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Lot
92211

Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott Fantastic Four #55 Spectacular Silver Surfer Half-Splash Page 3 Original Art (Marvel, 1...

2012 May 10-11 Vintage Comics & Comic Art Signature Auction- Dallas #7059

 
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Auction Ended On: May 11, 2012
Item Activity: 18 Internet/mail/phone bidders Number of Bidders
8,676 page views
Location: Heritage Auctions
3500 Maple Avenue
Dallas, TX 75219

Description:
Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott Fantastic Four #55 Spectacular Silver Surfer Half-Splash Page 3 Original Art (Marvel, 1966). Be ready to bid, Marvelites. For this Marvel masterwork from the immortal classic "When Strikes the Surfer" hails from the highest summit of the legendary Stan Lee-Jack Kirby collaboration, with superb Silver Age inks by the greatest "King" Kirby brush-man ever -- the incomparable Joe Sinnott. Here is the Marvel Age of Comics at its zenith, with Lee's humanist dialogue, Kirby's majestic, awe-inspiring (and art form-altering) pencils, and Sinnott's perfectly balanced, and super-streamlined dynamism. Peak era Kirby pages showcasing the Surfer, one of Marvel's most popular and definitive characters from the psychedelic sixties, always command a premium and this awesome example truly has it all. In fact, Stan "the Man" thinks so highly of the iconic half-page splash in the lower panel, that a blown-up version hung prominently in his office can be spotted in his recent cameo in the HBO series Entourage (see online image).
If Jack Kirby identified with Ben Grimm/the Thing in body, perhaps both his spirit and Stan Lee's soul were claimed by the Silver Surfer, as the two would never collaborate on a character more messianic, conveying such a sublime sense of grandeur and awe of the limitless cosmic vistas in the boundless universe. Here, depicted in full glory, in only his fourth appearance, the Surfer had become a fallen angel, reluctantly accepting his fate as a "stranger in a strange land," ready for the ultimate journey. Kirby believed, and it shows with every line. Artistic perfection combines with the Surfer's alienated take on humanity's foibles to create a true, self-contained work of art -- and who could top Stan Lee's dialogue in that last panel?
As a note of provenance, our consignor informs us that he was fortunate enough to purchase the page in the early 1980s from a Comics Buyers Guide ad, and later got an excited Lee to sign the lower margin at a 1983 comic convention ("Excelsior" indeed). The page has not been seen in the market, or displayed since its original purchase -- until now. This beautiful, breathtaking piece with a large-size image area of 12.5" x 18.5", remains in Excellent condition.
In our studied opinion, with all the possible "desirability points" aligning perfectly, this jaw-dropping find could very well be the definitive image of the Lee/Kirby Silver Surfer, possibly the single best Kirby FF page we've ever offered, and arguably one of the finest Silver Age Marvel pages to be had -- in short, it's a "holy grail" for the advanced comic art collector.

Kirby, Jack: Jack Kirby (American, 1917-1994) : Jack Kirby has received world-wide recognition for his long comic book career and accomplishments. He is regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic-book medium, thus earning the nick-name "King." Among Kirby's many co-creations are Captain America, the Newsboy Legion, the Challengers of the Unknown, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Thor, the Avengers, the X-Men, Silver Surfer, the New Gods, and countless other memorable heroes and villains.

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