Upcoming ComicLink art auction offers pages by Alan Davis, Dave Gibbons and Barry Windsor-Smith

By John Freeman on October 27, 2021

Cover art by British comic artist Barry Windsor Smith and strip pages by Alan Davis and a Watchmen page by Dave Gibbons feature in next month’s Comic Link “Fall Auction”. Art by Ross Andru, Jack Kirby, Alex Ross, Jim Starlin and Bernie Wrightson, among others, also features.

Bidding in recent ComicLink comic art auctions has in many cases led to prices far exceeding the internal estimates, so be prepared for some battles for pages in this upcoming event.

Excalibur #61 Splash Page by Alan Davis and Mark Farmer — *Phoenix encounters an enormous Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, on this splash page for Excalibur #61, published by Marvel in 1993, pencilled by Alan Davis, inked by Mark Farmer*

The auction includes an extraordinary opportunity to own an ‘A-Level’ Rorschach page from the all-time classic Watchmen series that artist Dave Gibbons created with writer Alan Moore in 1985 – 1986.

Rorschach and Nite Owl use intimidation in an underworld hangout looking for information on who is behind the murder of the Comedian and attempted murder of Ozymandias, from Watchmen #10, art by Dave Gibbons, published by DC Comics in 1986 — *Rorschach and Nite Owl use intimidation in an underworld hangout looking for information on who is behind the murder of the Comedian and attempted murder of Ozymandias, from* Watchmen #10, art by Dave Gibbons, published by DC Comics in 1986

This variant cover by Alex Ross for Captain America: Sam Wilson #7 by Alex Ross is a tribute to the iconic cover to Captain America Comics #1, with Cap punching Hitler — *This variant cover for Captain America: Sam Wilson #7 by Alex Ross is a tribute to the iconic cover to Captain America Comics #1, with Cap punching Hitler*

On offer is a page comes from #10 of the 12-part series, a page that follows the events of Nite Owl and Silk Spectre springing Rorschach from prison. Rorschach and Nite Owl visit the underworld bar that Rorschach famously visited back in #1 when he began his investigation of the murder of the Comedian. This time, the duo is looking for information on the shooting of Ozymandias. Rorschach threatens torture and the patrons quickly tur nover the goon who has the information they need.

A classic Conan the Barbarian cover by Barry Windsor-Smith (#6, published in 1971) for "Devil-Wings Over Shadizar!" Conan is heroically depicted atop a winged Beast, to save his recurring love interest, Jenna, her first appearance issue — A classic Conan the Barbarian cover by Barry Windsor-Smith (#6, published in 1971) for “Devil-Wings Over Shadizar!” Conan is heroically depicted atop a winged Beast, to save his recurring love interest, Jenna, her first appearance issue

Also on offer is the cover of Marvel Comics for Conan the Barbarian #6 (1971) by Barry Windsor-Smith, featuring the saga “Devil-Wings Over Shadizar!”

Windsor-Smith’s run on Conan the Barbarian is considered the high-point of the character’s long history. Artwork from his relatively short stint on the classic character ranks among the most sought-after originals of the 1970s and beyond.

Created by author Robert E. Howard, Conan had been around in pulps and paperbacks for decades when Marvel began to adapt the character in comic books and the timing could not be more perfect. Writer Roy Thomas teamed with the young Barry Smith, who cut his teeth in comics, briefly, drawing pin ups for British weekly titles before moving to the United States, and for a few glorious years, they created a magical run that brought the Sword and Sorcery genre to comics for the first time.

The young Smith grew tremendously over the course of his run, beginning his evolution into one of the finest fantasy artists in the history of the medium, evidenced by another of his covers on offer in the same auction, a dramatic Wolverine cover for Marvel Comics Presents #79, published in 1991.

Marvel comics Presents #79 by Barry Windsor-Smith — *Marvel Comics Presents #79 by Barry Windsor-Smith*

This is the only Windsor-Smith “Weapon X” cover to feature Wolverine wearing the iconic helmet from the legendary origin story, which the he was forced to wear while being held prisoner. The helmet was designed to monitor, process, and regulate Logan’s sensory inputs so that the organisation behind the Weapon X project could brainwash him and turn Wolverine into a mindless killing machine under their control. It’s being offered alongside his 1991 cover for Solar, Man of the Atom #3.

• Check out the advance ComicLink catalogue for the auction, opening 19th November 2021, here

• There’s still time to sell your in the Fall Featured Auction, but you must act soon. Find out how here at ComicLink

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “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.