Selling Superman (Series)

It was a 40-year family secret that only a few people knew about. Darren’s father had a hidden Asperger’s (ASD) disorder that drove an obsessive yet genius collecting of comic books – causing great trauma, overtaking a home and destroying a family. Now after his father’s passing, Darren is left with a holy grail collection of over 300,000 comic books. This includes his father’s most prized possession: a Superman #1 (7.0) valued at over $3.5Million, making it one of the most expensive comic books of all time. He faces off with the adventure of Selling Superman (and the whole collection), with his comic fanatic long-time friend Brian by his side. But Darren is still picking up the pieces of his childhood, trying to rewrite a family legacy, and hopefully discover the heroic power within: that we can choose how we perceive life and value ourselves.

Ep 1 - The Unseen Price of a Holy Grail (42') | 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.

Ep 2: Can He Rewrite This Story? (42') | 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.”

Ep 3: The Value in Question (47') | 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.

Ep 4: Will the Real Superman Please Stand Up (68') | 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?