DALLAS, TX.- Original artwork by two of the most popular and important European comic artists, Albert Uderzo and Hergé, could bring $100,000 or more when it crosses the block in Heritage Auctions’ International Original Art & Anime Auction October 1-3.

Albert Uderzo Astérix, La Rose et le Glaive #29 Story Page 38 Original Art (Les Editions Albert René, 1991) shines a spotlight on Asterix the Gaul, the character he created in 1959. Created through his drawing talent and the humor of René Goscinny, Asterix and Obelix gained instant popularity. The eighth panel of this exceedingly rare page (estimate: $135,000-200,000+) features an Asterix drawn outside the panel, as well as Dogmatix, Panoramix, the irrepressible Gaul villagers and a poor Roman who will never recover from his visit, all bathed in this unique humor, "a bag in Lutetia skin is signed Herpès"!

Hergé (Georges Remi dit) The Adventures of Tintin, Flight 714 to Sydney #22 Story Page 15 Double-Sided Preliminary Original Art (Le Journal Tintin, 1967-68) is a rare preliminary original (estimate: $125,000-200,000+) that is autographed by the revered artist. The story was printed first in 1967 and 1968 in Journal Tintin magazine, with the album by Casterman Editions following in 1968. The page comes from one of Tintin's science fiction theme-based albums, the only one in the series in which the action takes place within a limited amount of time – in this case, about 24 hours. This album also is notable in that it marks the last confrontation between Tintin and Rastapopoulos. The preliminary art is Hergé’s original work, so the finished version rarely deviates from it. The artist never has parted with more than 10 of his preliminary arts on Tintin's works; all the others are carefully kept at Studios Hergé. The page also includes numerous editorial notes, implying in-depth research, a meticulous involvement by Hergé in the creation of each of his pages, as well as a list of test names like Lazlo Carreidas, inspired by Marcel Dassault, and an extensive group of close-ups that can be found throughout the story; it has been suggested that the final image of a cowboy leaning back at the bottom of the back page is a self-portrait of the artist.

The lots are expected to lead an event that is expected to build on the enormous success of other recent Heritage Comics auctions.

“The Sept. 8-12 Comics and & Comic Art Auction set a historic record, at $26.5 million, the most at any comics auction,” Heritage Auctions International Comic Art Director Olivier Delflas said. “I am thrilled to launch this auction, which includes original art by Hergé, Uderzo, Philippe Francq, Charles Burns, Robert Crumb, Jack Kirby, John Byrne, Maurice Tillieux, Osamu Tezuka and many other legends – a collection of artists whose work positions this sale to also enjoy extraordinary success.”
This auction comes on the heels of Heritage Auctions’ $2.1 million Art of Anime and Everything Cool Signature Auction, which yielded some exceptional results, including:

• My Neighbor Totoro Mei and Satsuki Production Cel Setup with Key Master Background (Studio Ghibli, 1988), which sold for $84,000

• Akira Kaneda Production Cel Setup with Key Master Background (Tokyo Movie Shinsha, 1988): $78,000

• Neon Genesis Evangelion Eva Unit 01 Production Cel (Gainax, c. 1995-96): $28,800

• Pokémon: The First Movie Pikachu, Ash, Squirtle and Bulbasaur Production Cel with Master Background, Animation Drawing and Ancient Mew Promo Card (OLM, 1998/2000): $18,600

• Dragon Ball Z Gohan Production Cel with Production Background and Animation Drawing (Toei Animation, c. 1989-96): $4,320

Before that Heritage Auctions presented the first – and largest – focused selection of Japanese anime cels, includes a vast array of vintage and modern anime art in a highly-successful auction in March.

The upcoming auction has production cels and original art from the striking visual eyes of legends like Tetsuo Hara, Otomo Katsuhiro, Haruhiko Mikimoto and Hayao Miyazaki, from the most influential and memorable works in the anime world. Along with artwork from Akira, Astro Boy, Dragon Ball and Robotech, there is a great mix of older and newer selections. Highlights include, but are not limited to:

• Neon Genesis Evangelion Eva Unit 01 Production Cel A13, Production Background (Gainax, c. 1995-96) (estimate: $15,000-20,000)

• Kim Jung Gi Akira Homage To Katsuhiro Otomo Illustration Original Art (12-2015) (estimate: $4,500-5,500)

• Akira Toriyama Dragon Ball Z, Majin Vegeta Episode #230 Season 8: Babidi and Majin Buu Sagas Production Cel A3, Matching Dougas, Group of 3 (Toei Animation, 1994) (estimate: $3,000-3,500)




• Hayao Miyazaki Princess Mononoke, Shishigami, the Forest Spirit Production Cel A-32, Douga A-32 (Studio Ghibli, 1997) (estimate: $2,250-2,500)

• Akira Toriyama Dragon Ball Z Episode #47 Season 2 Namek and Captain Ginyu Sagas Production cel (Toei Animation, 1990) (estimate: $2,000-3,000)

• Akira Toriyama Dragon Ball Z, Son Goku Production Cel with Production Background (Toei Animation, c. 1989-96) (estimate: $2,000-2,500)

This comes off the heels of a highly-successful auction in March, when Heritage Auctions presented the first – and largest – focused selection of Japanese anime.

Also offered is a selection of three sealed Pokémon booster box sets, boasting a French First Edition, an Unlimited Edition and an Unlimited Base Set 2, all circa 1999-2000. For those who live their lives to catch ’em all, this is a unique and exciting opportunity.

Batman comics fans have an opportunity to acquire an unquestioned gem: a Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin Secret Origins Vol 2 #6 Title Page Original Art (estimate: $13,500-20,000). From the “Secret Origins” run in the mid-1980s, with all the Rogers/Austin/Giordano issues – and besides the title pages – there were fewer than three splash pages. None showed a full Batman figure like this one.

Other highlights in the auction include, but are not limited to:

• Mathieu Lauffray Star Wars: Heir to the Empire #1 of 6 Cover Original Art (Dark Horse Comics, 1995) (estimate: $45,000-55,000+)

• John Byrne and Terry Austin Uncanny X-Men Vol 1 #122 Story Page 6 Original Art (Marvel, 1979) (estimate: $25,500-35,500)

• Philippe Francq Largo Winch Dutch Connection Deluxe Album #3 Cover Original Art (Khani Editions, 1995) (estimate: $25,000-35,000+)

• Don Rosa Kalle Anka & C:o [Donald Duck & Company] #1992-33 Uncle Scrooge Cover Original Art (Egmont, 1992) (estimate: $25,000-35,000+)

• Jack Kirby and Chic Stone Fantastic Four #34 Story Page 5 Original Art (Marvel, 1965) (estimate: $15,000-20,000)

• Charles Burns Skin Deep, Tales of Doomed Romance Splash Page 29 Original Art (Penguin Books, 1992) (estimate: $15,000-20,000)

• Charles Vess Swamp Thing #129 Cover Original Art (DC, 1993) (estimate: $10,000-15,000)

• Osamu Tezuka Astro Boy Cellulo de Production F20, Printed Background, Matching Dôgas, Lot de 3 (Tezuka Productions, c. 1980-81): $3,000-4,000

• Leiji Matsumoto Space Pirate Captain Harlock Production Cel, Production Background (Toei Animation, 1978): $2,000-2,500