Top lot in the Heritage sale was this artwork for Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1, which sold for $2m (£1.62m).
This was a work that the saleroom defined as “the graphic novel responsible for redefining the depth, tone, and range of storytelling possibilities for the entire super-hero genre”, and as possessing “easily one of the most famous comic book covers from any era of all time”.
That first issue artwork topped the price lists on June 16, but it was not the only lot to prompt a seven-figure winning bid.
Starring role
A near-mint copy of a 1942 issue of All Star Comics that included the first appearance of Wonder Woman – $1.62m (£1.31m) at Heritage.
Sold at $1.62m (£1,31m) was issue No 8 of All Star Comics from 1942, which introduced Wonder Woman. It was also the best-preserved copy that Heritage had ever seen, graded a near-mint 9.4 CGC.
Copy of the 1961 first issue of Fantastic Four – $350,000 (£283,500) at Heritage.
The two lots so far noted relate to those many on offer that were published by DC Comics, but graded 9.0 CGC and sold at $350,000 (£283,500) was a copy of the 1961 first issue of Fantastic Four, published by Marvel Comics.
It introduced Mr Fantastic, the Thing, the Human Torch and the Invisible Girl, who is struggling to turn invisible in the cover artwork reproduced above.
The last artwork created by writer and artist Todd McFarlane for Spider Man – $340,000 (£275,400) at Heritage.
Another Marvel lot was the last artwork created by writer/artist Todd McFarlane for Spider Man. Made for Issue No 16 of 1991, it is a crossover with Rob Liefeld’s mutant super-team X-Force, and was specially created in a landscape format.
McFarlane’s definitive look for Spidey, with his exaggerated pose and ‘spaghetti webbing’, is flanked by Warpath, Shatterstar, Boom-Boom, and Cannonball. It sold at $340,000 (£275,400).
