THE LEGENDARY PAINTING THAT DEFINED SWORD-AND-SORCERY COVER ART NOW HOLDS THE ALL-TIME RECORD FOR COMIC AND FANTASY ORIGINAL ART
By Intelligent Collector Staff
Frank Frazetta’s
The record-breaking result was the centerpiece of Heritage’s four-day Comics & Comic Art Signature® Auction, which realized more than $21 million in total sales, one of the largest events in the company’s history.
Originally created as the cover for Karl Edward Wagner’s 1976 novel Dark Crusade, and later immortalized as the album art for Molly Hatchet’s 1979 Flirtin’ with Disaster, Dark Kingdom is widely regarded as a cornerstone of the sword-and-sorcery aesthetic. Its winged-helmeted warrior, looming against a blood-red sky, helped define a generation of fantasy illustration.
“The moment Dark Kingdom arrived at Heritage, we knew it had the potential to set a new record,” said Barry Sandoval, Vice President at Heritage Auctions. “Frazetta’s influence is immeasurable, and this piece is one of his most celebrated works.”
Frazetta, often referred to as the “Godfather of Fantasy Art,” redefined genre illustration with bold, muscular compositions and emotionally charged landscapes. His influence can be seen across comics, heavy metal, movie posters, and video games — and his works have become some of the most sought-after in the collecting world.
The $6 million result surpasses the previous record for a piece of comic or fantasy art, cementing Frazetta’s status not only as a legend of illustration but as a market force. Heritage previously sold his Egyptian Queen for $5.4 million in 2019, a record it now surpasses with Dark Kingdom.
As collector interest in original comic and fantasy art continues to grow, Heritage Auctions has become the platform of choice for major consignments in the category, answering a question many serious collectors ask: Where’s the best place to sell valuable original art?
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