The Gallery of Carl Choi :: Publisher Gallery: DC

Superman: A Friendship Unleashed #1 Cover

Artist: Travis Mercer (All)

7 Comments - 317 Views - 15 Likes

Superman: A Friendship Unleashed #1 Cover Comic Art

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Giant SDCC Billboard

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Artwork Details

Title:	Superman: A Friendship Unleashed #1 Cover
Artist:	Travis Mercer (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Cover
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	317
Likes on CAF:	15 16
Comments:	7
Added to Site:	8/13/2025
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Check out my personal story on this piece on Collector’s Christmas HERE!

James Gunn’s Superman was hands down one of my favorite movies this year. Leading up to the film’s release, Jim Lee’s New 52 Superman #1 cover came up on Heritage—but I slept through the auction. I was crushed. After my second viewing of the movie, I knew I had to add some Krypto art to my collection.

There were a few pieces available from a known dealer, but the “movie FOMO tax” was very real. After some serious thought, I passed.

One night, while browsing YouTube, I stumbled onto this book on Swagglehaus’s channel, where he called it “the hottest book in town.” I immediately reached out to the artist, Travis Mercer, and started a conversation. Because Travis drew the entire issue digitally, this cover is the only physical original comic art from the book.

I bought it directly from Travis with plans to pick it up at San Diego Comic-Con 2025. But a week before the con, I got an email from his rep saying the piece had been sold. I wasn’t thrilled, and our emails back and forth weren’t pretty. Eventually, the owner of the rep’s company stepped in, and the piece was set aside for me to pick up at their booth.

Any doubts about whether it was worth the fight disappeared when I walked into SDCC and saw a two-story billboard of the art at the DC Comics booth, just down the aisle. Maybe there were other reasons they didn’t want to let it go. Either way, what matters most is that it’s now in my hands, where it belongs.

Welcome home, puppy Krypto! 🐾

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About the Owner

	Carl Choi Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	June 2018
Last Login:	September 2025
Website:	http://247comics.com
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Justin Topages
Member Since 2015

1 - Posted on 8/13/2025

Wild story! I'm happy for you it ended up the way it did. Congratulations!

Fred's CAF Gallery
Member Since 2003

1 - Posted on 8/13/2025

WOW! This cover is Fantastic and fun! :-)

James Dornoff
Member Since 2019

1 - Posted on 8/13/2025

Some really great art of this era. Cheers on finding this right piece.

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 8/13/2025

What an ordeal! Don't they know who they are dealing with? You could have flamed those guys 24/7.

Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 8/13/2025

R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me!
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Take care, TCB, oh

Sock it to me! sock it to me! sock it to me! sock it to me!

Kavi H
Member Since 2018

1 - Posted on 8/14/2025

How dare they try to pull the rug under from Carl XXX Choi! ;-p

Glad the drama dissipated for you in that awkward situation and you came home from SDCC with this cover. It's a touching moment between humanity's protector and his best friend. And that sweet Metropolis city background behind them is the cherry on top. congrats dude!

Dave W
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 8/14/2025

Great cover, man's best friend applies to a (super)man! Congrats !

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