Heritage’s latest dedicated sale at its Dallas, Texas headquarters raised no less than $8.75m with 14 lots fetching more than $100,000.
The saleroom has noted growing demand for “exceptional high-end comics” and the number of bidders competing for the most valuable appears to be increasing.
Sandoval, who is Heritage’s comics and comic art director of operations, told ATG: “It's pretty telling that most of the $100,000 comics we just sold didn't even surprise us by getting to those levels. It speaks to the tremendous interest in key comic books at the moment, and it's fair to say that the current wave of superhero movies has given buyers confidence that interest in these characters as pop culture icons is going to continue.”
Thor tops sale
A Marvel comic which featured the first appearance of the character Thor achieved the top price of the auction.
The copy of Journey Into Mystery #83 from 1962 is considered the fourth most valuable ‘Silver Age’ Marvel comic (only behind The Incredible Hulk #1, Fantastic Four #1 and Amazing Fantasy #15).
This example was the second-highest grade of the issue ever offered at Heritage, thanks in part to its white pages which gave it the appearance of a pedigree book. The only example with a higher grade offered in the same rooms was a copy sold for $200,000 in 2014.
The character of Thor was the creation of Jack Kirby (1917-94) – the artist, writer and editor who drew the figure on the cover and inside – with backup story art done by Steve Ditko. The prolific Kirby is widely regarded as one of the medium’s major innovators who co-created many of Marvel’s major characters, including the Fantastic Four, the X-Men and the Hulk.
The mighty Thor was one of his most popular characters, with his adventures spanning a six-year run from 1962.
The current copy drew over 10 bidders at the Dallas auction, and eventually sold at $191,200.
Another lot drawing strong bidding at Heritage was Detective Comics #33 from 1939. One of the most sought after of Golden Age comics, it was Batman’s fourth appearance on the cover and, in the story inside, the character’s origin is told. With an uncommonly high grade for this issue, it sold at $167,300. Image credit: Heritage Auctions, HA.com
The buyer’s premium at Heritage Auctions was 19.5%.
