On July 26-27, 2022, Hake’s Auctions closed their premier Auction #235 with a sales total of $2.7 million. There was heavy competition in the original art section with bidders vying for the opportunity to purchase Star Wars strips with an incredible pedigree and key comic pages from Marvel and DC.
Hake’s offered a special original art opportunity with Star Wars original comic strip art by Al Williams that hailed from the collection of original Star Wars advertising/publicity supervisor Charles Lippincott. Williamson illustrated 12 strips of preliminary art for the Star Wars comic strip, but the initial deal fell through, and the proposal was scrapped. The first six strips were then given to Star Wars creator George Lucas and the second set of six were given to Lippincott.
Williamson’s Star Wars daily strips took the top two spots for original art sales. The Star Wars daily strip #7 showing Darth Vader interrogating a Rebel captain about the whereabouts of stolen Imperial plans more than doubled its estimate to hammer for $46,726. Strip #8 featuring Princess Leia firing upon a Stormtrooper before being stunned and brought before Darth Vader also doubled its estimate to grab $41,942.
Strip #11 with the Sandcrawler stopping for Jawas to unload Threepio and Artoo for sale went for $23,364, just over its estimate. Strip #10 showing C-3PO and R2-D2 traversing the desert canyon on Tatooine before being ambushed by Jawas reached $21,417, also just over estimate. Strip #9 featuring Darth Vader and Stormtroopers with a captive Leia, and C-3PO and R2D2 leaving the escape pod on Tatooine went for $19,470. Strip #12 with Luke and Owen debating buying droids while Stormtroopers discover the escape pod cleared $18,585. The six strips sold for a combined $171,504.
The galaxy far, far away continued to have a strong performance when the Star Wars #3 page 7 art by Howard Chaykin realized $23,558, going beyond its preauction estimate. Inked by Steve Leialoha, the art comes from the third issue of the comic adaptation of Star Wars: A New Hope. The seven panels show Obi-Wan Kenobi training Luke Skywalker to use the Force with a training droid. It is signed by both Chaykin and Leialoha.
Marvel Premiere #15 page 27 original art by Gil Kane and inked by Dick Giordano brought $20,350. The pen and ink art comes from the issue that introduced Iron Fist, depicting seven panels that show young Danny witnessing the death of his mother, his rescue, and arrival at K’un-Lun.
Superman #184 page 1 comic splash original art by Al Plastino soared beyond its $10,000 preauction estimate to sell for $15,056. The splash page art shows Superman (depowered by a red sun) facing imminent injury and/or death as a champion archer from the the planet Zonda fires an arrow at him.
The key Justice League of America #19 original page by Mike Sekowsky and inked by Bernard Sachs grabbed $14,278. The six-panel page starts with Batman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Green Arrow discussing the need to change into their secret identities to return to Earth. After emerging, the heroes finally introduce their alter egos to each other.
All prices include the 18% buyer’s premium. The top results from Part I and Part II can be viewed on Hake’s website.
