Heritage Auctions :: 7342 Signature Comic Art Auction November 16 -19, 2023

Comics Interview #31 (David Anthony Kraft, 1986)

Artist: Frank Miller (All)

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Comics Interview #31 (David Anthony Kraft, 1986) Comic Art

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Artwork Details

Title:	Comics Interview #31 (David Anthony Kraft, 1986)
Artist:	Frank Miller (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Cover
For Sale Status:	Auction (2023 Nov 16-19)
Views:	329
Likes on CAF:	1 2
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	11/9/2023
Comic Art Archive:

Description

One of the world's earliest looks at Frank Miller's dark and gritty story that redefined the Dark Knight Detective for an entirely new generation! And not only is this one of the first published images of Miller's legendary creation -- pre-dating Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 -- but it's also one of the single most iconic!
In 1986, the entire comics industry had its eyes on Batman. Frank Miller's look at the hero's futuristic retirement years was doing what DC had tried to do for many years... erasing the taste of camp and comedy that had developed around Batman over the years. Starting with his many battles with bug-eyed-aliens in the 1950s, to the "Biff! Bam! Pow!" camp of the Batman TV series in the 1960s, and even into the "guest-starring on Scooby Doo" 1970s Super Friends era... it was hard for the public to take Batman seriously. Frank Miller restored that dark edge to the franchise and single-handedly made comic book bad guys afraid of "The Bat" again. This darker vision of the caped crusader ultimately led to the Batman movie franchise.
So it's no surprise that when this cover art hit the stands in February of 1986 for David Anthony Kraft's Comics Interview #31 it was eagerly snatched up by fans who were both blown away and desperately wanting to know more. The harsh lighting and stark shadows of the bounding duo made the work seemingly leap off the page! As Miller previewed an entirely new world, he also painstakingly crafted a beautifully composed and powerful image, very much like the one published in the full-page splash on Page 9 of Issue #3 (Hunt The Dark Knight). In short, this is one of the most iconic images to ever come on the comic art market.
And this all-new Robin was capturing fan attention as well. In the main DCU books, Dick Grayson had already become Nightwing, and his replacement-Robin, Jason Todd, was currently appearing in the books. So readers eagerly wanted to know details on this new, female Robin (Carrie Kelley), a hugely popular character in her own right!
Frank Miller's Dark Knight original artwork has long been seen as the pinnacle of the comic collecting world, and one would be hard-pressed to come up with a more perfect single image. Heritage is extremely proud to have been entrusted to auction this treasure by both Miller and the estate of comics writer and publisher David Anthony Kraft.

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Joined:	March 2020
Last Login:	September 2025
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Country:	UNITED STATES
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