ET’s in a bad mood! Juan Aguilera pokes fun at a Spielberg classic

By John Freeman on August 27, 2022

Unusually, there are no British comic artworks in this week’s in the latest Catawiki International Original Comics Art Auction, but there is some fine art from European artists, including some fun work at the expense of the SF film, ET, by Juan Aguilera, and a page of Western Comics work by Axa and Modesty Blaise artist, Enrique Badia Romero.

Here’s some of the highlights in an auction that also includes work by Roger Bonet, José González, Dick Matena and more…

ET isn’t in a good mood in this art titled “Tribute to E.T. the Extra Terrestrial”, by Juan Aguilera, an artist who has spent more than 20 years as an illustrator, artistic draftsman, portraitist, and muralist, his comics appearing in various horror and fantasy magazines, such as Cthulhu magazine. He also drew the historical comics “Espadas del fin del mundo” y “1808 Madrid”. His film and TV credits also include backgrounds for the Netflix animated series, Memorias de Idhún and he currently works on various film productions in the FX Makeup section and building props for different films.

The original cover of ROBUR Volume 2: 20,000 Ans Sous les Mer by Gil Formosa, a science fiction / steampunk series, loosely based on the work of Jules Verne, published in first publication by Albin Michel editions, then by Glénat editions, and in English by Heavy Metal. (The Heavy Metal version is available here as a “serialsed bundle).

Here’s a fun tribute to Hergé, Franquin, Jacobs and Peyo – a signed drawing by Portuguese artist Di Matteo.

Tribute to Hergé, Franquin, Jacobs and Peyo by Di Matteo

An original drawing by the great artist Enrique Badio Romero for the Manila series, from the story “Jesse James is alive”, published in Primo by Kauka Verlag in the early 1980s.

Manila - Jesse James is Alive - art by Enrique Badio Romero

• Check out the full catalogue for this week’s Catawiki International Original Comics Art Auction here – closing at 7.00pm Thursday 1st September 2022

Potential Additional International Auction Costs

This advice box was last updated on Friday 6th May 2022

The UK’s departure from the European Union means there may be additional import duties on sales.

Prior to Brexit, the effective rate of UK tax on imports of art was 5%, which is lower than most other European countries. An owner could previously import an artwork to the UK from outside the EU and was then free to transport it to other EU countries, where the import tax rates may be higher, without incurring any further import-related tax charges. If the owner then wished to bring the artwork back to the UK, there would also have been no further tax charge.

The Guardian previously reported that online orders up to £135 are now supposed to have the UK’s prevailing VAT rate added at the point of sale by the EU retailer, which has to have registered with HM Revenue & Customs.

While buying from European sellers carries the sting of larger costs, the auction house Catawiki does now endeavour to provide an estimate of those in its lot descriptions.

Unfortunately, many smaller EU-based retailers have decided that the paperwork of collecting UK VAT is not worth the hassle and as a result will no longer supply UK consumers. It has also meant that some British sellers will no longer export to Europe.

This apolitical guide outlines what you should be aware of when buying or selling art internationally but is a work in progress

• Don’t forget Catawiki runs several regular auctions, including a dedicated US Comics auction, too – check out all the current lots on offer here

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.