Original art is unique - for any given page of any given comic book, there is only one page that the artist drew. The phrase “original art” may encompass any of the following:
- Bristol board containing the artist’s pencil and inks. The pencils are typically done in non-reproducing blue with black ink over. Often, corrections (such as with White-out) can be seen, as well as production directives in the margins. This work is now now done electronically by most shops and more recent original art pieces have only the artwork.
- Proofs used in production. These are often paste-ups of photocopies, titles, etc. used in the final camera-ready copy. There is often little or no actual drawing on these pages. These are considerably less valuable than the actual original art, but can still command high prices for desirable pieces. For example, in May 2007, the production proof for X-Men #4, feature Jack Kirby art, listed for $1,500.
- Color proofs. These are production proofs used by the colorist to correct colors.
- Sketches and commissions. For example, comic book artists often appear at conventions and do sketches for fans, or accept commissions to produce pinups or other artwork. These are not directly related to the production of finished comic books, but are often referred to as “original art” regardless.
Original art is unsigned by the artist at the time of use in production, but may be later signed by the artist when selling it. Autographs and signed comics are not generally considered original art.
Originally, comic book companies did not return original art to the artists. The dispute between Marvel Comics and Jack Kirby led eventually to artists’ right to have their artwork returned and it is now common to see artists selling their pages.
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Spider-Girl Commission Original Cover Art Crash! Landen Ink 11 X 17 Splash Page US $80.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Feb-13-2012 16:56:59 PST Add to watch list |
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THE ART OF S. CLAY WILSON - S. CLAY WILSON (HARDCOVER) NEW US $29.89 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:55:35 PST Add to watch list |
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SUPERMAN COVER TO COVER (HARDCOVER) NEW US $44.71 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:54:57 PST Add to watch list |
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MySims Kingdom, (DS) US $9.14 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:54:05 PST Add to watch list |
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ALAN MOORE'S YUGGOTH CULTURES AND O - ANTONY JOHNSTON ALAN MOORE (PAPERBACK) NEW US $25.92 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:54:00 PST Add to watch list |
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A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare US $0.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Tuesday Feb-14-2012 2:52:44 PST Add to watch list |
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MY POINT...AND I DO HAVE ONE - ELLEN DEGENERES (PAPERBACK) NEW US $12.26 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:52:41 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Sun (2002) #1B NM US $1.10 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:52:04 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Sun (2002) #1A NM US $1.10 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:52:01 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Summer TPB (2008) #1-1ST NM US $28.00 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:51:59 PST Add to watch list |
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WEREWOLVES OF MONTPELLIER - JASON (PAPERBACK) NEW US $10.88 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:51:55 PST Add to watch list |
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DRINK AND DRAW SOCIAL CLUB - DAN PANOSIAN, ET AL. DAVE JOHNSON (HARDCOVER) NEW US $27.43 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:51:47 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Summer (2007) #5A NM US $2.20 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:51:34 PST Add to watch list |
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Invader ZIM - Horrible Holiday Cheer (Vol. 3), DVD, Richard Steven Horvitz, Andy US $13.63 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:51:15 PST Add to watch list |
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Silent Movie, DVD, Mel Brooks, Mel Brooks US $8.28 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:50:34 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Reaper (1995) #1B NM US $1.10 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:50:28 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Reaper (1995) #1A VF US $1.80 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:50:26 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Pearl TPB (1997) #1-1ST NM US $11.20 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:50:04 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Pearl (1996) #5 NM US $1.10 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:50:01 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Pearl (1996) #4 VF US $1.10 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:49:58 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Pearl (1996) #4 NM US $1.50 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:49:55 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Pearl (1996) #2 VF US $1.10 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:49:52 PST Add to watch list |
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Darksiders (PC, 2010) US $13.75 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 2:49:52 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Pearl (1996) #2 NM US $1.50 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:49:49 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Pearl (1996) #1 NM US $1.10 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:49:46 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Panther Who is the Black Panther? TPB (2009) #1-1ST VF US $8.90 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:49:43 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Panther Who is the Black Panther? TPB (2009) #1-1ST NM US $11.20 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:49:40 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Panther Who is the Black Panther? TPB (2006) #1-1ST NM US $4.50 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:49:37 PST Add to watch list |
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King Kong, DVD, Jeff Bridges, Charles Grodin, Jessica Lange, John Randolph, Rene US $5.78 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:49:22 PST Add to watch list |
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BATMAN - WALT FLANAGAN KEVIN SMITH (PAPERBACK) NEW US $13.49 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:48:18 PST Add to watch list |
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PEANUTS COMIC LITHOGRAPH! SNOOPY C. SCHULZ US $39.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Feb-12-2012 2:48:07 PST Add to watch list |
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The Best of Mozart vol. 1 (Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, the Marriage of Figaro, Symph US $4.48 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:47:50 PST Add to watch list |
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Trip Out, DVD, , James M. Hausler US $4.39 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:47:38 PST Add to watch list |
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X2 - X-Men United (Full Screen Edition) DVD, Patrick St US $4.18 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:46:59 PST Add to watch list |
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COLLECTED PROSE - PAUL AUSTER (PAPERBACK) NEW US $18.62 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:46:48 PST Add to watch list |
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DRAGON BALL Z 6 - AKIRA TORIYAMA AKIRA TORIYAMA (PAPERBACK) NEW US $16.96 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:46:04 PST Add to watch list |
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GRAPHIC WOMEN - HILLARY L. CHUTE (PAPERBACK) NEW US $34.61 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:45:21 PST Add to watch list |
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The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells 0812505158 US $4.97 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:44:03 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Panther Who is the Black Panther? HC (2005) #1-1ST NM US $13.40 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:44:03 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Panther The Deadliest of the Species HC (2009) #1-1ST NM US $13.40 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:44:01 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Panther The Bride TPB (2006) #1-1ST VF US $9.00 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:43:58 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Panther The Bride TPB (2006) #1-1ST NM US $11.20 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:43:56 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Panther Power TPB (2010) #1-1ST NM US $12.30 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:43:54 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Panther Panther's Prey (1991) #4 VF US $1.10 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:43:50 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Panther Panther's Prey (1991) #4 NM US $1.50 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:43:47 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Panther Panther's Prey (1991) #3 NM US $1.10 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:43:44 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Panther Panther's Prey (1991) #2 NM US $1.10 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:43:42 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Panther Panther's Prey (1991) #1 NM US $1.10 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:43:39 PST Add to watch list |
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Black Panther Man Without Fear TPB (2011) #1-1ST NM US $13.40 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:43:22 PST Add to watch list |
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ART OF ALICE - FELLIPE MARTINS, ET AL. BEN KERSLAKE (HARDCOVER) NEW US $34.93 End Date: Thursday Mar-08-2012 2:42:59 PST Add to watch list |