Heritage Goes Underground!

DALLAS, TEXAS: In response to growing interest from fans and collectors, Heritage Comics Auctions (HCA) is moving rapidly into the field of underground art and comics.

“This is a move whose time has come,” says John Petty, HCA’s Director of Auctions. “We’ve been successful over the past year with the limited amount of underground material we’ve offered, and I’m excited about moving more aggressively into this fascinating area of comics history.”

“Underground” comics, first published in the early 1960s, were alternative comics that dealt with themes such as sex, drugs and politics that mainstream publishers either couldn’t, or wouldn’t, touch. Many significant comic artists, such as Robert Crumb, Gilbert Shelton and Vaughn Bode, artists who still have an important presence in the industry, got their start in undergrounds.

Assisting Heritage in this effort is Jim Pitts, former owner and proprietor of Collector’s Corner in Menlo Park, California, and current publisher of Hippy Comix. “I’m pleased to have the opportunity to bring undergrounds to a larger audience,: Pitts said. “Heritage has proven themselves in the collectibles field, and this seems like a natural growth area for them.”

Starting with HCA’s December 6-7 auction, Pitts will begin acquiring consignments of underground comics and art. “We’re starting off with a strong initial offering, including art by Robert Crumb, Larry Welz, and Vaughn Bode,” Pitts continued. “We’ve also got some really cool books, like a first printing of Cherry Poptart, a great batch of comics from Larry Todd, including the incredibly hard to find Dr. Atomic’s Pipe and Dope Book, a copy of the controversial LCD #0 by Kieron Dwyer (the comic that sparked a lawsuit by Starbucks), and a rare copy of the tabloid version of Air Pirates Funnies #1. All in all, this is a great start to what we all think will be an exciting new avenue for Heritage.”

Potential consignors of underground material are invited to contact Jim Pitts at jpitts@HeritageComics.com.

HCA specializes in rare, high-grade comic books, as well as vintage comic and animation art, illustration art, movie posters and comics-related collectibles.

Prospective consignors and sellers of top-end comics material and original art are invited to call Ed Jaster at 214-252-4288 or John Petty at 214-252-4392 to discuss their rare comics and original illustration and comic art. Or visit http://www.HeritageComics.com and click on the “consign” tab. Or simply email EdJ@HeritageComics.com or JPetty@HeritageComics.com

Movie poster consignors, please call Grey Smith at 214-668-6928 or email GreySm@HeritageMoviePosters.com

To order the next three sale catalogs, visit Heritage’s website to pay by credit card, or send a check or money order payable to Heritage Comics in the amount of $100 (a fraction of Heritage’s actual cost-to-produce the catalogs, and your $100 is fully refundable with any purchase) to:
Norma Pedrero, c/o Heritage Comics, 100 Highland Park Village, 2nd Floor, Dallas, TX 75205.