X Marks the Spot!

DALLAS, TEXAS: Heritage Comics Auctions (HCA) will offer the original cover art for X-Men #114, the very first X-Men cover produced by artists John Byrne and Terry Austin, in their upcoming Signature Auction, to be held August 12-13, 2005, in Dallas, Texas.

"It's always a treat to see a Byrne/Austin X-Men cover come to market," said Don Mangus, Cataloger for HCA, "as they are in such scarce supply and so avidly sought by collectors. The team supreme of Byrne/Austin, still considered by many to be the defining artistic duo of comics' Bronze Age, only produced sixteen covers together during their groundbreaking run of more than three years on the X-Men, a run that succeeded in rocketing Marvel to undreamed-of heights of success, and which inspired the current movie franchise."

"This particular cover," Mangus continued, "features a great group shot of the new X-Men, as Beast, Phoenix and Professor X mourn the supposed passing of their friends, including Cyclops, Wolverine, Colossus, Storm, Nightcrawler and Banshee. This is the first-ever X-Men cover by Byrne and Austin, and is generally regarded as one of the best in the run."

"We offered the cover to the previous issue, X-Men #113, in our last auction, in May of this year," Mangus said, "and that piece realized $34,500 with 18 bidders competing for the prize. I'd expect this piece to easily surpass that price, as this is an even nicer example of a classic X-Men cover."

This cover carries a pre-auction estimate of $50,000.

For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HeritageComics.com.

HCA specializes in rare, high-grade comic books, as well as vintage comic and animation art, illustration art, classic toys, movie posters and comics-related collectibles.

Prospective consignors and sellers of top-end comics material, toys, and original art are invited to call Ed Jaster at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 288 or Lon Allen at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 261 to discuss their rare comics and original illustration and comic art. Or visit HeritageComics.com and click on the "Sell Now" tab. Or simply email Ed Jaster at EdJ@HeritageComics.com or Lon Allen at LonA@HeritageComics.com.

Music and Hollywood memorabilia collectors should contact Doug Norwine at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 452 or email DougN@HeritageGalleries.com.

Movie poster consignors, please call Grey Smith at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 367 or email GreySm@HeritageMoviePosters.com.

To reserve your copy of a catalog for any upcoming Heritage auction, please contact Nicole Jewell, c/o Heritage Comics, 3500 Maple Avenue, 17th Floor, Dallas, TX 75219, or call 1-800-872-6467, ext. 272.