"DRAG CARTOONS" #25 COMIC MAGAZINE COMPLETE WONDER WART-HOG STORY ORIGINAL ART BY GILBERT SHELTON.
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Winning Bid:
$3,374.80 (Includes 18% Buyer's Premium)
Bids:
9
Bidding Ended:
Thursday, September 24, 2020 9:00:00 PM (20 Minute Clock Begins At Thursday, September 24, 2020 9:00:00 PM)
Time Left:
Ended
Auction:
Auction #230 Part II
Value Code:
L - $2,000 to $5,000 Help Icon
Item Description
Complete, six-page story on 16x22-1/8" sheets of art paper was published in "Drag Cartoons" #26 in March 1966. Original pen and ink art by Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers creator Gilbert Shelton features another of his Underground Comix creations - Wonder Wart-Hog, a porcine parody of Superman,first published in 1962. Story features dragstrip boss issuing ultimatum to organizer to pull publicity stunt to attract spectators or lose his job. Happening upon a discarded "Wonder Wart-Hog Comics" comic book, he has an idea and invites Wonder Wart-Hog to drive a drag racer. Upon the announcement, hordes of fans show up, looking for the superhero, calmly observed by Wonder Wart-Hog's mild-mannered reporter alter-ego Philbert DeSanex at top of third page. Various other drag stunts and gimmicks are featured (including a thinly-disguised Munsters knock-off). Flunky the race organizer dons Wonder Wart-Hog costume on fourth page and announces that the character has arrived (much to DeSanex's confusion) and jumps into stolen drag racer and takes off w/the track's gate receipts. DeSanex is prompted into action, changing into his Wonder Wart-Hog persona, only for the crowd to demand he prove himself, which he does by ripping police car body apart to make custom, foot-powered racer, guzzling fuel and taking off in a chase after the imposter. He catches the imposter and decides to keep the gate receipts as a prize and resolves to buy himself another tank of fuel as a treat, belching as he walks off. Five of six pages feature Wonder Wart-Hog or his alter-ego, w/last two pages featuring him in every panel. Pages have moderate wear along left margins w/small tears/chips and 1.5" tear at upper left of last page. Paper has aged and is VG/Fine overall while art remains clean for the most part and would display VF if matted and framed. This was the first time Wonder Wart-Hog was published in "Drag Cartoons" and is one of the earliest complete stories to come to auction. Comes w/reading copy of magazine this art appeared in.
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