Comic Art Sells For $175,000 At Metropolis In New York
Industry: Art & Design
A seminal piece of Frank Miller’s artwork, The Dark Knight & Robin was recently sold for $175,000 by Metropolis Gallery, the first-of-its-kind gallery.
New York (PRUnderground) October 8th, 2015
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Frank Miller’s Dark Knight & Robin Artwork Sells for $175,000; More Collectors Investing in Comic Art
A seminal piece of Frank Miller’s artwork, The Dark Knight & Robin was recently sold for $175,000 by Metropolis Gallery, the first-of-its-kind gallery dedicated to comic art.
Miller created the piece for the signature plate of a signed, numbered limited edition hardcover of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, a 1986 compilation of Miller’s wildly- popular Dark Knight Returns comic mini-series, published earlier that year.
Miller’s Dark Knight—which reinvented Batman as an older, grittier hero in a dark, violent world—took the world by storm and launched the era of modern comics. It’s this tough, weary hero that will be featured in the much-anticipated movie, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, to be released early next year.
“This is the definitive Dark Knight piece,” asserts gallery curator Rob Pistella, of the 15″ x 23″ illustration.
“More important, it’s the definitive Frank Miller piece. It’s everything that Frank’s immeasurable contribution to the art form represents, captured in one iconic image.”
The piece represents two of the most recognizable characters in pop culture and was so pivotal, comic giant DC Direct commissioned sculptor William Paquette to recreate it as a statue in 1996 to celebrate Dark Knight’s 10th anniversary.
According to Metropolis Gallery, the buyer is a serious art collector who has been collecting comic art for more than 20 years.
A growing number of comic book collectors are turning their sights to comic art, one reason Metropolis Collectibles, the world’s largest vintage comic collectibles dealer, opened its 5,000 square foot showroom in Midtown Manhattan earlier this year.
“More people are coming to understand that comic art can be appreciated and collected like fine art,” says Metropolis COO Vincent Zurzolo.
“For collectors, purchasing the original artwork behind a comic book of significance is a special thrill. You’re getting unique, one-of-a-kind artwork with historical value. It’s easy and exciting to display. And, like comic books, it’s a phenomenal investment.”
Zurzolo knows his investments. He is co-owner of Metropolis Collectibles and ComicConnect.com, the company that broke the million dollar comic sale threshold in 2010, with the sale an Action #1, the first Superman comic. It holds five Guinness World Records for unprecedented deals.
At the gallery, visitors can view the original art behind revered comic book covers, full page “splashes,” Sunday strips, fantasy and science book covers and more.
Its new Masters of Fantasy exhibit—timed to honor Comic Con— features the works of renowned fantasy artists Frank Frazetta, Jeff Jones, Greg Hildebrandt, Ken Kelly, Phil Hale, and more.
Metropolis Gallery is located at 36 West 37th Street, Sixth Floor, NY, NY 10018. It is open to the public on open Tuesday-Friday, 11am-5pm. Collectors may also visit by appointment and are invited to call 800-229-6387 to make an appointment.
“People always ask us how to start collecting, and we tell them to start with what they love,” says Metropolis CEO Stephen Fishler, “Why hang a dull still life on your wall, when you can hang vivid, emotionally powerful art?” https://www.metropolisgallerynyc.com/
Contact: Lekas & Levine PR, Joannepr@aol.com, 847.327.9530
