Comics and Animation News: Russ Heath (1926 - 2018)

Comics and Animation News [Read this newsletter online]( [Heritage Auctions]( [Comics and Animation News]( In This Issue: • [Sunday Internet Auction](#spotlight) • [Russ Heath (1926 - 2018)](#collector-a) • [The Ultimate Comic Book Fan?](#collector-b) • [Around Heritage Auctions](#around-1) • [Cover of the Week: Fresh Fish, Anyone?](#week) • [Current Auctions](#current) August 30, 2018 []Sunday Internet Auction [Sunday Internet Comics Auction]( Auction Ends: September 2, 2018 Live Session at 6:00 PM CT A whopping 938 items are featured in this week's Comics Auction! With so many great items, it's hard to choose a few highlights, but here we go! [A fantastic selection of comic books featuring Matt Baker art!]( [More Mile High Pedigree goodies!]( [Plenty of Peanuts comics, including Four Color, Tip Top, and Tip Topper titles!]( [Diary Secrets #20 (St. John, 1953)]( Diary Secrets #20 (St. John, 1953) [Modern Comics #91 Mile High Pedigree (Quality, 1949) CGC NM/MT 9.8]( Modern Comics #91 Mile High Pedigree (Quality, 1949) CGC NM/MT 9.8 [Four Color #969 Peanuts - File Copy (Dell, 1959) CGC VF/NM 9.0]( Four Color #969 Peanuts - File Copy (Dell, 1959) CGC VF/NM 9.0 Highlights of this week's auction include: [George Pérez and Romeo Tanghal The New Teen Titans #28 Story Page 15 Original Art (DC, 1983)]( George Pérez and Romeo Tanghal The New Teen Titans #28 Story Page 15 Original Art (DC, 1983) Flash and Raven flaunt their powers as they heed Gar's call for help, while the changeling aids a reluctant and antagonistic Terra, who makes her second appearance in this issue. Produced in ink over graphite on Bristol board with an image area of 10" x 15". The page is slightly toned, with large areas of discoloration, and the text is all hand-lettered text paste-up. Overall, in Very Good condition. [View]( [Bill Sienkiewicz Elektra: Assassin Illustration Original Art (undated)]( Bill Sienkiewicz Elektra: Assassin Illustration Original Art (undated) In 1986, Frank Miller teamed with Bill Sienkiewicz to create the experimental and ultraviolent mini-series, Elektra: Assassin. Sienkiewicz's unfettered illustration technique took Miller's tale to dizzying heights of innovative storytelling. Sienkiewicz occasionally used photo references, and this piece was inspired by a scintillating photograph of supermodel Christy Turlington by Herb Ritts circa 1995. This mixed media masterwork measures 11" x 17" and it's in Excellent condition. Signed by Sienkiewicz at the lower left. [View]( [A Charlie Brown Christmas Lucy and Charlie Brown Limited Edition Cel #256/500 (Bill Melendez, c. 1990s)]( A Charlie Brown Christmas Lucy and Charlie Brown Limited Edition Cel #256/500 (Bill Melendez, c. 1990s) "I must ask that you pay in advance!" This classic Charlie Brown TV special first premiered on December 9, 1965. This is an extraordinary hand-inked, hand-painted limited edition cel of the classic confrontation between Lucy and Charlie Brown in her psychiatric office. The cel is on a print background for presentation proposes. This long sold out cel was limited to only 500 pieces and this is #256. Great images of Charles Schulz's famous duo at 4". The studio seal is on the cel and studio COA is included. The cel is hand-signed by director and studio head, the late Bill Melendez (1916 - 2008) in red marker. Plexiglas-front framed with a mat opening of 12" x 10". Fine condition. [View]( [Lady and the Tramp Production Cel (Walt Disney, 1955)]( Lady and the Tramp Production Cel (Walt Disney, 1955) How could anyone resist that charming "bad boy" Tramp from this classic Disney classic feature film? This is a hand-inked, hand-painted production cel of Tramp in a great, casual pose. The full-body image measures 6" x 3.75". The live-action model for Tramp was a dog that lived out the rest of his years at Disneyland's Pony Farm. Cel is matted with an opening size of 8.75" x 6.75" and framed with glass to 14.5" x 11.5". Fine condition. [View]( [Amazing Fantasy #15 (Marvel, 1962) CGC GD/VG 3.0 Off-white pages]( Amazing Fantasy #15 (Marvel, 1962) CGC GD/VG 3.0 Off-white pages This historic comic book features the origin and game-changing first appearance of Spider-Man, as well as the first appearances of his Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Jack Kirby and the recently deceased Steve Ditko provided cover and art. It currently ranks #1 on Overstreet's list of Top 50 Silver Age Comics. Overstreet 2018 GD 2.0 value = $8,000; VG 4.0 value = $16,000. CGC census 8/18: 212 in 3.0, 973 higher. [View]( [The Avengers #4 (Marvel, 1964) CGC VG+ 4.5 Cream to off-white pages]( The Avengers #4 (Marvel, 1964) CGC VG+ 4.5 Cream to off-white pages First Silver Age appearance of Captain America, who joins the Avengers. Jack Kirby cover and art. Sub-Mariner, Iron Man, Thor, Giant-Man, and Wasp appearances. Overstreet 2018 VG 4.0 value = $552. CGC census 8/18: 185 in 4.5, 1427 higher. [View]( [Eagle Comics #1 (Eagle, 1945) CBCS FN/VF 7.0 Off-white to white pages]( Eagle Comics #1 (Eagle, 1945) CBCS FN/VF 7.0 Off-white to white pages World War II cover by L. B. Cole. Overstreet 2018 FN 6.0 value = $252; VF 8.0 value = $538. [View]( [Green Lantern #34 Northland Pedigree (DC, 1965) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white to white pages]( Green Lantern #34 Northland Pedigree (DC, 1965) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white to white pages Hector Hammond appearance. Gil Kane cover and art. Overstreet 2018 NM- 9.2 value = $225. CGC census 8/18: 17 in 9.4, 3 higher. [View]( [Prize Comics #65 Mile High Pedigree (Prize, 1947) CGC VF+ 8.5 Off-white to white pages]( Prize Comics #65 Mile High Pedigree (Prize, 1947) CGC VF+ 8.5 Off-white to white pages Frankenstein cover by Dick Briefer. Overstreet 2018 VF 8.0 value = $256; VF/NM 9.0 value = $428. CGC census 8/18: 1 in 8.5, none higher. [View]( [Richie Rich #1 (Harvey, 1960) CGC VG- 3.5 Off-white to white pages]( Richie Rich #1 (Harvey, 1960) CGC VG- 3.5 Off-white to white pages Little Dot and Little Lotta backup stories. Warren Kremer cover and art. Overstreet 2018 VG 4.0 value = $634. CGC census 8/18: 10 in 3.5, 77 higher. [View]( Our MyHeritage: [MyBids]( feature makes tracking your favorite items easier than ever. Just a reminder...our Sunday Internet Comics, Animation, and Art Auctions end with a Live Session at 6:00 PM CT. [Browse the entire auction here](. [Back to Top](#top) []Russ Heath (1926 - 2018) [Russ Heath Comic] The legacy of Russ Heath is a treasure trove of art and stories as rich and diverse as the genres he worked in. From the rugged Wild West, to the battlefields of WWII...from the depths of the oceans, to the alien worlds in uncharted space... Russ Heath mastered all of these worlds and more. With so many genres to choose from, Heath rarely strayed into the world of superheroes, preferring real-world action. His first known published work was the story "War on the High Seas" featuring Hammerhead Hawley in Captain Aero Comics #8 in 1942. This was following by work for Timely/Marvel/Atlas on Western titles, anthology supernatural/horror/sci-fi titles, and an occasional turn on superhero stories - his first was a story featuring the Witness in Captain America Comics #71. He really hit his stride, however, and is best remembered for his DC contributions in the 1950s and 1960s. His and Joe Kubert's dynamic work essentially defined "the look" of DC's Big Five war titles. With writer and editor Robert Kanigher, Heath co-created one of the signature features of the Big Five - the Haunted Tank in 1961. His work in All-American Men of War inspired pop-artist Roy Lichtenstein to lift several individual panels, which Lichtenstein then used to create his pop-art masterpieces titled "Whaam!", "Blam", "Okay Hot-Shot, Okay!", and "Brattata". Sadly, Heath was not credited as the original artist/inspiration for those pieces, and neither he nor DC Comics were compensated for their use. Many comic fans agree that Heath's work on the 1960s DC series Sea Devils (which started as a three-issue tryout in Showcase) featured some of his best work. He again teamed with Kanigher on the series, one that allowed Heath to cut loose with a level of realistic pencil work and shading unmatched by other comics artists of the time. His mastery of texture, lighting, and perspective was on full display in the underwater scenes of this series. Russ was an avid scuba diver, for a time President of the Newark Skin Divers Club. Just as a Russ Heath front cover could sell a comic book (look at any of his Sea Devils issues), so too could a Russ Heath back cover sell toy soldiers! As a commercial artist, he was hired to produce the art for two iconic comic book ads which ran on many back covers from the 1960s into the 1970s. These were for the "132 Roman Soldiers" and the "204 Revolutionary War Soldiers" battle scenes. Anyone who is a comic fan of that era has seen those ads. In later years, he also assisted Harvey Kurtzman and Bill Elder with their "Little Annie Fanny" feature published in Playboy, residing at Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion, at that time still in Chicago, during the assignment. This led to the comical real-life story of Russ Heath's continuing to reside at the Mansion long after his work on Annie Fanny was completed, because no one ever asked him to leave...and in that circumstance, why would he? Over the years, he had worked on many comic strips as well, including Flash Gordon, The Lone Ranger, Treasury of Classic Tales (a Walt Disney strip), and ghosted on Terry and the Pirates briefly. His last comic book story work was for a flashback sequence in the highly regarded and critically acclaimed Immortal Iron Fist #20 from Marvel Comics in 2009. Noted television writer and producer Steve Kriozere was a close friend of Heath and relates that even with his recent deteriorating health, Russ maintained his sense of humor to the end. Just a few days before Russ' passing on August 23, Kriozere visited his friend. With two of Russ' daughters and a granddaughter also at his bedside, Russ was in and out of consciousness - mostly out - but came to briefly, looked up and said, "Don't try any funny stuff!" Russ Heath was 91. Illustration: detail from a Russ Heath Our Army at War cover recreation, done in 2010. From the Heritage Auction Archives. [Back to Top](#top) []The Ultimate Comic Book Fan? [Supersnipe Comics V4#7 Twilight Pedigree (Street & Smith, 1948) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white pages]( From 1942 until 1949, a comic book devoted to "Koppy McFad, the boy with the most comic books in the world" was published by Street & Smith. The title was Supersnipe, which was Koppy's imaginary superhero alter ego; in his imagination, Supersnipe fought crime alongside his pal Ulysses Q. Wacky, boy inventor and "genius unlimited." Supersnipe was the creation of George Marcoux, former art assistant on Percy Crosby's Skippy comic strip, and is considered the first comic book to deal with comics themselves within the stories. Supersnipe was one of the comics showcased in the classic 1969 fan anthology about comic books, All In Color For a Dime. We have a number of these unusual Golden Age comic books offered in this week's auction, so check 'em out! [Back to Top](#top) []Around Heritage Auctions [1909-11 T206 PSA Set Registry Catalog Auction]( Finest T206 Set Ever Assembled Could Crush World Records in Exclusive Heritage Auctions Sports Sale The most important trading card set of the long-reigning Tobacco Era will put its best foot forward in Heritage Auctions' special [1909-11 T206 PSA Set Registry Catalog Auction]( Sept. 20 on HA.com/Sports. Extended bidding drops the hammer on 520 cards comprising the "Number One All-Time T206 Set" on the Professional Sports Authenticator Registry. With dozens of individual cards already at the apex of population charts, the sale is likely to lock in multiple world records. "For hundreds of trading card collectors, this is the auction event of a lifetime," said Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Collectibles for Heritage. "This auction is the vault door swinging open to reveal treasures unavailable anywhere else on Earth." Of the 13 PSA Gem Mint 10 cards in the T206 population, nine appear within this remarkable sale, as do 116 of the 271 cards rated Mint 9. Only a single entry dips below NM 7. The [1909-11 T206 PSA Set Registry Catalog Auction]( is open for bidding and will close in extended bidding format at 10 p.m. CST Sept. 20. [More information about Sports Auctions]( [Back to Top](#top) []Cover of the Week: Fresh Fish, Anyone? That'll teach him! We love this classic "fish in face" cover by Jack Hearne.[Check it out here]( [Blue Bolt V9#5 (Novelty Press, 1948) Condition: VG-]( [Blue Bolt V9#5 (Novelty Press, 1948)](. [Back to Top](#top) []Current Auctions Comic & Comic Art Auctions [Sunday Internet Comics Auction]( [Sunday Comics]( September 2 Live session @ 6PM CT OTHER SIGNATURE AUCTIONS • [Online Prints & Multiples - August 30]( • [Long Beach Expo Currency - Sept. 5-11]( • [Long Beach Expo US Coins - Sept. 6-9]( • [Long Beach Expo World Currency - Sept. 6-10]( • [Long Beach Expo World & Ancient Coins - Sept. 6-11]( • [Fine & Decorative Asian Art - Sept. 11]( • [Rare Books & Maps - Sept. 13]( • [Fine & Rare Wine - Sept. 14-15]( • [1909-11 T206 PSA Set Registry Catalog - Sept. 20]( OTHER INTERNET AUCTIONS • [Thurs. World Coin - Aug. 30]( • [Thurs. Natural History - Aug. 30]( • [Sun. Movie Posters - Sept. 2]( • [Sun. Sports - Sept. 2]( • [Tues. Currency - Sept. 3]( • [Tues. Jewelry - Sept. 3]( • [Weekly US Coins - Sept. 4-5]( • [The Feeling Good Collection, Part I World and Ancient Coin - Sept. 30]( [Auction Schedule]( | [Order a Catalog]( [Back to Top](#top) [] DEPARTMENTS [Art & Antiques]( [Books]( [Coins]( [Comics]( [Currency]( [Domain Names & Intellectual Property]( [Entertainment & Music]( [Historical]( [Jewelry & Timepieces]( [Luxury Accessories]( [Movie Posters]( [Nature & Science]( [Real Estate]( [Sports]( [Stamps]( [Wine]( [Charity Auctions]( [] SERVICES [Free Auction Evaluation]( [Appraisal Services]( [Trusts and Estates]( [Auction Archives]( [Other Resources]( MY HERITAGE [My Bids]( [My TrackedLots]( [My Wantlist]( [My Profile]( [My Collection]( [My Consignments]( [My Orders]( [Consign Now]( [Lon Allen]( [1-800-872-6467 x1261](tel:1-800-872-6467) [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Google Plus]( [LinkedIn]( [YouTube]( [Blog]( Heritage Auctions / Bid@HA.com / 3500 Maple Ave / Dallas, Texas 75219 / [1-877-HERITAGE (437-4824)](tel:1-800-872-6467) • Copyright © 1999 - 2018 Heritage Capital Corporation / All Rights Reserved Note: When calling or emailing us, please reference your client number: 3434334 [Forward to a Friend]( [Unsubscribe me permanently from all marketing emails]( Never miss an email! Star [star] messages from Bid@HA.com in your Gmail inbox. refer: comic--news--tem083018