A Paris auction will feature some of the world's most valuable comics

And for rare comic books, that value is skyrocketing.

At a sale at French auction house Artcurial on April 30, comics - especially those written by the famous Belgian cartoonist Hergé - will receive attention and prices rivaling those usually reserved for fine art.

"The world of comic strips has recently witnessed a renewed enthusiasm," said Eric Leroy, an expert in comics at Artcurial.

"Collectors come from all backgrounds; some of them have previously been collecting contemporary and modern art and appreciate the graphical and historical side of collecting comic strips," Leroy said.

Artcurial set up a dedicated comic strip division in 2005, responding to a rapidly expanding market and a growing need for in-house expertise to identify, authenticate, and curate some of the most desirable comics in the world.