Legendary talent. Prolific artist. Influential icon. All words used to describe fantasy and science fiction artist Frank Frazetta. Who would have known that the 8-year-old who attended the Brooklyn Academy of Fine Arts would have gone on to create some of the most coveted pieces to ever cross an auction block? Probably everyone, he was an 8-year-old attending a school for fine arts. By 1944, then 16, Frazetta entered the world of comics doing pencil clean-ups in Bernard Baily’s studio. Throughout his early comic career Frazetta worked on such titles as Treasure Comics, Heroic Comics, Personal Love, Movie Love, Famous Funnies, and Al Capp’s Li’l Abner.
During the mid-1960s, Frazetta set a new standard for science fiction and fantasy art working on paintings for magazines, books, and notable movie posters. In high demand, Frazetta’s covers were used for paperback editions of classic Edgar Rice Burroughs books as well as album cover art for a number of recording artists. At the same time, Frazetta drew cover paintings and a few comic stories for horror and war magazines Creepy, Eerie, Vampirella, and Blazing Combat. Although he passed away in 2010, Frazetta’s work within the genres of fantasy and science fiction continue to influence many artists today. His work remains among the most readily recognized and highly desired by collectors. Fortunately for collectors, Hake’s Americana & Collectibles Auction #224 features two such pieces of original cover art by Frazetta.
Both covers are from the war comics magazine Blazing Combat, which was originally published by Warren Publishing from October 1965 to July 1966. The first cover is Frazetta’s original art for Blazing Combat #2, which depicts a combat scene between American and Nazi troops during World War II. Dominating the center of the Oregon 9 illustration board is a cigar-chomping American as he attacks a German soldier with a bayonet. As a trio of Allied warplanes fly overhead, the smoking city in ruins can be seen in background. The striking image, which is signed by Frazetta, has been triple matted to 12” x 12-1/4” in a frame measuring 23” x 23-3/4”. There are also registration marks on the art with the top and bottom margins containing several of Frazetta’s preliminary pencil sketches.
“My grandfather continues to surprise me with his ability to capture and create worlds through his use of bold colors, unique human expressions and understanding of how to use empty space. The artwork Frazetta created for the Blazing Combat war story covers is, in my opinion, some of his greatest work he ever created. I am thrilled that they are now available to the public,” said Frazetta’s granddaughter Sara Frazetta.
The additional original cover art by Frazetta comes from Blazing Combat #4. This 16” x 20” canvas panel board oil painting is contained in an 18-3/4” x 22-3/4” frame. It also depicts a World War II scene with American soldier firing on Nazi soldiers as they try to exit their disabled and burning Panzer tank amidst the rubble of a ruined city. Although the canvas has some corner tip wear with light paint wear it is still in very good condition and is signed by Frazetta.
“Frazetta is predominately celebrated for his fantasy art, but his war art is not to be overlooked. He expressed the brutality of war in realistic moments of combat, guaranteed to produce visceral reactions from viewers,” Hake’s President Alex Winter said. “We are excited to offer these pieces to our customers who appreciate the impact he has had on comic and related art fields.”
Bidding on these fine pieces, as well as countless others featured in Auction #224, has already begun and closes on July 10-12, 2018. Head over to hakes.com to get started on bidding today.
