The surge in auction prices from collectibles continues to rise despite the rocky start to stock markets in 2022. A single page of artwork from a 1984 Spider-Man comic book sold at auction for a record $US3.36 million. The bidding started at $US330,000 on the first day of Heritage Auctions’ four-day platinum comic event in Dallas. The previous record for an interior page of a US comic book was shattered. The Incredible Hulk 1974 issue that featured a tease for the first appearance of Wolverine sold for $US657,250. The auction realized a total of $23,738,783.
The significant of the single page piece was clearly not lost on avid comic book collectors. Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars No. 8 shows the origin of Spidey’s black suit with iconic artist Mike Zeck’s artwork on page 25. The symbiote suit had been revealed earlier in the series but it’s meaning would eventually lead to the emergence of Venom.
Secret Wars No. 8 tells the origin story of Spider-Man’s alternative black costume.
Credit: Heritage Auctions via AP
The auction also saw one of the few surviving copies of Superman’s debut, Action Comics No. 1 sell for $US3.18 million, setting a new record for Superman comics despite being graded just six out of ten for its condition. The lower rating was because the cover was marked with a rocket stamp by its original owner when he was 13.
Hold on Superman fans Spider-Man still holds the record for a comic book at auction with his debut issue, the 1962 Amazing Fantasy No. 15, fetching $US3.6 million sale at Heritage last September. Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko collaborated on this cover to create what is quite possibly the most iconic image in Marvel Comics’ history. Before all the clones, symbiotes and civil wars we see Spider-Man in a simpler time doing what he does best, catching crooks and saving the day.
“We could not be happier, especially for our consignor, who bought the art in the late 1980s and treasured these pages ever since,” Joe Mannarino, Heritage’s New York director of comic art, said in a statement. “Today’s results prove what we’ve long been saying: Comic book art is as beloved and valuable as anything put on canvas.”
Joe Maddalena, vice president of Heritage Auctions stated that rather than buying a piece of contemporary art, collectors are focusing to buy their nostalgia. He further stated that they would love to have this than a piece of current art because it speaks to them more. “It just was one of those times in the annals of Spider- Man’s fame that told this key part of the story that this character would later change into Venom. It’s very incredible,” he told Sky news. Maddalena also dubbed the Spider-Man piece as “one of a kind.”
None of the sellers or buyers of the latest auction were identified.
Source: Heritage Auctions