Kirby is King Amidst Original Art Sales for ComicConnect Event Auction 57
ComicConnect's Event Auction 57 was another success for the world's premier online auctioneer of comic books and original comic art. Collectors and investors bid on over 300 works from across the comic book ages—with Jack Kirby as the top draw with a $241,500 sale for his iconic cover for Fantastic Four Annual #11.
Kirby also brought in bids as part of the prestigious Jon Berk Collection, with the estate of the noted collector and historian landing $70,150 for a spectacular page from Strange Tales Annual #2, with Kirby signing a rare collaboration with Steve Ditko on both Spider-Man and the Human Torch.
Event Auction 57 also brought in $38,584 for Berk's acquisition of the earliest-known Human Torch illustration by Carl Burgos, along with $34,500 for the only known Hourman drawing by Bernard Baily, only seen before as a contest giveaway in 1940. The auction also had collectors buzzing over Berk's curating of works by Golden Age master Lou Fine. A rare 1942 splash page of The Ray (signed as Fine's alter-ego “E. Lectron”) sold for $34,500, while more Fine work from Wonderworld Comics went for $29,900.
A beautiful double-page splash from J. Scott Campbell's Gen 13 #5 celebrated a modern master with a closing bid of $35,659. Todd McFarlane was appreciated with both a $35,075 winning bid for a page of classic Spidey poses from his debut issue of Amazing Spider-Man #298, and a second page going for $23,000. (Erik Larsen and Mike Machlan's pencils and inks for Venom's first “death” from Amazing Spider-Man #333 sold at $18,460)
A stunning signed John Buscema splash page from the Silver Surfer: Judgment Day graphic novel went for $24,277, while Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg brought in $20,758 for a stunning page from Sandman #1.