Heritage Auctions has announced the highlights of its February 19-21 Comics & Comic Art Signature Auction in New York, with John Severin cover art for Cracked magazine among the star lots.
 Cracked magazine (1958-2007) was launched following the success of Mad magazine, and is now the basis for Cracked.com |
The cover is signed by Severin using his pseudonym Noel Powers, with the famous Star Wars Cantina scene altered to include the Cracked mascot Sylvester P Smythe, created after Mad magazine's famous Alfred E Neuman.
Further Cracked pieces by Severin will star, along with cover art for the magazine created by other artists such as Jack Davis, as well as a double page spread from Bill Ward.
The auction also features a rare piece of original art from syndicated comic strip Hagar the Horrible, which can expect big bids if recent sales of Calvin and Hobbes original art and Charles Schulz' Peanuts strip are anything to go by. Hagar the Horrible is syndicated in 58 countries and is well loved, so the original strip may well find similar popularity to other syndicated comics at auction.
Among the most valuable lots in the sale will be an original piece of cover art by Jack Kirby for Marvel Tales #147 starring Spider-Man, which sees Spidey taking on The Enforcers. It is a reprint of the Amazing Spider-Man #10 (1964) released in 1983.
Original art for Todd Mcfarlane's Amazing Spider-Man #323 is also offered, with a full page showing the superhero team up with Captain America in a story titled "Assault Rivals" from the story arc "The Assassin Nation Plot: Part 4".
McFarlane is one of the most celebrated modern comic book artists, particularly his work on Spider-Man, which is renowned for revamping the character in classic style.
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