Frank Miller Dark Knight Returns Original Art Splash Page Sells For Record $448,125

[clemso]

You might not be aware, but this original art sold for $448K at Heritage the other day. Not my cup of tea, but I wouldn't say no to the price realized.
Frank Miller Dark Knight Returns Original Art Splash Page Sells For Record $448,125 Bleeding Cool Comic Book, Movies and TV News and Rumors

[toys2cool]

dam! hell no

[Blue Meanie]

Not a Miller Fan...When I see stuff like this it annoys me because you know that a PROMINENT Golden or Silver Age Artist's original page wouldn't command that RIDICULOUS a price. IMHO that final price is waaaaaaayyyyyy beyond what it should have gone for. When a Golden Age Kirby/Simon Cap page ONLY reaches the $40,000 range, and that DK page reaches Half Million, then there is something wrong in my opinion. I guess some Hollywood actor or Director had nothing better to so with their money then OVERSPEND on a Modern Day piece of Comic Art. Congrats to the seller though...

[kingdom warrior]

Most of that has to do with the mystique of the book and how big it was.....

The inking on this is pretty sloppy. that city scape is poorly inked by Janson. he always inks like he's in a hurry......

I think outside of the concept of the book.....Lynn Varley's color work is what for me put the book over Varley is the unsung hero in most of Miller's books.

[Random Axe]

Was Nic Cage drunk bidding again?

That piece has to have hype, status or sentimental value to someone cause that is one ugly drawing. I liked the book, but not the art if that makes sense. Miller is the single most overrated individual in comic book history. Congrats to the seller, condolences to the buyer.

[clemso]

Was Nic Cage drunk bidding again?

That piece has to have hype, status or sentimental value to someone cause that is one ugly drawing. I liked the book, but not the art if that makes sense. Miller is the single most overrated individual in comic book history. Congrats to the seller, condolences to the buyer.

Perhaps, but it would take two drunk bidders to do this
Also i was making the point on another site that the original art cover to Superman 14 could probably be had in this price range.

[The Bat]

Say want you will...but I LOVE that page! It's one of my favorite drawings from TDKR.

I drew a copy of it once(left out Robin though), and silk-screened it onto T-Shirts. I still have it on translucent vellum.

[Earth 2 Chris]

It's an iconic image, from an iconic book, but that price is kind of nuts. Not a huge fan of Miller's art, but I liked the first half of DK better, before his style became so loose, and he purged all of his Adams influences.

I've never been a big fan of Klaus Janson. His inks worked here mostly, but he did seem rushed, sometimes moreso than usual. But then again, so did Miller. I think that's because they WERE rushed. Remember DK had some serious lag in releases between some of the issues.

Chris

[ctc]

>it annoys me because you know that a PROMINENT Golden or Silver Age Artist's original page wouldn't command that RIDICULOUS a price

It's the march of time.... We can appreciate a Kirby or Cadry or Wood 'cos we experienced them. They may have been older predecessors to stuff we read, but they were close enough time-wise that we could appreciate what the gezers were talking about. Gold and Silver age stuff is WAY too far back for a lot of fans now: they have no real experience with it. Pics like this are from THEIR formative years, so it's got meaning and impact.

Don C.

[The Bat]

Not a huge fan of Miller's art, but I liked the first half of DK better, before his style became so loose, and he purged all of his Adams influences.

Chris

Once again I'm in agreement with you on this Chris. LOVE the art in the first half...but later on Batman got bigger, bulkier and the inking went down hill. Batman became more wrinkled looking.

[johnmiic]

Did Miller sell this? Why wasn't it returned to him? I was under the impression artists had their art returned to them by 1984?

[clemso]

Did Miller sell this? Why wasn't it returned to him? I was under the impression artists had their art returned to them by 1984?

My guess is that Miller originally had this and sold it early on when art was not considered to be that valuable.

[jwyblejr]

I bet if this showed up on Pawn Stars they'd offer $25 for it.

[Earth 2 Chris]

The Old Man and Big Hoss would, but Rick would say "This Frank Miller Dark Knight piece is AMAZING! If I can get it for the right price, I've gotta have it!"

Chumly would take box of Crayolas to it.

Chris

[samurainoir]

Here's what we were spared...


no joke. Gee I wonder why DC didn't greenlight this?