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Batman #1 Sets Another Record, Tops $1.2 Million

ven as much of the country begins to get back to work in a Original Cover Art For Pep Comics #30 Hits $125,000
physical sense, the robust activity we’ve witnessed in the pop Artist Bob Montana’s original cover for Pep Comics #30 sold in
Eculture collectibles field continues. Following the record-breaking ComicConnect’s Original Art Marketplace for $125,000, the company
sale of a CGC-certified 5.0 copy of Batman #1 for $360,000—nearly has reported. The cover features MLJ’s patriotic hero, The Shield,
twice the highest price previously paid for that grade—on the first day bashing a Nazi while the Hangman strangles a foe from the Land of the
of Heritage Auctions’ April 2-4, 2021 Comic & Comic Art Signature Rising Sun.
Auction, records have fallen once again. Montana, the illustrator of this piece, and the mastermind behind
This time it was April 15 as a CGC-certified 8.0 copy, sold for everyone’s favorite teenager, Archie Andrews, is credited with both the
$1,207,500 in ComicConnect’s Event Auction #4. Most market watchers pencils and inks on this action-packed cover.
fully expect the issue to continue to command attention. ComicConnect also reported marketplace sales of the Greg Capullo
Following the character’s first appearance in Detective Comics #27, this cover to Batman #1 (2011) for $49,000, the cover for the PX Edition
Golden Age key issue is the first time Batman headlined his own title. The of Icons: The DC Comics Art of Jim Lee sold for $18,500, and
series would run 713 issues until, in a fit of brilliance, DC Comics decided Shield-Wizard Comics #7 page 4 by Irv Novick featuring a classic Shield
to start over with a new Batman #1 in 2011. vs. Nazi battle page went for $7,000.
“The comic book market has proven to be
an unshakable diversification option for John Paul Leon
Artist John Paul Leon passed away May 1,
investors,” ComicConnect co-founder Vincent 2021, at the age of 49 after a 14-year battle
Zurzolo said. “This past year has been an with cancer.
eye-opener for potential investors who may Born on April 26, 1972, in New York City,
have been on the fence who have now taken the at 16 years old he sold illustrations to Dragon
plunge feet first. Welcome to the party!” and Dungeon magazines. After attending the
School of Visual Arts and being taught by
Hank Williams Concert Poster Sells instructors including Will Eisner and Walter
For $150,000 Simonson, he made his comic book debut
A Hank Williams concert poster for the New with Robocop at Dark Horse in 1992.
Year’s Day show to which he was en route when Leon’s first big splash came with his run
he died sold for $150,000 during Heritage’s on the first year of Static from Milestone
Entertainment & Music Memorabilia Signature Media, one of the company’s debut titles.
Auction on May 1-2, 2021. The poster set a world He collaborated with Dwayne McDuffie
record for the most expensive concert poster ever and Robert Washington III on it beginning
sold in an auction. in 1993.
The bright yellow poster features an image of He later returned to the character with
Williams alongside his name in bold red text above the miniseries Static Shock: Rebirth of the
the advertisement “In the Biggest Jamboree of Cool in 2001. He followed his initial run
1953.” One of only three known in existence, the on Static with a stint on Milestone’s
poster beat the record that the Beatles set when their Shadow Cabinet.
Shea Stadium poster from August 1966 sold for Over the span of his career, his work
$137,500 at Heritage in April 2020. A Hank Williams concert poster for the New Year’s included The Winter Men, Logan: Path
“I’m pleasantly surprised but not shocked at all Day show to which he was en route when he died set Of The Warlord, The Further Adventures Of
that this magnificent beast set a new world record,” a record when it sold for $150,000 at Heritage. Cyclops And Phoenix, and Challengers
Pete Howard, Consignment Director in Heritage’s photo: Heritage Auctions. Of The Unknown. He served as cover artist
Entertainment & Music Memorabilia category, said. for DMZ, and his most recent efforts
“It’s not often I use a term like ‘Smithsonian piece’ for a concert poster, included Batman: Creature of the Night.
but this is not only one of those, it’s probably the one. Really, if that Perhaps his highest-profile work came in the form of Earth X, the
museum called me and asked what concert poster they should put on Marvel miniseries on which he collaborated with Jim Krueger, Alex
their walls, I’d fly right past Elvis, Buddy Holly, and the Beatles and tell Ross, and Bill Reinhold.
them, ‘This one.’” With Milestone, which was originally published through DC
Williams was on his way to the concert at the Canton Memorial Comics in 1993-1997, set to return to print this year, it’s a good bet that
Auditorium in Ohio when he died of a heart attack in the backseat of a many new fans will become acquainted with Leon’s work.
car. He was just 29 years old. The concert went on with his backing band,
the Drifting Cowboys, along with other billed performers. This copy of
the extremely rare poster was the first ever to reach the auction block. J.C. Vaughn is Vice-President of Publishing for
The Hank Williams poster was part of the auction’s 1,350 lots that Gemstone Publishing. Gemstone’s Amanda Sheriff
totaled $1.86 million. contributed to this column.

38 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles