Page 41 - Journal of Antiques and Collectibles Januray 2020
P. 41
#1 Joins the $1 Million Club
Marvel Comics
A CGC-certified 9.4 copy of Marvel Comics #1 has joined Action ground comix artist, and collectors are always on the hunt for artwork from
Comics #1, Detective Comics #27, and Amazing Fantasy #15 as the “Stoned Agin!” The piece represents Crumb at the height of his popularity,
only comics to date to hit or top the $1 million threshold. The copy
featuring an excellent display of his trademark inked hatching.
became the latest to cross the seven-figure mark when the hammer fell at
Several Jack Kirby pieces also crossed the auction block, including the
Heritage Auctions’ Comic and Comic Art Signature Auction on Kirby/Syd Shores original cover art for Captain America #103 which ended
November 21, 2019. It closed at $1.26 million. at $288,000, the Kirby/Chic Stone original splash page for Fantastic Four
Marvel Comics #1 features the first newsstand appearance of Namor, Annual #2 for $288,000, and the Kirby/Stone page 11 from Fantastic Four
The Submariner by artist Bill Everett, the introduction of the Human Annual #2 for $180,000.
Torch by Carl Burgos, as well as stories featuring Tarzan knock-off Kazar,
The Masked Rider, and The Angel. The contents appeared under a cover Movie Posters Score As Well
by pulp illustrator Frank R. Paul. The October/November 1939 issue, Heritage immediately followed up their comics event
which is the highest-graded known copy, comes with a November 23-24 Movie Posters Internet Auction
from the Windy City pedigree collection. Marvel which contained a bevvy of desirable vintage posters from
Comics became Marvel Mystery Comics and ran 92 musicals, dramas, horror, and more. The results topped
issues. The series ended in June 1949. Publisher out at $2,504,814, which made it their highest grossing
Timely later became Atlas and eventually brought movie poster auction of the year.
back the issue’s name for their entire line of The Dracula jumbo lobby card, which is a scarce size
comics, Marvel Comics. that was only printed in a very limited number, took a
There had been speculation just a few months big bite at $192,000. This example is even more
ago that a high-grade Captain America Comics #1 exceptional because it once belonged to Bela Lugosi, the
(1941) might join the $1 million club, but that has actor known for playing the film’s title role.
not happened to date. The $3.2 million racked up One of Universal’s extremely popular monsters
by a CGC-certified 9.0 copy of Action Comics #1, took another top spot when the Frankenstein lobby
the first appearance of Superman, remains the card reached $78,000. Boris Karloff’s gaunt expression
highest price recorded for a comic book thus far. from the test shot before makeup artist Jack Pierce
For those keeping score, of the four different finalized the monster’s makeup is the central image
issues that have hit or surpassed $1 million, Action on this card.
Comics #1 and Detective Comics #27 (the first appear- The first post-war release of Casablanca was high-
ance of Batman) are from DC, and Amazing Fantasy lighted with three Italian photobustas. A lot of two
#15 (the first appearance of Spider-Man) and Marvel depicting Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and
Comics #1 are from Timely/Marvel. That gives each Madeleine Lebeau closed at $90,000 and a single
publisher two in this rarefied club. However, since photobusta of Bogart, Dooley Wilson, and Sydney
there have been multiple $1 million+ copies of Action Greenstreet went for $78,000.
Comics #1, it seems safe to suggest that DC still rules The Road to Overstreet #50
this particularly exclusive roost. This CGC-certified 9.4 copy Marvel Comics We’ve known for quite a while that 2020 was
Other comic book highlights from this auction #1 (October/November 1939), the highest- going to be a special year for The Overstreet Comic
included Whiz Comics #2 (#1) CGC 6.0 finishing at graded copy known, sold for $1.26 million at Book Price Guide since it’s the book’s Golden
$150,666, Batman #1 CGC 4.0 ending at $150,000, Heritage Auctions on November 21, 2019. Anniversary. Our team at Gemstone has been
Superman #1 CGC 2.0 for $150,000, Sensation photo: Heritage Auctions. preparing a number of special publications includ-
Comics #1 CGC 8.5 for $132,000, Captain America Comics #1 CGC 6.0 ing a facsimile edition of CBPG #1 and a companion book called Overstreet
for $132,000, Amazing Fantasy #15 CGC 7.5 for $120,000 and Journey @ 50: Five Decades of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide.
Into Mystery #83 CGC 9.2 for $120,000. A robust outing for comic books.
One of the best parts about these projects and CBPG #50 itself has been
Original Comic Art Also Goes Big at Heritage hearing from dealers and collectors who have seen the Guide’s influence
The top sales in this Heritage Auction were not limited to comic books over the years. One of those folks is Buddy Saunders, founder of Lone Star
themselves. Original art more than held up its end of things. Leading the Comics and MyComicShop.com, a true industry leader in many respects.
way, Neal Adams’ original cover art for Batman #251 (“The Joker’s Five- “When Bob Overstreet brought his new baby, The Comic Book Price
Way Revenge!”) realized $600,000. This cover comes from the pivotal Guide, into the world, I was 23 years old. Now the Guide has turned 50
story in which the writing and art team of Dennis O’Neil and Adams and I’m 72. I like to think both of us have held up pretty well over those
revived a scarier version of the Joker. This surpassed Heritage’s previous 50 years, years that have seen many changes in comic book collecting and
record for Batman original comic art, by topping the Batman: The Dark in the comic book industry as well,” Saunders said.
Knight Returns #2 cover by Frank Miller, which sold for $478,000 in 2013. J.C. Vaughn is the Vice-President of Publishing for
Robert Crumb’s Your Hytone Comix #nn (no number) original “Stoned
Agin!” inside back cover art ended at $690,000; Crumb is a leading under- Gemstone Publishing. Gemstone’s Carrie Wood and
Amanda Sheriff contributed to this piece.
January 2020 39
Marvel Comics
A CGC-certified 9.4 copy of Marvel Comics #1 has joined Action ground comix artist, and collectors are always on the hunt for artwork from
Comics #1, Detective Comics #27, and Amazing Fantasy #15 as the “Stoned Agin!” The piece represents Crumb at the height of his popularity,
only comics to date to hit or top the $1 million threshold. The copy
featuring an excellent display of his trademark inked hatching.
became the latest to cross the seven-figure mark when the hammer fell at
Several Jack Kirby pieces also crossed the auction block, including the
Heritage Auctions’ Comic and Comic Art Signature Auction on Kirby/Syd Shores original cover art for Captain America #103 which ended
November 21, 2019. It closed at $1.26 million. at $288,000, the Kirby/Chic Stone original splash page for Fantastic Four
Marvel Comics #1 features the first newsstand appearance of Namor, Annual #2 for $288,000, and the Kirby/Stone page 11 from Fantastic Four
The Submariner by artist Bill Everett, the introduction of the Human Annual #2 for $180,000.
Torch by Carl Burgos, as well as stories featuring Tarzan knock-off Kazar,
The Masked Rider, and The Angel. The contents appeared under a cover Movie Posters Score As Well
by pulp illustrator Frank R. Paul. The October/November 1939 issue, Heritage immediately followed up their comics event
which is the highest-graded known copy, comes with a November 23-24 Movie Posters Internet Auction
from the Windy City pedigree collection. Marvel which contained a bevvy of desirable vintage posters from
Comics became Marvel Mystery Comics and ran 92 musicals, dramas, horror, and more. The results topped
issues. The series ended in June 1949. Publisher out at $2,504,814, which made it their highest grossing
Timely later became Atlas and eventually brought movie poster auction of the year.
back the issue’s name for their entire line of The Dracula jumbo lobby card, which is a scarce size
comics, Marvel Comics. that was only printed in a very limited number, took a
There had been speculation just a few months big bite at $192,000. This example is even more
ago that a high-grade Captain America Comics #1 exceptional because it once belonged to Bela Lugosi, the
(1941) might join the $1 million club, but that has actor known for playing the film’s title role.
not happened to date. The $3.2 million racked up One of Universal’s extremely popular monsters
by a CGC-certified 9.0 copy of Action Comics #1, took another top spot when the Frankenstein lobby
the first appearance of Superman, remains the card reached $78,000. Boris Karloff’s gaunt expression
highest price recorded for a comic book thus far. from the test shot before makeup artist Jack Pierce
For those keeping score, of the four different finalized the monster’s makeup is the central image
issues that have hit or surpassed $1 million, Action on this card.
Comics #1 and Detective Comics #27 (the first appear- The first post-war release of Casablanca was high-
ance of Batman) are from DC, and Amazing Fantasy lighted with three Italian photobustas. A lot of two
#15 (the first appearance of Spider-Man) and Marvel depicting Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and
Comics #1 are from Timely/Marvel. That gives each Madeleine Lebeau closed at $90,000 and a single
publisher two in this rarefied club. However, since photobusta of Bogart, Dooley Wilson, and Sydney
there have been multiple $1 million+ copies of Action Greenstreet went for $78,000.
Comics #1, it seems safe to suggest that DC still rules The Road to Overstreet #50
this particularly exclusive roost. This CGC-certified 9.4 copy Marvel Comics We’ve known for quite a while that 2020 was
Other comic book highlights from this auction #1 (October/November 1939), the highest- going to be a special year for The Overstreet Comic
included Whiz Comics #2 (#1) CGC 6.0 finishing at graded copy known, sold for $1.26 million at Book Price Guide since it’s the book’s Golden
$150,666, Batman #1 CGC 4.0 ending at $150,000, Heritage Auctions on November 21, 2019. Anniversary. Our team at Gemstone has been
Superman #1 CGC 2.0 for $150,000, Sensation photo: Heritage Auctions. preparing a number of special publications includ-
Comics #1 CGC 8.5 for $132,000, Captain America Comics #1 CGC 6.0 ing a facsimile edition of CBPG #1 and a companion book called Overstreet
for $132,000, Amazing Fantasy #15 CGC 7.5 for $120,000 and Journey @ 50: Five Decades of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide.
Into Mystery #83 CGC 9.2 for $120,000. A robust outing for comic books.
One of the best parts about these projects and CBPG #50 itself has been
Original Comic Art Also Goes Big at Heritage hearing from dealers and collectors who have seen the Guide’s influence
The top sales in this Heritage Auction were not limited to comic books over the years. One of those folks is Buddy Saunders, founder of Lone Star
themselves. Original art more than held up its end of things. Leading the Comics and MyComicShop.com, a true industry leader in many respects.
way, Neal Adams’ original cover art for Batman #251 (“The Joker’s Five- “When Bob Overstreet brought his new baby, The Comic Book Price
Way Revenge!”) realized $600,000. This cover comes from the pivotal Guide, into the world, I was 23 years old. Now the Guide has turned 50
story in which the writing and art team of Dennis O’Neil and Adams and I’m 72. I like to think both of us have held up pretty well over those
revived a scarier version of the Joker. This surpassed Heritage’s previous 50 years, years that have seen many changes in comic book collecting and
record for Batman original comic art, by topping the Batman: The Dark in the comic book industry as well,” Saunders said.
Knight Returns #2 cover by Frank Miller, which sold for $478,000 in 2013. J.C. Vaughn is the Vice-President of Publishing for
Robert Crumb’s Your Hytone Comix #nn (no number) original “Stoned
Agin!” inside back cover art ended at $690,000; Crumb is a leading under- Gemstone Publishing. Gemstone’s Carrie Wood and
Amanda Sheriff contributed to this piece.
January 2020 39
