Famous Funnies #214 (Eastern Color, 1954)

One of the greatest comic book covers of all time makes its very first appearance at auction! It's not an exaggeration to say that the series of eight Buck Rogers covers Frank Frazetta created for Famous Funnies from 1953-1955 represent the ultimate pen and ink expression of the legendary artist's mature style -- an approach to comic and fantasy/science fiction art that completely shattered the possibilities of artistic expression in the field.
This is one of the most striking from that string of covers -- and the favorite of many collectors -- which is saying a lot, as every single one of those issues had a banger of a cover! But the sweeping vista, with the incredible detail and dynamic tension on this work, make it instantly memorable. The comic book itself is highly sought by collectors and commands a substantial premium because of this classic cover alone. In fact, this artwork is one of the greatest comic book cover originals known to exist, much less to appear on the market, as well as one of the most stunning single images ever created from the history of comics. Unlike the majority of the Famous Funnies covers, Frazetta himself proudly kept this original in his collection his entire life, obviously viewing it as something very special, and is known to have stated that he'd never part with it, even for multiples of what his major paintings were selling for at the time.
Such an iconic science fiction image has undoubtedly been a huge influence on popular culture approaches to outer space in subsequent decades -- notably in as hugely important a film as Star Wars. It has been reprinted many times, used in portfolios and on posters, and the incredibly dynamic composition is so widely known it has inspired scores of homages. The mastery on all levels is breathtaking to behold, with Frazetta's unparalleled pen and ink detail accentuated by the greatest use of CrafTint effects we've ever seen.