- Following the enormous success of the latest release, the artwork went on sale at the Heritage Auctions.
- If the artwork sells for the projected $7.5 million, it will break the current record.
- Liefeld designed Deadpool as a combination of Spider-man and G.I. Joe.
Deadpool continues to captivate audiences with the new box-office sensation, “Deadpool & Wolverine”, produced by Marvel Studios. The film enjoys the title of the highest-grossing R-rated movie with $879 million worldwide in ticket sales. Following the enormous success of the movie, original cover art showcasing Deadpool’s debut in comics went on sale at the Heritage Auctions with a starting price of $7.5 million.
If it sells at that amount, it will become the most expensive comic book artwork ever sold in history. The artwork’s value reflects Deadpool’s enduring popularity. The phenomenal pencil artwork was created by artist and writer Rob Liefeld when he was about 23 years old for New Mutants #98. It hit the shelves in 1991. Though Liefeld doesn’t own the artwork as he sold it to a collector 25 years ago, he is thrilled about the financial success of his creation.
Ever since Deadpool’s first appearance, fans have eagerly embraced the character especially with Ryan Reynolds stand out performance in the latest release. Liefeld designed Deadpool as a combination of Spider-man and G.I. Joe. Immediately after the debut, Marvel Comics was flooded with fan mails.
“Marvel contacted me and said, this is the most fan mail we have had on a new character in 15 years,” said Liefeld. “They were flooded with letters, fan letters, which they sent me. And the box that that mail arrived in…I thought I was getting a washer and dryer,” he joked.
Deadpool’s popularity skyrocketed after his debut in “The New Mutants” surpassing X-men in sales. The introduction of Deadpool revitalized the series and helped it grow from a struggling title to a major commercial success.
With Deadpool as a major fixture in pop culture, the owner of the cover who acquired the art 20 years ago has decided that the time is right to sell. According to a statement from Heritage Auctions, he had previously declined all the offers to part with it. If the artwork sells for the projected $7.5 million, it will break the current record held by the 1938 comic which featured Superman’s debut and was sold for $6 million at an auction.
Deadpool’s journey from a niche comic book character to a million-dollar blockbuster success marks his lasting influence and gigantic fan base. The upcoming auction of the original cover art underscores continued popular culture impact and huge triumph both in books and on screen.
