The Jerry Robinson illustration of Batman and Robin is expected to bring in more than $300,000 when it goes under the hammer on Nov. 15 as part of Heritage Auctions’ Vintage Comics & Comic Art Signature Auction in Beverly Hills. Detective Comics No. 67 was released in 1942, three years after Batman had made his first ever appearance in issue #27 of the comic. The Penguin made his debut in issue No. 58 the previous year.
Robinson pencilled and inked this cover and the detail of his art is amazing close-up, said Heritage director Todd Hignite. Particularly his shading lines on Batman and Robin, and on the feathery details of the ostrich being straddled by that bird-of-prey, the Penguin.
Besides Detective Comics #67, all collectors who are interested in original art will have a chance to fight for two other vintage covers from the collection of Jerry Robinson, the comic book artist who created the Joker: Adventures Comics No. 73 with the hero Manhunter menacing a group of thugs ($150,000) and Action Comics No. 46, with Superman soaring to stop a roller-coaster ride from becoming deadly ($100,000).
It’s an extreme honor to work with Mr. Robinson, truly one of the founding architects of the American comic book, on such an important group of early Golden Age art, said Ed Jaster, Senior Vice President at Heritage. The World War II-era historical significance and sheer artistic beauty of these three classic 1942 DC covers is just incredible and represent, for a smart collector, a truly golden opportunity.
Jerry Robinson was one of the few members of the original Batman team to create the world famous Supervillan, the Joker and Batman’s archetypal sidekick, Robin. Robinson’s numerous honors include the National Cartoonists Society Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award and the San Diego Comic-Con Eisner Hall of Fame. [Heritage Auctions]
