Pop Culture’s Big September
By Amanda Sheriff and J.C. Vaughn
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After the usual late summer doldrums, things have definitely heated up in the worlds of comic book, original comic art, and pop culture auctions. We’ll dive right into three examples.
Heritage’s September Comics Auction Hits $32.8 Million
Heritage’s Comics & Comic Art Auction on September 11-14, 2025, saw several records set on the way to a massive $32.8 million finish. The Dallas/Fort Worth-based auction house sold $11.6 million in comic art and $7.7 million in comics. Further, Frank Frazetta’s cover painting for the 1967 Conan novel, commonly known as Man Ape, sold for a record $13.5 million. The combined total set a new record for a Heritage comics auction and, according to the auction house, is the highest total for any similar event.
Frank Frazetta’s Conan cover painting, known as Man Ape, sold for a record $13.5 million in Heritage’s Comics & Comic Art Auction.
Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions.
Frazetta’s work saw another impressive sale when his Queen Kong painting realized $1 million. Barry Windsor-Smith’s Marvel Comics Presents #81 Wolverine/Weapon X splash page went for $425,000. Dave McKean’s painting of a deranged looking Joker for Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth cleared $362,500. Dave Gibbons and John Higgins’ Watchmen #5 page 24 art and production color guide hammered for $212,500.
The comic auction included two notable sales for Mile High Pedigree books, starting with Silver Streak #6 CGC 9.6 that sold for $228,000 and Hit Comics #5 CGC 9.6 that went for $90,000, setting a record for the book. The auction was led by Flash Comics #1 CGC 8.5, which raced to $396,000. Pep Comics #22 CGC 7.0 with the debuts of Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, and Jughead Jones reached $216,000.
Restored Detective Comics #27 Tops $520K at ComicConnect
A CGC 8.5 Restored copy of Detective Comics #27 (1939), the first appearance of Batman, sold for $520,950 in ComicConnect’s Event Auction 63 on September 14-18. The price established a new record for a Restored copy, of which there are only five copies graded higher, according to the CGC census.
This auction showcased the True North Collection, which ComicConnect said were “carefully curated first appearances.” The collection included other restored books, nearly all of which were restored by the team of Matt and Emily Meyers.
“I’ve seen many restoration experts with varying degrees of skills and specialties, but I’ve never seen anybody with the skill, talent, technique, and artistry that Emily and Matt possess,” ComicConnect President Vincent Zurzolo said. “These are some of the best-looking restored copies of Golden Age keys that I have seen in my nearly 40-year career in comics.”
Other sales of Restored comics included Captain America Comics #1 9.4 for $133,528, Batman #1 9.4 and Superman #1 9.4, each for $121,900, Marvel Comics #1 9.4 for $96.000, Robin’s debut in Detective Comics #38 9.4 for $21,850, All-Star Comics #8 9.6 for $35,651, and Sub-Mariner Comics #1 9.6 for $16,100. These set many new records for restored copies.
The auction also saw Dave Cockrum’s original cover art for X-Men #150 closing at $356,628. That price is the third highest sale ever for Cockrum art, and the highest price ever paid for his second run on the title. Among the other notables, a CGC-certified 9.4 copy of More Fun Comics #73 set a new record for the title at $460,128, and a CGC 9.6 copy of Mystery Men Comics #6 set a new record at $32,775.
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Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Sells for $3.6 Million at Propstore
On Thursday, September 4, 2025, Propstore opened their Entertainment Memorabilia Auction with a live session of 433 rare, high-value film and TV lots. The first day of the three-day auction realized $14.3 million, led by a record-setting prop from Star Wars.
Darth Vader’s lightsaber that was used by Vader actor David Prowse and stunt performer Bob Anderson during climactic battles in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi sold for $3.6 million. The screen-matched lightsaber prop had been held in a private collection for decades, making this the first time it was offered at auction. The lightsaber set a new record for the highest price of a Star Wars item sold at auction.
“Today’s result marks a landmark moment not just for Propstore, but for the entire world of film collecting,” Propstore COO Brandon Alinger said. “To see a Star Wars lightsaber – the symbol of one of cinema’s greatest sagas – become the highest valued piece of the franchise ever sold at auction is incredibly special. It speaks to the enduring cultural power of Star Wars and the passion of fans and collectors who see these artifacts as touchstones of modern mythology.”
Vader’s lightsaber was joined by multiple six-figure sales of iconic film and TV props. Indiana Jones’ (Harrison Ford) bullwhip, belt, and whip holster from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade reached $485,100. Jean-Luc Picard’s (Patrick Stewart) Ressikan flute and screen-matched box with “the Inner Light” costume continuity script from Star Trek: The Next Generation brought $403,200.
Rick Dalton’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) screen-matched “Betty” flamethrower from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood went for $346,500. The Men in Black screen-matched light-up hero close-up Neuralyzer reached $315,000. Clayton Moore’s promotional Lone Ranger Stetson from The Lone Ranger saw $302,400. Spider-Man’s (Tobey Maguire) costume from Spider-Man 2 realized $289,800.
Sauron’s helmet from Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring sold for $289,800. Ellen Ripley’s (Sigourney Weaver) practical SFX M240 flamethrower brought $252,000. The Saw III animatronic Billy puppet with remote from the Darren Lynn Bousman collection cleared $176,400. The Harry Potter franchise Platform 9-3/4 sign realized $138,600.
Amanda Sheriff is the Editor-Digital for Gemstone Publishing. J.C. Vaughn is Gemstone’s President.
