A close-up of comic book artist Mike Zeck's original drawing for Page 25 of 'Secret Wars' issue 8. Photo: Heritage Auctions
A single page of original artwork from an acclaimed 1984 comic featuring Spider-Man sold for a record US$3.36mil (approximately RM14mil) in the United States on Jan 14, making the webslinger the world's mightiest auction superhero.
The page features the first appearance of Spidey's black symbiote suit that would later lead to the creation of anti-hero Venom in artwork by Mike Zeck from Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars No. 8.
"This page was the big reveal teased on the cover! This is where Peter Parker actually got his spiffy new black costume," Heritage Auctions said in its description of the artwork for page 25 of the issue.
"But... it's a costume with a secret! Because it very soon turns out to be alive and have its own agenda. This is the origin of the character Venom!"
Artist Mike Zeck’s hand-drawn black-and-white art for Page 25 of 1984’s 'Secret Wars' No. 8 issue. Photo: Heritage Auctions
Bidding for the artwork started at US$330,000 (RM1.4mil).
The previous record for a single page of artwork from the interior of an American comic book was a frame showing the first image of Wolverine in a 1974 issue of The Incredible Hulk. The page sold for $657,250 (RM2.7mil).
A copy of 1938's Action Comics No. 1, the first appearance of Superman, sold for US$3.18mil (RM13.3mil) on the first day of Heritage Auctions' recent four-day comic event in Dallas, Texas, the auction house said on Twitter.
The copy was graded 6.0 by comic book grading authority CGC. Two other copies of the world's most famous comic book issue with a higher grade have previously sold for more at auction, according to The Hollywood Reporter. - AFP
