DALLAS, TX.- Collectors who aspire to own one of the most influential and recognizable images in contemporary fantasy art have the opportunity to make that dream come true at Heritage Auctions’ International Comic Art Signature® Auction Oct. 24–25 when Luis Royo’s Los Hilos de los Sueños crosses the block during the Platinum Session.

The dreamlike work is part of an extraordinarily diverse selection of original artwork celebrating the many artistic traditions, movements and cultures that have shaped Comic Art around the world.

“This auction reflects the extraordinary diversity and international reach of original comic art,” says Olivier Delflas, Heritage’s Director of International Comic Art and Anime. “Our ambition is to bring these different artistic traditions together within a single premium auction, offering collectors a unique perspective on the history, creativity and evolution of the Ninth Art.”

Spanish artists occupy a prominent place in this auction, led by the spectacular Royo painting Los Hilos de losSueños. Created in 1999 for the cover of his publication Dreams, published in numerous countries including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Russia and the United States, it reached a greater audience when it appeared as the cover of the November 2000 issue of the prestigious fantasy and science-fiction magazine Heavy Metal, leading to reproduction in calendars, collectible cards, posters and other merchandise.

“This is a rare opportunity to own one of Royo’s best-known fantasy works,” Delflas says. “Royo has retained this exceptional painting in his personal collection since its creation. Never previously offered on the market, it makes its auction debut exclusively at Heritage Auctions.”

Vampirella World painting by Sanjulián (Manuel Pérez Clemente) is another outstanding Spanish highlight. Direct from Sanjulián’s personal collection, this unique Vampirella composition explores the character’s evolution through the different artistic styles and periods that have defined her history in comics.

Big Baby, Curse of the Molemen is a defining image of famed American underground cartoonist Charles Burns. Introduced in RAW in 1983, Big Baby explored themes Burns would express further in Black Hole. This 1986 RAW cover depicts the unsettling world of Tony “Big Baby” Delmonto, a seemingly innocent child fascinated by violence and monsters. Curse of the Molemen appeared during a crucial time for independent comics, as they were proving to be serious, collectible works of authorship.

A 1989 Moebius (Jean Giraud) original illustration of Iron Man offers an alternate composition of Marvel’s Armored Avenger, bringing together two major traditions of comic art: American superheroes and European graphic storytelling. Another particularly significant work from the French artist is his deeply personal interpretation of Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote de la Mancha. This exceptional composition offers a rare insight into the artist’s private creative universe and his intimate connection with the literary character. Other Moebius treasures include important lithographs such as his celebrated Superman, the Man of Steel, originally produced in an edition of just 45 copies.

Two other iconic American comic book heroes collide in the powerful Batman/Spawn No. 1 cover by Jim Lee and Scott Williams in a celebrated 2023 collaboration between two of the finest inkers in the history of modern American comics. Among the British comic art highlights, Nemesis the Warlock, Book IV: The Gothic Empire, Part 20 by Bryan Talbot, the dramatic title page from the conclusion of The Gothic Empire, captures Torquemada’s calculated self-sacrifice — a pivotal moment in Nemesis the Warlock and a standout piece of 2000 AD history.

Albert Uderzo’s original Pilote cover introducing Astérix and the Soothsayer in 1972 brings unforgettable characters and comic theater together in a prized piece from the classic era of his partnership with René Goscinny. A page from Astérix the Legionary, the album that introduced the unforgettable Falbala who captures Obélix’s heart, is another especially desirable page. Two Uderzo original Astérix and Obélix artworks surpassed the six-digit mark during the April 18–19 International Comic Art Signature® Auction: the cover painting from Les Lauriers de César, which realized $450,000, and a story page from Astérix Chez Les Helvètes No. 16, which reached an Astérix page auction record of $212,500.

One of Enrico Marini’s most memorable compositions and the defining image of the cinematic, sensual urban noir vampire series Rapaces is this fully painted image of Camilla and Drago perched like noble predators above New York at night from the cover of Rapaces II.

Another significant development in this auction is the unprecedented representation of Japanese manga. The catalog features its largest-ever selection of original manga pages and artwork, including major works by some of the most influential creators in Japanese popular culture.

Among the highlights, Astro Boy takes flight in a beautifully realized 1986 shikishi by Osamu Tezuka. This captivating original featuring one of manga and anime’s most beloved heroes, created by the artist widely regarded as the father of modern manga, comes complete with a Certificate of Registration. The selection also includes original artwork by Toshiharu Mizutani, including Volume 2 of the 12-volume script he used as art director on the landmark 1988 animated feature Akira.