Alongside a number of US first issues and “first appearance” editions of a wide range of villains or heroes, including a comic featuring the early work of Frank Frazetta, the upcoming Ewbank’s auction of Comic Books on Thursday 18th December includes a number of original comic artworks.
The highlight is surely among the art offerings is a page of original art by Jamie Hewlett, published in Deadline No. 1 in 1988, featuring the first appearance of Tank Girl and The Tank.
Jamie Hewlett, the British artist celebrated for co-creating Tank Girl and the virtual band Gorillaz, is renowned for his bold, kinetic, punk-influenced visual style that blends comics, music, and animation into a unique pop-culture aesthetic.
This sensational original art features page 3 of Deadline Magazine No. 1 (1988), showcasing the first appearance of Tank Girl and her iconic Tank, as she embarks on her premiere adventure charging from a cliff face to the peril of Rocky Deadhead and his gang of renegade kangaroos.
Deadline Tank Girl pages are extremely rare and highly sought-after. This page has remained in a private collection ever since the vendor purchased it directly from Jamie Hewlett during their time sharing an office at IPC Publishing in the late 1980s.
Ewbanks are delighted to bring this page to auction for the very first time.
“Jamie Hewlett is renowned for his bold, kinetic, punk-influenced visual style that blends comics, music, and animation into a unique pop-culture aesthetic,” said Ewbank’s Comics specialist Tom Francis-Duma.
“Tank Girl was at the forefront of the counterculture movement in the 1990s and remains one of the strongest characters ever set down in the world of graphic art.”
Designed and set down in graphite, inks, correction fluid, lettering panels, and affixed card correction panels on Bristol board, the 60 x 47.5cm panel is in generally excellent condition, with minor ink fading to select panels.
“This has to rank among the most desirable pieces of artwork from any comic strip ever created,” said Tom.
• Ewbank’s Comic Books Auction | starts at 11.00 am Thursday 18th December 2025 | Full Catalogue Here | You must be registered to bid
Also on offer…
Daniel Warren Johnson original cover art for Wolverine 2020 No. 2 (Marvel Comics, 2020)
Featuring a dynamic scene with Wolverine plunging down onto his foes below with claws unsheathed and outstretched.
Daniel Warren Johnson is an Eisner Award-winning comic artist known for his dynamic, visceral style in works such as Wolverine, Wonder Woman: Dead Earth, Transformers, and his recent Wolverine No. 400 samurai backup story, where he depicts Logan in a brutal, feudal Japan-inspired revenge tale was released to widespread acclaim.
Some of the following artworks appear to be convention sketches…
Andy Lanning is a British comic artist best known for his 1990s Marvel work, especially on Guardians of the Galaxy (with Dan Abnett). His style helped shape modern cosmic Marvel storytelling.
Mark Bagley an original portrait sketch artwork (1994)
Mark Bagley is an American comic book artist best known for his work on The Amazing Spider-Man, as well as for co-creating the symbiote villain Carnage.
John Romita Jr. an original artwork of Marvel Comics The Punisher (1992)
John Romita Jr. is a prolific American comic book artist renowned for his work on Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man, Daredevil, and Uncanny X-Men.
Kev Hopgood an artwork of Marvel Comics War Machine (1990s)
Kev Hopgood is a British comic book artist best known for co-creating War Machine during his run on Iron Man in the early 1990s.
Steve Pugh an original artwork of Doctor Doom from Marvels Fantastic Four (1996)
Steve Pugh is a British comic book artist known for his work on titles like Animal Man, The Flintstones, and Saint of Killers for major publishers like DC and Marvel Comics.
Some of the comic lots on offer include…
Spawn No. 1 featuring first appearance of Spawn (Image Comics, 1992)
First appearance of Spawn (Al Simmons). Second Image “i” logo. Pull-out Spawn poster.
Circus Comics No. 1 Golden-age issue featuring early Frank Frazetta art (D.S. Publishing, 1948)
Circus-themed comics in a one-shot from D.S. Publishing that featured early art by Frank Frazetta.
First appearance of Mr Mind – revealed to be a tiny, alien worm.
The Amazing Spider-Man No. 16 – First meeting of Spider-Man and Daredevil (Marvel Comics, 1964)
Fantastic Four No. 50 – featuring classic Silver Surfer vs Galactus Battle (Marvel Comics 1966)
Featuring the third appearance of the Silver Surfer, first appearance of Wyatt Wingfoot with classic Silver Surfer Jack Kirby cover art.
First appearance and origin of Venom (Eddie Brock). Venom is a lethal alien symbiote that bonds with hosts to create a powerful, often anti-heroic monster with a hatred for Spider-Man and a love for destruction. Key Marvel first appearance issue. Thing appearance. Last black costume. Full page editorial by Stan Lee.
A run of one of the most popular Spider-Man runs by creator Todd McFarlane.
Key Marvel first appearance issue. First appearance of Deadpool (Wade Wilson), Gideon & Copycat (Vanessa Carlysle) as Domino. Rictor leaves the New Mutants.
Watchmen by Alan Moore Nos. 1 – 12: a complete set in High-Grade condition (DC Comics, 1986/87)
A complete set of what’s widely considered one the greatest US comic book series of all time by legendary creator and writer Alan Moore.
The Sin City comic series is an influential Neo-Noir comic series set in a world of brutal crime and morally ambiguous characters by Frank Miller. Told in stark black and white visuals with occasional colour splash, its stories follow hard-boiled men and dangerous women in corrupt cities and neon lit nights.
Select issues signed by writer Andy Lanning in 1992 to cover in silver ink.
Featuring stories by the late Alan Grant with art by Lee Sullivan and Kim DeMulder.
• Ewbank’s Comic Books Auction | starts at 11.00 am Thursday 18th December 2025 | Full Catalogue Here | You must be registered to bid
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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.
Categories: Auctions, British Comics, Comic Art, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Other Worlds, US Comics
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