News Digging > Culture > Liefeld’s Original Deadpool Concept Art Heads to Auction for the First Time
Liefeld’s Original Deadpool Concept Art Heads to Auction for the First Time
Liefeld's Original Deadpool Concept Art Heads to Auction for the First Time,Original concept art by Rob Liefeld for 1991's New Mutants #98, which marks the first appearance of Deadpool, heads to auction for the first time.

Liefeld’s Original Deadpool Concept Art Heads to Auction for the First Time

Rob Liefeld's original concept artwork for New Mutants #98, the issue that contains Deadpool's first appearance in the Marvel Universe, is headed to auction.

Heritage Auctions will sell ultra-rare New Mutants #98 sketches, which star Wade Wilson/Deadpool and Cable/Nathan Summers and come straight from Liefeld's personal art collection, at the Nov. 17-18 Comics & Comic Art Signature® Auction. According to Heritage Auctions, the sketches are the first drawings of Deadpool ever made apart from early character sheets Liefeld created before determining Deadpool's final look. "Rob is unquestionably one of the most influential artists of a generation," said Joe Mannarino, Heritage Auctions' New York-based director of comics and comic art. "It’s rare to have the first concept of a character that so perfectly captures the imagination of an audience, both in comics and in film – to the point where you have successful and anticipated sequels, which is no sure thing. We are very appreciative that Rob has given us this extraordinary opportunity to offer this fantastic and historic piece. Everyone at Heritage is, of course, thrilled, and we are looking forward to great results."

CBR VIDEO OF THE DAY 2 Images

Close

Liefeld on Deadpool's Legacy at Marvel

Liefeld said about the artwork, "These pages represent the literal birth of Deadpool at Marvel Comics. In ink, on paper, this is Stage One! It’s the launch pad! Nothing exists without these sketches in any stage of my work – ever. Collectors have been pursuing these pages for years, as Deadpool continues to grow in global popularity. Given the fact that early Deadpool art is so scarce, I’m happy to share them now through Heritage and see where they find a new home."

New Mutants #98 released in 1991 from Liefeld, Fabian Nicieza, Steve Buccellato and Joe Rosen. The synopsis for the issue reads, "Introducing for the first time, the Merc With a Mouth, the extra-lethal Deadpool! Plus, this issue also contains the first appearance of Domino!" Following his appearance in New Mutants #98, Deadpool returned just a few months later in 1991's X-Force #2 by Liefeld, Nicieza, Brad Vancata and Virtual Calligr before appearing in numerous other titles, solo series, tie-ins and more. Ryan Reynolds portrayed the character in live-action format in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, 2016's Deadpool and 2018's Deadpool 2, which also marked the first on-screen live-action appearances of Cable (played by Josh Brolin) and Domino (played by Zazie Beetz). Reynolds will portray the Merc with a Mouth a fourth time in 2024's Deadpool 3, which will also co-star Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.

For more information, visit Heritage Auctions' website.

Source: Heritage Auctions