An unused cover by Ron Wilson for Marvel UK’s original weekly Captain Britain comic features in an upcoming Heritage Auction.

Intended for use in #29, published in April 1977, the good Captain, in his original costume, is featured fighting Lord Hawk on this exciting, but ultimately unused cover design.

One of many covers created for Marvel UK from out of the parent company’s New York “Bullpen”, Ron’s cover was dropped in favour of a striking image believed created by Larry Lieber and Frank Giacoia, who did so many British Marvels together.

Created in pure graphite on Marvel’s “British Book” Bristol board with an image area of 10.25″ x 13.75″, the auction lot description notes Ron’s art has been folded and creases horizontally through the image area.

The artwork is one of a number of vintage British Marvel covers coming up for auction at Heritage including these, which artist David Roach are also be by Ron Wilson, one featuring the giant J Jonah Jameson robot (a Spiderslayer perhaps?), perhaps inked by Mike Esposito. A cover by Pablo Marcos for Mighty World of Marvel #294 also features.

All these items feature in Heritage Auctions 14th – 17th January 2021 Comics & Comic Art Signature Auction in Dallas. Many Marvel US covers also feature, including art by Frank Brunner, Howard Chaykin, Gene Colan, Gil Kane and John Romita Sr. (also including a Mighty World of Marvel splash page), and Jim Starlin.

British artists work featured includes art by Charlie Adlard (Walking Dead), Doug Braithwaite (Justice), Eddie Campbell (From Hell), Glenn Fabry (Constantine), Dave Gibbons (Watchmen), Duncan Fegredo (Love Street), Frank Hampson (Dan Dare), and Jamie Hewlett (including Tank Girl, for Deadline).

• View the unused Captain Britain cover by Ron Wilson here

• Heritage Auctions 14th – 17th January 2021 Comics & Comic Art Signature Auction

• Captain Britain collections from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

With thanks to David Roach for the tip and. Lew Stringer for the published Captain Britain cover

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John Freeman

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.

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Tags: Auction News, Captain Britain, Cover Art, Dan Dare, downthetubes News, Frank Hampson, Heritage Auctions, Judge Death, Marvel UK, Mighty World of Marvel, Pablo Marcos, Pete Doherty, Ron Wilson, Superhero Comics