DALLAS, TX.- One of the most iconic pages from Moebius' Airtight Garage sold for $118,750 to lead Heritage Auctions' International Original Art and Anime Signature® Auction to $2,249,105 in total sales March 11-13.

More than 3,000 global bidders took part in the event, which generated sell-through rates of 100% by value and 99.4% by lots sold.

Jean Giraud (Moebius) Major Fatal, Le Garage Hermétique — The Motionless Bird Métal Hurlant #6 Splash Page 7 Original Art (Les Humanoïdes Associés, 1976) drew 31 bids before it reached its final price, which was well beyond twice its low pre-auction estimate. It includes a motionless bird that occupies roughly a hundredth of the total surface area of this magnificent splash page, yet it is the prominent feature on the page.

"Moebius is an iconic artist whose work is prized by art lovers and collectors alike," Heritage Auctions International Comic Art Director Olivier Delflas said. "This is a powerful image, a magnificent representation of his style, and it is no surprise that the demand soared, leading to an exceptional result.

"This sale achieved record sales in Anime, Franco-Belgian and U.S. Original Arts which confirms that Heritage Auctions' Signature International, Dallas catalog is one of its gems."

Capturing one of the most iconic images in all of comic art, Ron Frenz and Brett Breeding The Amazing Spider-Man No. 252 Story Page 9 First Appearance of the Black Costume Original Art (Marvel, 1984) drew 63 bids before doubling its pre-auction estimate when it sold for $100,000. This page is from the issue with the first appearance of Spider-Man's black costume — this page is just the sixth to show the costume — and the first panel on this page bears some similarities to the book's extraordinary cover. The black costume later took on added importance when it merged with Eddie Brock to become Venom.

Also enjoying enormous popularity among bidders was Hergé (Georges Remi) Tintin Family Iconic Illustration Original Art (1955), which got 50 bids before nearly doubling its high pre-auction estimate when it reached $93,750. This magnificent illustration, by the hand of Hergé, features props from all of the series' most memorable tales, not to mention all of the main characters and storylines, including Professor Calculus and the rocket from Destination Moon, Thompson and the mushroom from The Shooting Star, Thomson and the Arumbaya idol from The Broken Ear, Captain Haddock and the Unicorn from The Secret of the Unicorn, Tintin and the submarine from Red Rackham's Treasure, and finally Snowy and the scepter of King Ottokar's Sceptre.

Jack Kirby and Paul Reinman X-Men Vol 1 No. 5 Iconic Story End Page 24 Original Art (Marvel, 1964), from the from the very first adventures of the X-Men by Jack Kirby (art) and Stan Lee (story), brought in 59 bids before ending at $47,500. On this page, Cyclops is trapped in a section of the asteroid that breaks off, and Iceman has to create the ice tunnel seen in the first panel so that Angel can rescue Cyclops. Before the asteroid is fully destroyed, the X-Men use the capsule to return to Earth. Since the X-Men performed this solo mission perfectly, they pass their final exams and their training is over. This mythical closing phrase, "Congratulations, my X-Men," said by Professor Xavier to the X-Men, truly began the era of the X-Men as a group.

Alex Raymond Flash Gordon Sunday Comic Strip Original Art Dated 4-4-43 (King Features Syndicate, 1943) closed at $42,500, nearly doubling its high pre-auction estimate. The page, from the Alex Raymond Family Collection, shows Flash Gordon partnering with desert outlaw Gundar to overthrow a dictator.

Fifty-two bids poured in for Jean Giraud (Moebius) The Incal I: The Dark Incal & The Bright Incal No. 1 of 3 Cover Original Art (Titan Books, 1988) until it finished at $32,500. The image is the cover of the first Incal volume published by Titan Books and then by Epic Comics in 1988. This rarity is in excellent condition, and is signed and dated by the artist.

Enrico Marini Batman: Gotham City Chronicles Role-Playing Game Illustration Original Art (DC/Monolith, 2021), signed and dated by the artist, brought a winning bid of $32,500. This stunning illustration offers a panoramic view of Gotham, a city that desperately needs Patman and Catwoman to maintain a semblance of order. This illustration is magnificent, in part because of its 27-1/2-by-14-inch size, but also because of the palette of different blues that make up the image, which served as the official promotion for the Monolith launch of Batman: Gotham City Chronicles, The Roleplaying Game in 2021.




Heritage Auctions has the complete Metabarons' Othon the Great-Grandfather story by Juan Giménez. The first two pages ever offered on the open market were among the records set in this auction. Page 33 Original Art (Les Humanoïdes Associés, 1992) sold for $27,500, while Page 14 Original Art (Les Humanoïdes Associés, 1992) reached $12,500. Both pages are signed.

Anime

Nearly 50 bids were submitted before Akira Kaneda Iconic Vertical Pan Production Cel D/C6 End (Tokyo Movie Shinsha, 1988) raced to $62,500 to lead the outstanding selection of Anime art in the sale. The image of Shotaro Kaneda atop his famous motorcycle, headed straight toward the viewer, remains one of the most popular from the 1988 classic film. Beyond the significance of the film for which it was made, this cel is in exceptionally high demand because it almost was destroyed. The studio Tokyo Movie Shinsha nearly discarded all production artwork from Akira to conserve space, before it was salvaged at the last second by its North American distribution company Streamline Pictures for the cost of shipping.

Teshirogi Takashi Ash and Pikachu Vol 2 Chapter Cover Pokémon Original Manga Art (Shogakukan, Inc., 2002) more than doubled its low pre-auction estimate when it finished at $52,500 in its Heritage Auctions debut. This original cover art (estimate: $25,000-35,000) features numerous characters, including Pikachu, Ash, Bulbasaur, Poliwag, Poliwhirl and Oddish.

UFO Robot Grendizer Official Promotional Illustration Original Art (Studio Go Nagai/Giunti Editore, 1978) $17,500

Dragon Ball Z Goku and Future Trunks Episode #124 Production Cel with Animation Drawing (Toei Animation, 1992) $10,000

Other top highlights included, but were not limited to:

• Magic: The Gathering Beta Edition Sealed Starter Deck (Wizards of the Coast, 1993): $28,750

• Rob Liefeld X-Force Vol 1 No. 6 Story Page 10 Original Art (Marvel, 1992): $27,500

• Jean Giraud (Moebius) Blueberry, The Green Box Signed Illustration Original Art (Undated): $27,500

• Don Rosa The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck - Uncle Scrooge No. 288 Cover Original Art (Gladstone, 1994): $25,000

• UFO Robot Grendizer Official Promotional Illustration Original Art (Studio Go Nagai/Giunti Editore, 1978): $17,500

• Dragon Ball Z Goku and Future Trunks Episode #124 Production Cel with Animation Drawing (Toei Animation, 1992): $10,000