First Deadpool Comic Book Art Hopes to Bring in $7.5 Million

For a comic book fan, it’s a huge turn-off to have a copy of the first appearance of a popular character. Things like The Incredible Hulk #181Detective Comics #27Amazing Fantasy #15, again Action Comedy #1 immediately comes to mind. Those first appearances of Wolverine, Batman, Spider-Man, and Superman respectively are holy grails for collectors, but there’s a step beyond that. A step many collectors would never dream of taking. And that’s the original cover art from one of those issues.

With Deadpool and Wolverine breaking box office records every day, Deadpool and his first appearance in New Conversion #98 it hasn’t quite reached the heights of many of those books, but it’s on its way. And now the owner of the original cover art has put it up for sale for the eye-watering price of $7.5 million. If it sells for that price, it will be “the single most valuable piece of original comic book art ever sold.”

The owner of this piece has had it for two decades and, apparently, has turned down many offers over the years. But, with the new movie in theaters, a clip has been posted to Legacy Auctions, and you can check it out here. “The time is right,” said the anonymous art owner.

“I’ve long admired—and coveted—this work, which I consider the most important piece of comic book art since the 1990s,” Heritage chairman Jim Halperin said in a statement. “I am happy that we have been able to give it to someone as interesting as me Rob Liefeld and he loves his Deadpool, who is among the most beloved characters in the comics and, now, the MCU. “

As Halperin said, the art is, of course, by Rob Liefeld, one of the character’s creators. He told io9 back in 2016 where the design idea came from. “Deadpool’s vision is greatly influenced by Spider-Man,” Liefeld said. “Recently, I asked [some friends at Marvel], ‘How do you remember when I went to the studio with Deadpool? He said, “You took it out of your bag and said ‘Spider-Man with guns and swords.'” I threw it at them like that. A smart-ass mercenary.” You can read more about his background at this link.

And now that smart-ass sidekick has the highest R-rated movie of all time (and counting)—and, quite possibly, the most expensive piece of original comic book art ever created. If someone buys that is.

Oh, and if you’re wondering what the current most expensive piece of comic book art is, in 2022 the New York Times gave the honor to Frank Frazetta’s $5.4 million piece. Which explains New Changes #98 could set the record even if it comes in under that $7.5 million asking price.

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