Comic book

In a world in which American superhero comics featuring Superman, Batman and other characters regularly sell for substantial six and seven-figure sums, it is really quite refreshing to be reminded of more modestly priced British rarities.

Spider-Man became the most expensive comic book superhero in a Heritage (20% buyer’s premium) sale this autumn.

Complete year runs of Beano from the years 1958 and ‘59 that sold at £3050 and £3550 topped the bidding in a Comic Book Auctions (20% buyer’s premium) timed online sale that ended on August 29.

Coinciding with the new (and long-awaited) release of James Bond film 'No Time To Die', Bloomsbury gallery Abbott and Holder is holding an exhibition of original drawings made for the serialisation of Ian Fleming’s novels in the 'Daily Express'.

Collection now up for sale was owned by soldier killed in Korea but kept safe by his brother

Having secured his prize for a notably higher than estimate sum, the buyer of a ‘Fireball XLV’ artwork told Malcolm Phillips of Comic Book Auctions (19% buyer’s premium) that very few artworks by its creator, Mike Noble, ever come to auction.

A copy of the very first issue of Captain America soared to £320,000 (£235,640) at Heritage Auctions.

Fat Sod, Skinhead, Colin the Amiable Crocodile and Victor Pratt the Stupid Twat were introduced to the public in the form of a comic offered in a Newcastle pub in December 1979. Forty-one years later that comic is still going strong: Viz.

Spider-Man has made a couple of successful appearances in recent UK sales.

Shown here are two of the higher-priced lots from a timed online Comic Book Auctions (19% buyer’s premium) sale.

A selection of children’s books and annuals offered recently by British Bespoke Auctions (22% buyer’s premium) included among the comics a great many bound volumes of Dandy, but the star turn was always going to be 'The New Adventures of Rupert' shown here.

Long run of the comics includes very first issue introducing The Hulk, Iron Man et al

As in its September auction, a double-page Frank Bellamy artwork featuring ‘Heros the Spartan’ proved a star turn in the latest Comic Book Auctions (19% buyer’s premium) online sale on thesaleroom.com.

Cutting up examples for new artworks can be controversial – but here is a case for the defence

A rare signed ink and gouache image in which Tintin carves a makeshift propellor to replace that damaged by a forced landing of his aeroplane in the Soviet Union sold for $900,000 (£708,660) in a June 8-9 sale of European comic artworks held in the US.