handle the mental and physical workload, Darren comes out about his collection. From meeting the most charming circle of comic fanatics, to giving first-time access to his newly built Fortress of Solitude, Darren’s inner world rears its head to show just how much his father affected him. He makes a trip to the mecca of comics and we gain a new view on addiction, media, and what we define as “reality.”

This family portrait expands as we meet Darren’s younger brother Adam, their equally collection-obsessed Aunt Linda, and access untold history about their father. This tumultuous time capsule collides with the collection being anointed as truly world class, making the filming of the documentary increasingly stressful as Darren faces what could be the biggest sale of his life.

Breakdowns, internet trolls, media misunderstandings… What is the truth, and who decides? Can Darren be authentic, and at what cost? He searches for the origin of his dad’s Superman #1 while we investigate the inherent value of our beloved hero, Superman. Is super power based on ability, on morals, on achievement? Is our truth determined by the past, or is it in our hands to decide now?