First Page of the ‘Blueberry’ Saga from ‘Fort Navajo’ No. 1 Takes Center Stage at Heritage’s April 26-27 International Comic Art Auction

Herge’s ‘Le Petit Vingtième’ cover art, Batman Noir: The Dark Knight Returns frontispiece, Judge Dredd Megazine cover also among event highlights DOWNLOAD DIGITAL PRESS KIT DALLAS, Texas (April 15, 2025) — Included among the treasures in Heritage's April 26-27 International Comic Art Signature® Auction in Dallas and on HA.com is an extraordinary page of original art from one of the earliest works by celebrated French artist Jean Giraud, who earned worldwide acclaim, often while publishing under the pseudonym "Mœbius." The very first page of the Blueberry saga from Fort NavajoNo. 1 is headed to the auction block for the first time, and is one of 19 lots in the auction dedicated to the legendary artist, material that make up "the most extensive selection of Mœbius artwork ever assembled in a single sale," says Olivier Delflas, Heritage's Director of International Comic Art and Anime. Originally published October 31, 1963, in Pilote No. 210 and again in 1965 as a complete story published by Dargaud, this page stands as the most emblematic original artwork of the entire series, if not the artist's extraordinary career. It is symbolic as the debut of one of the greatest Western heroes in comics, while allowing Giraud to showcase his artistic prowess on a page devoid of the tentative beginnings often seen in the early stages of legendary series. Also in play in the auction is the cover Hergé (George Rémi) created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Le Petit Vingtième. Heritage has offered several Tintin-related works before, including the first published Tintin cover in 2019, which realized $1,125,000 and a 1939 Le Petit Vingtième cover featuring Tintin and his faithful canine companion, Snowy. But this page is a truly singular work, a rare piece that blends Hergé's talent as both an illustrator and a letterer. Le Petit Vingtième, a Belgian newspaper supplement for children from nearly a century ago, served as the launchpad for Tintin's enduring legacy. This young Belgian reporter, wide-eyed and ever-curious, quickly captured readers' imaginations — thanks in no small part to Hergé's visionary storytelling. The cover Hergé created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Le Petit Vingtième showcases his signature artistic flair with an exceptional twist: he hand-lettered the title directly into the composition, making it the only cover in the publication's history where the title is integrated into the artwork itself. A host of Hergé's beloved characters appears on the cover in full figure, including Tintin, Snowy, Quick and Flupke, Officer 15, Jo, Zette and their pet monkey, Jocko. Joining them is their creator, depicted in one of only nine recorded self-caricatures by Hergé. More than just an anniversary issue, this piece stands as a record and celebration of Hergé's creative legacy — a historic fusion of artist and art. Tintin's spirited adventures give way to Gotham's grim shadows as DC's Dark Knight also looms large in this auction. Frank Miller's striking frontispiece for Chapter 2 of Batman Noir: The Dark Knight Returns (2015) — a stark black-and-white edition of his iconic series — joins an impressive roster of Batman-related works. Additional highlights include art from Enrico Marini, Enric (Enrique Torres-Prat), Sean Gordon Murphy and Alejandro Xermánico, among others. Frazer Orving's cover to Judge Dredd Megazine No. 211 offers a powerful homage to Brian Bolland's genre-defining cover for Batman: The Killing Joke, reimagining the scene with the fearsome Judge Death in place of the Joker. While Judge Dredd rose to prominence following his debut in 2000 AD No. 2 (1977), Heritage is presenting, for the first time on the market, an original Judge Dredd concept illustration by his co-creator Carlos Ezquerra. Offered directly from the Ezquerra family collection, this historic image shows Dredd atop his Lawmaster motorcycle, with a sketch of his Lawgiver weapon below. This early concept predates Dredd's published debut, making it a true cornerstone of comic art history. "This auction presents a carefully curated blend of both American and international comic art," says Delflas, "bringing together some of the most iconic creators from each tradition." With more than 650 original works from celebrated artists around the world, the April 26-27 International Comic Art Signature® Auction offers a vibrant and diverse collection suited to every collector's taste. Masterworks by American comic titans, including Alex Raymond, Hal Foster, Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Frank Frazetta and Richard Corben, anchor the lineup, alongside iconic works by Underground Comix pioneer Robert Crumb. From across the Atlantic, standout works of British comic art include a V for Vendetta story page by David Lloyd and a striking 2000 AD cover by Kevin O'Neill, reflecting the bold visual traditions of the UK's most influential creators. "The pieces on offer showcase a rare combination of quality and exclusivity," adds Delflas, "including historically significant works, many appearing on the market for the very first time." Heritage has offered dozens of pages from the iconic Metabarons series before, and that will continue in the upcoming auction. The event features 11 lots dedicated to this cornerstone of science fiction comics. Among them, the clear standouts are Page 3 and Page 4 from Metabarons No. 1 — two of the most significant in the entire series. These early, unforgettable scenes, rendered by comics legend Juan Giménez, offer one of the first glimpses into the world of the Meta-Warriors, showcasing the powerful initiation ritual that defines their legacy. A behemoth of the science fiction genre, Metabarons continues to captivate collectors, and the black-and-white final inked versions of these pages provide a rare look into the creative process behind these landmark works. From Western legends to icons of Japanese storytelling, the auction also includes three original works by Osamu Tezuka, the revered "Godfather of Manga." Featuring his most beloved characters — Astro Boy, Jungle Emperor Leo and Ribbon Knight — Tezuka's vibrant and expressive illustration highlights the boundless creativity that earned him the moniker "the Walt Disney of Japan." A creative titan, Tezuka's legacy remains central to the evolution of manga and anime worldwide. Click HA.com/7417 to view the entire collection offered in the April 26-27 International Comic Art Signature® Auction. Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world's largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Heritage also enjoys the highest Online traffic and dollar volume of any auction house on earth (source: SimilarWeb and Hiscox Report). The Internet's most popular auction-house website, HA.com, has more than 1,750,000 registered bidder-members and searchable free archives of 6,000,000 past auction records with prices realized, descriptions and enlargeable photos. Reproduction rights routinely granted to media for photo credit. For breaking stories, follow us: HA.com/Facebook and HA.com/Twitter . Link to this release or view prior press releases . Hi-Res images available: Steve Lansdale, Public Relations Specialist 214-409-1699 or SteveL@HA.com