Recently, the original cover art for Strange Tales #164, featuring Doctor Strange, hit the auction block, and by the time the gavel fell the original art tied the record for another Doctor Strange cover.
The cover, by Dan Adkins sold for $71,700, which tied Bill Everett’s cover of Strange Tales #152 that was sold in November 2014. It comes as no surprise that the cover went for as much as it did, as the Doctor Strange movie is set to arrive in November.
Doctor Strange was created by character conceptualist Steve Ditko in July of 1963, debuting in Strange Tales #110. Originally an egotistical neurosurgeon, Dr. Stephen Strange lost full mobility of his hands in an automobile accident. Crushed by the inability to preform surgeries, Strange searches the world for a healer to revitalize his hands. On his quest, Strange encounters the “Ancient One,” whom opens Doctor Strange’s mind to the psychedelic construct of magic, mystery and malevolence that is reality.
Heritage Auctions seems like it has something going all the time. If you are looking for original art, or hard to find issues that may be worth even more in the future, checking out the website will yield some surprising results that may be more affordable than you think.
The next comic book auction for the company takes place on October 28th.