Superheroes take over Exeter!

A collection of signed limited edition artworks comprised of iconic Marvel comic book covers are available at Castle Fine Art, Exeter.

In its fourth release in collaboration with Choice Fine Art, Marvel’s fine art publisher, Washington Green has published six new images to join its bestselling ‘Superheroes’ portfolio. The new works pay tribute to some of Marvel’s most memorable characters; Captain America, Spider-Man, Thor, Iron Man, the X-Men and Wolverine – a character published as part of the series for the first time.

Each of the limited edition prints are hand signed by Stan Lee, 92, comic book writer, editor and former chairman of Marvel comics. Lee led the expansion of Marvel comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation during an era now referred to as The Marvel Revolution.

With comic archive Comichron estimating sales reached a new 20 year high in 2014[i], the demand for collector’s items and comic paraphernalia continues to grow. When Washington Green published its deluxe ‘Superheroes: Editions of 9’ collection earlier this year (March 2015) it became the company’s fastest selling series to date – some editions sold out in a record five minutes across its nationwide network of galleries; Castle Fine Art.

Ian Weatherby-Blythe, Managing Director for Washington Green Fine Art and Castle Fine Art, said: “With comic book sales increasing year on year, it’s no surprise that there is a growing appetite for our ‘Superheroes’ collection, which has proved our most popular series ever.

“There’s no doubt that Marvel has had a huge impact on popular culture over the last 50 years. Now people have a chance to own their own piece of history with six new works penned and inked by some of the greatest artists of the comic book industry published as limited edition pieces.”

Stan Lee is credited with introducing complex characters, which in a difference from the archetypal American superhero, had both light and dark qualities to their personalities. This type of characterisation and story-telling had rarely been seen in the industry before and Stan’s input – along with the skills of comic book artists such as Jack Kirby – has made Marvel one of the most popular and collected comic brands in the world today. In 1984, Stan Lee was awarded The National Medal of Arts by the United States Congress – the highest honour awarded to an individual artist in the United States.

Signed limited edition prints are available to buy at Castle Fine Art, Exeter, 18 Cathedral Yard, EX1 1HB and prices start from £695. Pieces can also be bought from Castle Fine Art’s network of high street stores across the UK or online: www.castlegalleries.com