Johnson, Alex :: My Art Collection - Artists and the Characters I Associate with them

Batman - 30s and 40s by Sheldon Moldoff

Artist: Sheldon Moldoff (All)

19 Comments - 13,534 Views - 4 Likes

Batman - 30s and 40s by Sheldon Moldoff Comic Art

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Additional Images:

Detective Comics #31 by Bob Kane

Signature

Dedications

Detail - 1930s Batman

Detail - Castle

Detail - 1940s Batman

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Artwork Details

Title:	Batman - 30s and 40s by Sheldon Moldoff
Artist:	Sheldon Moldoff (All)
Media Type:	Paint - Watercolor
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	13,534
Likes on CAF:	4 5
Favorited on CAF:	3
Comments:	19
Added to Site:	12/25/2009
Comic Art Archive:

Description

My wonderful wife delivered the goods one more time.

This time it's The Batman by Sheldon Moldoff. The description read:

You are bidding on an extremely rare piece of Original Batman fully painted original art by Sheldon Shelly Moldoff. This amazing rendering of the caped crusader features both the 1930's and 1940's Batman. Art is signed by both the artist and his wife Shirley. This original art measures approx. 15" x 18" and is in great condition showing some very light edge wear. An excellent addition to any collection.

I've been considering getting a Moldoff piece for some time. I've always loved his Batman. I'd shown Kathy several such pieces and suggested a less expensive one so this came as a major surprise.

As you can see in the Additional Images, Mrs. Moldoff said that it's her favorite painting. I know that I certainly approve of it. :)

You will also notice that it is derived from the cover of Detective Comics #31 credited to Bob Kane. Shelly did the interiors.

Three more like this have turned up:

Jeff Singh had one which was very similar though he lacks the cool notes on the back. I believe that same piece came up for auction in May of 2020 on ComicConnect. That is the piece that I'm showing here.
Heritage Auction item which uses a different color scheme and has the Joker on the face of the moon. Pretty cool that.
Heritage Auction item which is very similar to mine, but with bright red instead of orange for the soil

Lee Johnson wrote on Facebook (no edits):
I was friends with Shelly and Shirley from the early 90s till the mid 2000's Shirley passed away in 2002.. I gave shelly the idea to actually have more stuff at shows back in 91 when I first met him he was sitting next to Marty and Carrie Nodell and I got to be friends with the Nodells as well. Back then Shelly really didnt have anything at cons he would sign stuff people brought up or do quick sketches on 3x5 cards or the more fancy pieces he would do overnight in his room.. and I told him he needed to have some pieces ready done at the shows for people to pick from.. I have 6 or 7 pieces by Shelly that were the originals to the pieces that he then lightboxed or changed out onto other pieces over the course of his con appearances during the 90s and 2000's Sadly after we lost touch his health went down and the last 2 times I saw Shelly he had no recollection of who I was any longer. Now the truth as mentioned is that these were all light boxed off masters and from what I was told his son Richard did most of the colors.. He did move things around and switch them up.. but they are all still very cool pieces of art and I am proud to have mine and to have been able to call Shelly a friend for the years that we were. will have to see if I can find pics of mine..

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About the Owner

	Alex Johnson Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	January 2006
Last Login:	September 2025
Ebay Id:	alxjhnsn
Website:	http://web.mac.com/alxjhnsn
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Alex's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF Read More About AlexJohnson

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Comments on this Artwork

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michael dunne
Member Since 2004

Posted on 12/25/2009

Alex as always you have a wonderful and generous wife.

There is something about the positioning of the cape that reminds me of the Dr Thomas Wayne costume party Batman story that I read in an early annual as a boy.

Congratulations on an incredible gift!!

Joseph Serpico
Member Since 2009

Posted on 12/28/2009

It's one of my favorite S.M. pieces. Represnts The Batman about as well as can be. And i love Shelly's style. Brings me back to the time when I was a kid. Congrats !

aric shapiro
Member Since 2006

Posted on 12/28/2009

just classic

Brian Boggs
Member Since 2003

Posted on 1/11/2010

They almost got this cloning thing down pat...any chance of duplicating your wife and sending me one? This art makes me feel like I just stepped back 70 or so years....CLASSIC!!!

Patrick Brooks
Member Since 2008

Posted on 1/18/2010

Alex. What a BEAUTY!!! Congrats to your wife and her great taste. =-)

Greg Gross
Member Since 2006

Posted on 2/3/2010

Tremendous piece! Congrats!

Mark Yanko
Member Since 2009

Posted on 2/19/2010

This piece is something special. I'd love to have a Moldoff Hawkman.

Anthony F
Member Since 2004

Posted on 5/5/2010

Great looking large art by the Golden and Silver age great

Adam Ianbarry
Member Since 2010

Posted on 12/8/2010

Bat-tastic!!!

Benno Rothschild
Member Since 2003

Posted on 12/15/2011

I saw a fair number of these Moldoff pieces and this is about as good as they get. Congrats!

Brian Jones
Member Since 2005

Posted on 3/4/2012

Fantastic piece! R.I.P. Shelly

steve staszower
Member Since 2005

Posted on 7/11/2012

What a fantastic gift - a gorgeous take on a classic cover.

Dimitrios Z
Member Since 2011

Posted on 6/17/2013

Nice classic image of Batman and great choice of colors. Well done by Sheldon.

Sean Rutan
Member Since 2012

Posted on 9/1/2013

One of the most criminally underrated and unsung artists in comic history. I'm glad this fantastic piece is in good hands!

Jean-Michel Anneau
Member Since 2008

Posted on 10/25/2013

So beautiful !!!!

Nicolaj Borch
Member Since 2012

Posted on 1/30/2014

An amazing piece!

Damon Wright
Member Since 2008

Posted on 12/30/2014

My favorite theme! And masterful, as expected from a master!

Bill J
Member Since 2009

Posted on 8/30/2020

Breathtaking! Splendid piece by the underrated Sheldon Moldoff! Brings back the good old days!

Ian Saint
Member Since 2021

Posted on 9/17/2023

I had to go out of my way from facebook to like this. I hadn't seen it before and it looks amazing. Great piece!

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