Al Feldstein’s New Exclusive Auction Deal

Famous EC/MAD Magazine Artist/Writer/Editor to Auction All Future Comics/SF-Related Works Through Heritage Comics Auctions

Paradise Valley, Montana – Al Feldstein, the legendary former Editor-in-chief of MAD Magazine during its prime years, has announced his intention to stop accepting commissions for his extremely popular and coveted comics-related paintings. These paintings include both cover re-creations and original comic and science fiction art pieces. “I’m getting more and more requests, but can only produce a handful of these paintings a year,” said Feldstein. “Comic book cover re-creations and science fiction paintings require a lot of time-consuming brushwork and attention to detail. So rather than trying to decide which commissions to accept and which to turn down, I will now be offering everything through Heritage Comics Auctions. That way, anyone who’s interested can have a fair chance to own one.”

John Petty, Heritage’s Director, negotiated the exclusive arrangement. “We are just delighted,” said Petty, “to be working with such a talent. Al is a living legend. What an honor to be chosen as his exclusive auctioneer!”

Heritage Comics is a division of Heritage Capital Corporation of Dallas, Texas, the world’s largest auctioneer of rare collectibles.

Born in New York City, Al Feldstein studied painting at the High School of Music and Art, and the Art Students League under a scholarship. After school and summers, he worked in a studio servicing the comic book industry. During World War ll, he was a Special Services artist. Upon his discharge, he returned to the comic book industry, packaging magazines for publishers.

At E.C. comics, (http://www.comic-art.com/bios-1/feldstn1.htm) he created, wrote, illustrated and edited a popular line of titles, which are now collector's items. These included horror such as Tales from the Crypt (which was adapted for TV by HBO), science-fiction and suspense, among others. In 1955, he became editor of MAD Magazine, one of E.C.'s titles. He took the magazine's circulation from 375,000 to a high of almost 3 million by gathering a staff of talented artist and writers; supervising every phase of its operation, editing and re-writing every word; designing layouts and creating the format that led to MAD's success, including adopting and christening its trademark, the freckle-faced, grinning Alfred E. Neuman.

In 1984, Al retired from MAD, and returned to his first love, painting. He later moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and spent three years painting the Tetons and their wildlife, placing two paintings in the Top 100 Arts for the Parks.

In 1992, he moved to Paradise Valley near Livingston, and now enjoys painting Montana's ranch life, its wildlife and its spectacular scenery.

In 1999, Al was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts degree by Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana, and again won a place in the Top 100 Arts for the Parks competition.

In 2000, he was invited to give the Commencement Address to the first graduation class of the new century at Rocky Mountain College.

Al had been represented by numerous galleries in the Northwest and he has participated in juried shows where his work has received many awards.

He says he is already “working like a demon” on his first Heritage consignment, a re-creation of his famous cover to Weird Fantasy #15, slated for Heritage’s December 6-8 Signature auction in Dallas.

Photo: http://www.heritagecomics.com/images/feldstein.jpg