Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Jerry Robinson Artwork for Heritage Auction

The original 1942 Jerry Robinson artwork from Detective Comics #67, one of the earliest Batman covers still known to exist – consigned by the legendary Golden Age artist himself – is being offered for the very first time at auction and is expected to bring $300,000+ when it comes across the block on Nov. 15 as part of Heritage Auctions’ Vintage Comics & Comic Art Signature(r) Auction in Beverly Hills.

The cover art is one of three Treasures from the Robinson Collection being offered in the auction, all of which have been tucked away in Jerry Robinson’s personal collection for almost 70 years.

“It’s an extreme honor to work with Mr. Robinson, truly one of the founding architects of the American comic book, on such an important group of early Golden Age art,” said Ed Jaster, Senior Vice President at Heritage. “The World War II-era historical significance and sheer artistic beauty of these three classic 1942 DC covers is just incredible and represent, for a smart collector, a truly golden opportunity.

The amazing Detective Comics #67 artwork is a classic piece of Pop Culture, representing the very first Batman comic to feature Supervillain The Penguin on its cover. On it, Penguin rides an ostrich as he flees the Dynamic Duo, mocking their seemingly fruitless pursuit as he bolts.

“Robinson penciled and inked this cover and the detail of his art is amazing close-up,” said Todd Hignite, Consignment Director for Comic Art at Heritage, “particularly his shading lines on Batman and Robin, and on the feathery details of the ostrich being straddled by that bird-of-prey, the Penguin. This Golden Age masterpiece ranks right up there with the best of them!”

The other two treasures from The Jerry Robinson Collection offered here also represent some of the greatest original Golden Age cover art, and Golden Age names, that Heritage has ever offered: the legendary duo Jack Kirby and Joe Simon’s Adventure Comics #73 Manhunter Cover Original Art, DC, 1942 (Estimate: $150,000+) and Fred Ray’s Action Comics #46 Superman Cover Original Art, DC, 1942 (Estimate: $100,000+), one of the few early Superman covers that has surfaced and an absolute classic.

Robinson is one of the most influential figures in the cartoon arts to ever live. As a member of the original Batman team he was responsible for the first and most iconic of all supervillains, the Joker, and co-created Robin, the archetypal sidekick.

“From the earliest days of the Golden Age of comic books, Robinson created characters such as London, Atoman and Jet Scott,” said Jaster, “and worked in many genres – notably editorial cartooning, newspaper strips and illustration. In his other influential careers Robinson has been a features syndicate founder, teacher, curator and champion of artists rights.”

Among Robinson’s 30 published works is The Comics: An Illustrated History of Comic Strip Art (Dark Horse), a definitive study of the genre. His other books include the biography Skippy and Percy Crosby (Holt), The 1970s: Best Political Cartoons of the Decade (McGraw Hill), and most recently a two-volume set of his 1950s sci-fi strip, Jet Scott (Dark Horse). The biography Jerry Robinson: Ambassador of Comics (Abrams) was published in 2010. Robinson’s numerous honors include the National Cartoonists Society Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award and the San Diego Comic-Con Eisner Hall of Fame.

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