Costumes help fight crisis

In these times of crisis and economic recession, many Americans are turning to comic books to escape the hard reality. But while for some it might just good fun, for others it's also a good investment.

When comic book fanatics unite, the game of make-believe is stretched to the limit. Most of them are eager to explain their costumes to RT:

“My armored suit has darts, rockets and mini-lasers. It’s impervious to light-sabers and blasters,” one of them explained.

“I’m slave Leya from Star Wars Episode Six,” another said. “It’s the hottest geek costume there is in my opinion,” another said.

At Comic Con in the US, you’ll likely find more adults than kids living out their obsession with mythical superheroes.

“Everybody wants to escape into fantasy,” one of them said.

“Some people do it through sex. Some do it through costume. Some people do it through comic books. I mean, life’s hard.”

To avoid real life horrors like unemployment, home foreclosures and war, indulging in fake superpowers may be the best medicine.

Thirty thousand people turned out for the three-day Comic Con convention in
New York City.

Fictional heroes and villains bring some real profits. The comic book industry still manages to cash in – and cash in big – amid an economic recession.

A comic book with the first appearance of Superman, dating back to 1938, is worth $120,000.

Comic book collector Vincent Zurzolo says the industry has caught the attention of wealthy Americans searching for safe investments:

“Every week I’m getting multiple calls from people with the same identical story: ‘I know comic books appreciate in value. I know they’re going to be worth more tomorrow then they are today. What do you have for me?’"

Comic books debuted 75 years ago, selling for ten cents.

"Right now this is the most expensive comic book we have,” Vincent said, demonstrating the rarity. “This comic book actually is worth $120,000."

In March, Zurzolo marked the most expensive comic book sale in history:

“It was for an Action Comics number one from 1939,” Vincent Zurzolo explained. “It was the first appearance of Superman and it went for $317,200 dollars. It’s very rare. Less than 100 copies in the world exist today.”

Among the newest comic book entering the industry today is a three-page narrative starring Ron Paul. The seventy-year-old congressman battles the Federal Reserve Bank. Daniel Venez, a co-artist on the Ron Paul comic book explained the story:

“He’s been fighting against injustice in the system and trying to get transparency for the government for over thirty years.”

Now, a real life hero for many enters the world of make believe.