Spider-Man’s debut comic gets $1.1M

PHILADELPHIA » A comic collector has been caught in Spider-Man’s web, paying $1.1 million for a near-mint copy of "Amazing Fantasy" No. 15, which features the wall crawler’s debut. The issue, first published in 1962, was sold Monday by a private seller to a private buyer, ComicConnect.com Chief Executive Stephen Fishler told The Associated Press yesterday. It’s not the highest price ever paid for a comic book, an honor that goes to "Action Comics" No. 1 with Superman on the cover, which went for $1.5 million.

But Fishler says the price paid is the most for a book from the Silver Age, the mid-1950s to about 1970.

APEC seeks graphic designers’ bids

The APEC Hawaii Host Committee is seeking firms to provide graphic design services for the 2011 Leaders’ Week in November. A request for proposals (RFP) was issued yesterday by the Host Committee.

The RFP includes the need for design, production and printing for signage, banners and directional signs at Honolulu Airport and hotels and convention signage; and print collateral, including transportation information, tour activities, brochures, maps, informational fliers and pamphlets.

Interested companies can get a copy of the RFP by e-mailing rfp@apec2011hawaii.com. Indicate the company name, contact name, contact phone and e-mail.

An RFP briefing meeting for interested companies will be held Tuesday. The deadline for RFP submissions is 4 p.m. March 31, with the vendor selection announced on April 8.

Facebook to show Warner movies

LOS ANGELES » Warner Bros. has become the first Hollywood studio to offer movies for rental or purchase on Facebook, enabling users to watch films on the popular social-networking site, the studio has announced. First up? "The Dark Knight," available starting yesterday. Now movie fans have one more reason never to log off Facebook.

Facebook fans who "liked" director Christopher Nolan’s "The Dark Knight" can now pay $3 to rent the superhero film through the movie’s page on the site. Warner Bros. said that it would make additional titles available for rental or purchase over the coming months.

The new offering, which Warner Bros. described as a test, is part of an ongoing effort by Hollywood studios to offer their movies in more ways online to boost the still-nascent digital-distribution business. Increasing online rentals and sales is critical for the entertainment industry as revenue from DVDs continues to fall.

Car buying fuels consumer loans

WASHINGTON » Consumers borrowed more in January to purchase new cars but were once again frugal with their credit cards, offering a mixed sign of their confidence in the economy. The Federal Reserve says total borrowing rose at an annual rate of $5 billion in January, or 2.5 percent, the fourth consecutive gain. Strong car sales drove the increase. The category that includes auto loans rose 6.9 percent. Credit card debt fell 6.4 percent in January, the 28th decline in 29 months.

Underwater mortgages rise

WASHINGTON » The number of Americans who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth rose at the end of last year, preventing many people from selling their homes in an already weak housing market. About 11.1 million households, or 23.1 percent of all mortgaged homes, were underwater in the October-December quarter, according to a report released yesterday by housing data firm CoreLogic.