For the second auction of their 50th anniversary year, Hake’s Americana & Collectibles is presenting a great crop of comics and original art. Among the listings are two lots that any José Luis García-López fan will want to buy.
García-López has had a long relationship with DC Comics, including creating the DC Comics Style Guide which is still being used for their licensed products. His career began in the 1960s at Charlton Comics before he moved to New York in ’74 and met DC editor Joe Orlando. His first project was inking the pencils of Dick Dillin in Action Comics #448. From there his art appeared in Adventure Comics, Batman, DC Comics Presents, Superman, and many other titles.
During his exclusive contract with DC, he penciled the style guides for official artwork for merchandise licenses around the world. He provided the 1982 guide, which is still used today for DC’s retro line, as well as Superman-related guides in 1991, 1994, and 2006, and other DCU guides in 1998, 2004, and 2012.
In lot 1390, Hake’s is selling 12” x 15-3/4” artboard with pen and ink original art of García-López’s style guide art. The art features full body images of the Satellite Era Justice League of America – Batman (with the Atom on his shoulder), Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Zatanna, Firestorm, Red Tornado, Hawkman, and Elongated Man.
Another García-López piece in the auction brings two popular heroes together from the two largest comic publishers with Batman vs The Incredible Hulk original art. The 11-7/8” x 16-1/8” artboard with pen and ink original art is matted in an 18-1/2” x 22-3/4” frame. The art is page 44 from the September 1981 DC Special Series Vol. 1 #27, published by DC in conjunction with Marvel Comics. The page depicts six panels with Batman in every panel, joined by the Joker in the first panel. The bottom third of the art shows profile images of Batman and the Joker.
If you are a fan of the ever talented García-López, check out these great pieces of art. Hake’s Auction #221 closes on July 11-13, 2017, so don’t wait too long to place bids. View the rest of the auction at hakes.com.
