Sale of rare ‘Walking Dead’ comic book leads to man’s arrest

John Anthony Higgins was arrested after authorities said he pawned a rare first-edition “Walking Dead” comic book stolen from a Cape Canaveral business. (Photo by Noam Galai/ for AMC)

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. (WKRC) – The sale of a rare, graded, first-edition “Walking Dead” comic book led to a man’s arrest.

According to WKMG,63-year-old John Anthony Higgins was taken into custody after authorities said he tried to pawn the comic book the same day it was stolen from a business in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The report states that the suspect was allegedly caught pawning the comic at a shop in Port Orange, Florida, for $2,000 on the same day it was stolen from Defender Comics.

Following the alleged sale, an investigator learned the comic had been sold to the shop and reportedly identified Higgins as the suspect after reviewing security video.

In an affidavit reviewed by WKMG, authorities reportedly wrote that staff members at the pawn shop said they had been dealing with the suspect for multiple years and identified him as the individual who completed the transaction.

According to the outlet, authorities also discovered that Higgins had an active warrant for his arrest in a separate case involving petit theft and dealing in stolen property. The documents reportedly state that Higgins had used the same method of stealing and selling collectibles.

Law enforcement contacted Higgins at his workplace on Sept. 30, and he allegedly admitted that he had sold the comic book twice at the pawn shop.

“He advised he obtained the comic book from a deceased friend in March of 2026. This statement does not make sense, as Defender Comics noticed the book was missing on June 19, 2026 [the same day the defendant pawned the comic book],” the affidavit reportedly states

Higgins was taken into custody and charged with the following, according to the report:

• Dealing in stolen property

• False verification of ownership to a pawnbroker

He was taken to the Brevard County Jail and later released after posting a $26,000 bond.

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