Frank Frazetta Death Dealer 6 Painting Original Art (1990)
Run by Heritage Auctions, Chicago’s largest public auction dedicated to vintage comic books and original comic art fetched $12,201,974 – setting the world record for the most valuable sale of its kind.
The top lot claimed its own record when artist Frank Frazetta’s Original Art titled Death Dealer 6, 1990 – first published as the cover for Verotik’s 1996 Death Dealer #2 comic book – more than doubled the all-time auction record for any piece of comic art when it sold for $1.79 million.
“As the live session opened, the Frazetta painting had a bid of $600,000, but within moments it had come down to two collectors, bidding by phone, who waged a pitched battle for this very desirable painting,” said Barry Sandoval, Director of Comics Operations at Heritage.
The sale surpassed the previous record for the world’s most valuable comic book auction by more than $1.8 million, a record also set by Heritage Auctions in July 2012 at $10,389,821. The three-day, 1,684-lot auction held May 10-12 offered examples of the world’s rarest comic books, including a copy of Action Comics #1 (DC, 1938), which sold for $573,600.
Featuring the first appearance of Superman, the copy was sold by a longtime American comic book collector who paid $50,000 for the copy 15 years ago.
In addition to the copy of Action Comics #1, key books in high-grade condition broke the six-figure barrier. An issue of Batman #1 (DC, 1940), CGC FN- 5.5, never before offered for sale, sold for $227,050. Justice League of America #1 (DC, 1960), CGC NM+ 9.6, ended at $215,100, and a copy of Whiz Comics #2 (#1) (Fawcett Publications, 1940), the first appearance of Captain Marvel, sold for $173,275.
One of the most sough-after issues of all time, Superman #1 (DC, 1939), brought $167,300 and 25 bids pushed the auction price of Action Comics #7 (DC, 1938), known for being the second Superman cover ever, to $161,325.
John Romita Sr. Amazing Spider-Man #61 Cover Original Art (Marvel, 1968). The first cover appearance for Gwen Stacy as well as her father Captain George Stacy
The auction’s offering of original comic art included John Romita Sr. The Amazing Spider-Man #61 Cover Original Art (Marvel, 1968), which sold for $167,300. Continuing collector’s streak for paying high-flying auction prices for art by Robert Crumb, his original art for a “Head Comix” 1-Page Story from Yarrowstalks #2, published in 1967, sold for $143,400.
Jack Kirby and George Roussos (as G. Bell) Fantastic Four #25 Splash Page Original Art (Marvel, 1964)
Artist Dave Cockrum’s bombastic original Cover Art to X-Men #102 (Marvel, 1976) sold for $131,450 and a magnificent splash-page of original art by Jack Kirby and George Roussos from Fantastic Four #25 (Marvel, 1964) sold for $113,525.
The original art by Jack Kirby and Paul Reinman used for page 3 of X-Men #1 (Marvel, 1963), sold for $89,625 and Bill Watterson’s original art for a Calvin and Hobbes daily comic strip dated 21st January 1986, sold for $67,725.
Bill Watterson Calvin and Hobbes Daily Comic Strip Original Art dated 1-21-86 (Universal Press Syndicate, 1986)
A single page of art from the comic book featuring the first appearance of popular character Deadpool: Rob Liefeld’s New Mutants #98 Story Page 15 Original Art (offered just a week before the film Deadpool 2 hits cinemas), sold for $51,385.
Bidders set another world record when the original signed art for a The Far Side daily comic strip, by cartoonist Gary Larson, sold for $31,070, making it the most expensive Far Side strip ever sold at auction.
Gary Larson The Far Side Daily Comic Strip Original Art dated 10-31-83 (Chronicle Features, 1983).
Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Chicago, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Geneva, Amsterdam and Hong Kong.
The Internet’s most popular auction-house website, HA.com, has over one million registered bidder-members and searchable free archives of four million past auction records with prices realized, descriptions and enlargeable photos.
• View all the Chicago’s public auction lots here
• View the latest Heritage Auctions comic art and comic lots on offer here
All art © respective creator or publishers – images with thanks to Heritage Auctions
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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.
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