The Comic Department at Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s has introduced a brand-new category to its auctions – Animation and Comic Artwork – and the first auction combining the two features plenty one-of-a-kind items, from 2000AD to Disney’s Jungle Book. 

Taking place on Friday 19th June, Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s Comic & Animation Art Sale (CB26005) will run live from London and online and while it is likely to be overshadowed in terms of coverage by the third Peter Hansen Collection Auction the following day, run by Excalibur Auctions, there’s plenty to interest collectors

Highlights include art from 2000AD, including the opening page of the “Tharg’s Future-Shocks” story, “All Of Them Were Empty” for Prog 251 back in 1982, written by Alan Moore, drawn by the late Paul Neary; the first appearance of “The Balls Brothers“, the creation of John Wagner and Kevin Walker, and a near complete run of their 2000AD appearances; rare Underground art by Donnie Jupiter (art for Thunder Bunny #9 – Dreams Of A Rabbit Fiend); highly collectible original “Spy vs. Spy” artwork from 1960’s Mad Magazine by Antonio Prohías.

There are Doctor Who items, too, although much of these are “Printed Pages” or layouts for the actual issues of Doctor Who Magazine strip pages, many from the era when I was editor of the title. These comprise bromides of original art, pasted onto board, an interim stage between commission and print, used to create the film used for printing the title. (I have a vague memory of donating some these to various charity auctions at various Doctor Who conventions).

Marvel UK fans will be particularly interested in character designs for the cancelled Red Mist 20-20 Character Colour Sheets, a mini series written by Alan Cowsill and Simon Jowett, that would have featured art by Andrew Currie and Charlie Adlard (Dougie Braithwaite created a series of trading cars to promote this series). The artist on the designs is unidentified. You can read more about the Red Mist 20-20 project here on downthetubes

Another rare treat on offer is the original art for Battle Axe #6, written by Simon Jowett, with pencils by the late Edmund Perryman, inked by Rodney Ramos. Only seven issues of Black Axe were published before the axe itself fell on Marvel UK’s Genesis project, leaving many tales untold. You can read more about Black Axe here on downthetubes

For Marvel US fans, there are original 1990s animation cels with master background from Iron Man, Incredible Hulk and the X-Men, plus an unopened Merry Marvel Marching Society eight poster set from 1966, featuring artwork by comic royalty Jack Kirby.

For DC Fans, there’s an original animation cel from Batman Beyond (1999), while, not to be overlooked there are animation cels from The Real Ghostbusters, too, including images of the Ghostbusters and the iconic Ecto-1 from the opening sequence. 

• Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s Comic & Animation Art Sale | CB26005 | 4.00pm 19th June 16.00 BST | Sale Number: CB26005 | Live from London & Online | Check out the catalogue here | You must be registered to bid

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John Freeman

John  is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of  comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.

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Categories: 2000AD, Art and Illustration, Auctions, British Comics, Comic Art, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Other Worlds

Tags: 2000AD, Alan Moore, Andrew Currie, Auction News, Black Axe, Doctor Who Magazine, downthetubes News, Edmund Perryman, Kevin Walker, Marvel UK, Paul Neary, Red Mist, Stanley Gibbons Baldwin's, Tharg’s Future Shocks, The Balls Brothers, The Real Ghostbusters