Heritage Auctions’ Comics & Comic Art Auction, held in New York on May 18-20, 2017, crossed $8.3 million this past week in record breaking sales. The headlining lot was Robert Crumb’s 1969 Fritz The Cat cover art, which set a world record for the most valuable piece of American comic art after realizing $717,000.

“Artworks from Underground Comix – especially from masters such as Robert Crumb – are becoming recognized in the fine art world as cultural cornerstones. Three of the top four lots in the auction were by Crumb,” said Barry Sandoval, Director of Comic Operations at Heritage. This included Crumb’s original art for a complete, four-page story from The People’s Comics and his “Keep On Truckin’” sequel page which both sold for $191,200. These pieces are tied for the second highest price ever sold at auction for Crumb’s artwork.

Additional original art highlights include Frank Frazetta’s 1978 In Pharaoh’s Tomb Battlestar Galactica painting original art, which reached $191,200; Steve Ditko’s original art for page 17 from Amazing Spider-Man #23, that brought in $104,562; original cover art by Jack Kirby and Vince Colletta for Thor #136, which doubled its $40,000 estimate to end at $101,575; an original 1908 Sunday comic strip art from Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo in Slumberland, realized for $89,625; and Joshua Middleton’s NYX #3 cover and concept art, featuring the first appearance of X-23 which brought in $71,700. This piece additionally set a record for a piece of 21st century comic art, since none has yet to sell for more.

Featured comic art sales include Neal Adam’s original cover art for Batman #222, which sold for $77,675; Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen #2 cover original art that reached $65,725; and Dave Gibbons’ and John Higgins’ Watchmen Les Gardiens (French edition) #1 cover painting Comedian original art, which ended at $65,725.

A Suspense Comics #3 CBCS 9.2 Mile High Pedigree was sold for $262,900, setting a world record for the issue. This pulp-style comic triumphed over the CBCS 9.0 Pennsylvania Pedigree copy that realized $173,275 at Heritage in 2015. The Avengers #4 rose above the estimate of $120,000 to be auctioned for $143,400, while a Tales of Suspense #39 CGC 9.4 brought in $95,600. Additionally, a Wonder Woman #1 CGC 7.5 ended at $95,600; and The Avengers #1 CGC 9.4 collected 14 bids to be sold for $89,625.

Further highlights from the auction include The Amazing Spider-Man #1 CGC 9.2 which realized at $95,600; The Incredible Hulk #1 CGC 8.0, which reached $89,625; a Superman #1 CGC 1.0, that sold for $83,650; and an All Star Comics #8 CGC 5.0, which ended at $54,970.