'Superman', 'Batman' Debuts To Turn Oxnard Comic Book Guy Into Millionaire

OXNARD (CBS) — Best. Auction. Ever.

That's likely to be the sentiment that Michael Rorrer of Oxnard will express after he turns a family collection of comic books into a small fortune.

Rorrer, 31, will auction off 345 comic books in New York on Wednesday, including 44 of the top 100 issues from what's known as the "Golden Age" of comics.

The comics are expected to net as much as $2 million in bids.

"This is just one of those collections that all the guys in the business think don't exist anymore," said Lon Allen, the managing director of comics for Heritage Auctions, the Dallas-based auction house overseeing the sale.

Among the biggest moneymakers: the first issue of "Action Comics" when the character of Superman made his debut is expected to sell for about $325,000, while a "Detective Comics" number 27 when Batman first appeared should get upwards of $475,000.

Rorrer said he stumbled upon the collection in his basement while cleaning out his great uncle's home in Virginia.

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