ComicLink Spring Featured Auction Original Art 2015

ComicLink has just wrapped their Spring Featured Auction: Original Art and as always there was furious bidding with record highs achieved.

Unfortunately auction links from ComicLink are only good for a few days afterwards so please have a look at the full thirteen pages of wins to get a good look at the state of the original art market this month.

I had my eye on a few items this time around but things went too high for my budget. Let’s have a look at our customary five items.

Blackhawk Pin-Up by Darwyn Cooke, undated, sold for $190. Source.

Advantage Buyer. I can’t remember the last time a Darwyn Cooke commission or pin-up went for less than $500. Blackhawk isn’t winning any popularity awards to be sure, but it was a New Frontier character and this is a striking piece.

The Brave And The Bold issue 43 page 14 by Joe Kubert, 1962, sold for $6,277. Source.

Advantage Seller. Gorgeous twice-up art. Joe Kubert’s run with the silver age Hawkman was short but very memorable. This is the highest price for a page from his run, and while they’re only going up it seems a bit steep.

Namor: The First Mutant variant cover by Joe Quesada and Dan Miki, 2010, sold for $1,380. Source.

Advantage Buyer. Covers in general command a strong premium, and work from Quesada is few and far between. This was a steal of a price. Of course Namor isn’t that popular a character anymore and the cover lacks depth that was later added digitally. Great perspective.

American Flagg! issue 3 page 19 by Howard Chaykin, 1983, sold for $1,601. Source.

Advantage Seller. This is a second place record high for an American Flagg! interior page. It captures succinctly what groundbreaking work Chaykin was doing in the series, but doesn’t command that kind of price.

The Private Files Of The Shadow cover, 1989, sold for $8,211. Source.

Advantage Buyer. I practically wept as I watched this one slip through my fingers. An iconic image, but a significant price for Kaluta comic covers. The Shadow has the legs for collectors of pulp art so this one should only see increased pricing in years to come.