One of Bill Sienkiewicz’s Moon Knight covers created during his time on the title in the 1980s is currently up for auction over on Comic Connect.
Published 1st September 1983, on offer is the cover for Moon Knight #33, featuring Moon Knight battling The Druid high above New York City by Bill Sienkiewicz.
This creation was the artist’s second-to-last cover he produced from his run on the groundbreaking series, one of 25 of the series’ 38 covers, making them prized possessions among collectors lucky enough to acquire one.
Comic Connect notes his Moon Knight covers rarely make it to auction, “and are proud to make possible this rare opportunity to acquire a piece of comic book history indeed.”
The art, signed by Sienkiewicz in the image as well as in the UPC box, is accomplished in mixed-media with ink over graphite and white paint for effect on 11″ x 17″ Bristol board. It is professionally framed to 18 x 24 inches and is in excellent condition.
Bidding has historically been $12,750 with just over a day left to bid. The art is currently being offered alongside Batman art by Simone Bianchi, Thundercats art by Gabriele Dell’Otto, Daredevil art by Alex Maleev, and much more.
Bill Sienkiewicz was a relative unknown when he began his stint on Moon Knight in 1980. By the end of the series only a few short years later, he had become one of his generation’s most influential artists.
Marvel’s Moon Knight debuted in Werewolf by Night #32 (August 1975), written by Doug Moench with art by Don Perlin and Al Milgrom, as a mercenary hired by the Committee to capture the title character. The creative team gave Moon Knight moon-related symbols and silver weapons (a metal poisonous to a werewolf) to mark him as a suitable antagonist for the werewolf hero. The two-part story continued into Werewolf by Night #33, when Moon Knight realises Russell is a victim rather than a monster and decides to help him. A demonic vision of Moon Knight then appeared in Werewolf by Night #37 (March 1976).
Editors Marv Wolfman and Len Wein liked the character and decided to give him a solo story in Marvel Spotlight #28 – 29 (June/August 1976), again written by Doug Moench with art by Don Perlin. The story, along with Spectacular Spider-Man #22–23 (September/October 1978) written by Bill Mantlo, recast Moon Knight as a more heroic character. His association with the evil Committee during his first appearance was retconned to be an undercover mission he undertook to learn more about the villains.
Moon Knight acted as a hero again in Marvel Two-in-One #52, written by Steven Grant with art by Jim Craig. In The Defenders #47–51, Moon Knight briefly joined the Defenders during their war against the Zodiac Cartel.
Moon Knight received his first ongoing series in 1980, with Doug Moench and Bill Sienkiewicz as its main creative team. The character received an expanded origin story in issue #1, including Spector’s “resurrection” in the tomb of Khonshu, suggested by editor Denny O’Neil, which also introduced several supporting characters as well as recurring enemy Bushman. Although many characters doubted the moon god Khonshu was real and believed Marc Spector only experienced a hallucination while near death, it was never explained why others, such as Spector’s lover Marlene, concluded this when there was no other explanation for Marc’s spontaneous recovery from his wounds and a death-like state.
UPDATE 17th December 2024: The Moon Knight cover sold for $20,700
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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.
Categories: Comic Art, Comics, downthetubes News, US Comics
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