ComicLink has added a piece of Barry Windsor-Smith art from his famous 1991 Wolverine origin story “Weapon X” to the Fall Featured Auction. The artwork was originally published as a splash page within Marvel Comics Presents #81, and was selected as the cover for both the collected hardcover and trade paperback editions of Weapon X.
The art comes from the portion of the story where Wolverine has finally escaped from the bonds he’d been trapped in at the Weapon X facility by the sinister “Professor” and his assistants, Dr. Cornelius and Miss Hines, the captors who have just laced his body and claws with adamantium for the first time. Here Wolverine takes his revenge, creating a massacre, killing the soldiers who guard the Weapon X facility. Amidst the piled up bodies, he finishes off the remaining soldiers with his brand new razor-sharp adamantium claws. It’s an unusually brutal depiction of Wolverine from the era, showing his claws piercing through the other side of one of his victims.
This splash/cover is considered by many art collectors to be the best work Windsor-Smith did on the “Weapon X” saga and it is not surprising that it was used as the cover to the first hardcover of the series, which came out in 1993 followed by the first trade paperback in 1994. This artwork was also used for the cover of collected editions that came out in 2007, 2009, and one just released a few months ago in July 2020. So, this stunning piece is still in print almost 30 years after it was first published.
Other art highlights already consigned to the Fall Featured Auction include:
ComicLink is now accepting seller consignments of comic books and art for their Fall Featured Auction which starts on November 12, as well as the upcoming Focused Auction launching on October 9 (which will also offer other certified collectibles). These are the final two ComicLink auctions of 2020. Those interested can contact a ComicLink sales consultant by emailing buysell@comiclink.com or calling (617) 517-0062 (option 1). Upfront, interest free cash advances are often available upon receipt of consignments.
The firm is also gathering consignments for the next CertifiedLink.com auction, which covers other types of collectibles besides comic books and original artwork including vintage video games, coins, sports cards, non-sports cards, memorabilia and toys.
The Focused Auction is now open for bidders.