The Abstract Expressionist
Over the course of just a few years in the mid-1980s, comic fans could do little but gape in wonder as Bill Sienkiewicz morphed from a Neal Adams disciple to one of the most original artists the medium has ever seen.
Starting out as the Moon Knight artist – an apt place for someone who drew like Neal Adams to begin his career – Sienkiewicz would soon become a tour de force, turning the moribund New Mutants into a must-read comic, working with greats like Frank Miller and later Neil Gaiman to produce some jaw-dropping works, and to this day, producing some of the most unique covers you’ll ever see in comics.
First Issue
Bill Sienkiewicz’s first published work was (naturally) the Moon Knight backup story in the pages of Hulk #13. Working with writer Doug Moench, the two would be the driving force that turned a throwaway character into one that would eventually arrive in the MCU. There are only 109 graded copies of Hulk #13 in the CGC census. The fact that it’s in magazine format and not comic book format causes many collectors to overlook it.
While 9.8 graded copies have risen steadily to the point where one sold for $2,000 in April 2022 – the last recorded sale – values drop considerably below that grade, with the current FMV for a 9.6 at just $124. The most recent sale was an 8.0 selling for $76 in a July 2 eBay auction.
Moon Knight
Moench and Sienkiewicz were soon promoted to a self-titled Moon Knight series beginning with Moon Knight #1. It was in the pages of this series that Sienkiewicz was first recognized by fans and where we witness tremendous growth in his abilities as an artist.
There are 11,355 graded copies of Moon Knight #1 in the CGC census, a book that exploded with the release of the Moon Knight series on Disney+. A comic that once sold for $2,150 in the 9.8 grade as recently as September 2022 now has a 30-day average of just $289, losing nearly 90% of its value in less than a year and serving as a cautionary tale. It remains, however, a fine example of the early work of Sienkiewicz.
We really see the blossoming of Sienkiewicz later in the Moon Knight series. Fine examples include Moon Knight #24, Moon Knight #25, Moon Knight #26, Moon Knight #29, and Moon Knight #30. Some, like Moon Knight #25 – the first appearance of Black Spectre – have fairly high census counts, 1,218 in particular for that issue. Others, like Moon Knight #26 are bordering on rare in terms of graded copies, with only 161. The 30-day value is the highest for this issue – currently at $270.
It’s a good issue to target if you can find it at a lower price. The crayon drawings Sienkiewicz uses on the cover and the interior allow the viewer to see things from a child’s point of view and really help to emphasize the tension and despair in the story.
Memorable Covers
As Sienkiewicz was winding up his run on Moon Knight, he began to produce a number of fully painted covers for Marvel comics that helped to improve sales on many of these books. One such example is Dazzler #33, the famous take on Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
While there are only 71 graded copies, that’s far more than we see for other issues in the series. The current FMV for a 9.8 stands at just $57.
A representative sampling of other amazing Sienkiewicz covers worth considering for your collection include ROM #52, Epic Illustrated #26, Transformers #1, and – his first major DC work – Batman #400. Although you really can't go wrong with any of his fully painted covers.
New Mutants
Bill Sienkiewicz teamed with Bill Claremont in an epic run that began with New Mutants #18. While Sienkiewicz had been offered Uncanny X-Men, he preferred to work on a series like New Mutants where expectations were lower, and he would be allowed more room to experiment. And boy did he experiment! Right from the start, you see a huge jump in his work as he adds collages, mimeographs, and even electrical wiring to his work.
A favorite of collectors since its release, there are 1,355 graded copies of New Mutants #18. Of course, the issue also marks the first appearance of fan-favorite, Warlock, which contributes to at least some of the copies sent in for grading. The 90-day average for a 9.8 is currently at $122, a fairly cheap price to pay for this classic.
Another issue from Sienkiewicz’s New Mutants run to consider is New Mutants #26. It’s the first appearance of Legion and the artist utilizes various fascinating techniques to illustrate the schizophrenic nature of the character, allowing the reader to visualize the feeling of multiple personalities in one mind.
There are 2,013 graded copies and the 30-day average price paid is $152, up a bit from the $120 90-day average.
Daredevil and Elektra
Sienkiewicz next teamed with Frank Miller for the remarkable one-two punch of Marvel Graphic Novel #24 (otherwise known as Daredevil: Love & War) and the limited series Elektra: Assassin. Both are visual powerhouses and showcase Sienkiewicz at the height of his craft. One look inside reveals an artist far more concerned with portraying an emotion or mood rather than just providing visuals to a script.
Graphic novels are often overlooked by collectors and that shows in the census count of only 61 copies for Marvel Graphic Novel #24. And while prices are often high for 9.8 graded copies - $336 paid in a December 2022 Heritage auction – grades 9.6 and lower can be found priced at less than $50.
We see far more graded copies for Elektra: Assassin #1, 787 in particular. Prices are down considerably for an issue that once approached $200 for a 9.8 grade. The most recent sale of a 9.8 was for $74 in a July 5 eBay auction. Not a bad price to pay for an amazing piece of comic art.
Stray Toasters
No look at Bill Sienkiewicz’s comic career would be complete without including Stray Toasters, a prestige format mini-series that he wrote and fully illustrated. It’s a bizarre story told as only Sienkiewicz can, at parts inscrutable and incomprehensible. Not necessarily a high point for comic fans, it’s still an amazingly beautiful piece of work. Best of all, it’s cheap.
There are only 16 graded copies of Stray Toasters #1, far less a testimonial of its rarity than a reflection of its lack of perceived value by collectors. The entire series can likely be found in cheap boxes at shops or shows and they’re definitely worth hunting down.
Sandman
Bill Sienkiewicz was one of the artists tapped by Neil Gaiman to illustrate one of the chapters in his 2003 graphic novel, Sandman: Endless Nights. Sienkiewicz was the perfect choice to illustrate the Delirium chapter of the novel. His work aptly displays the dreamlike qualities of this member of the Endless in a gleeful and trippy way that has to be seen to be believed.
Modern day graphic novels of this ilk are rarely included by collectors as part of their comic collection and are scarcely graded. It’s definitely worth reading, but, as it’s so easily purchased, not worth considering as an investment grade collectible.
Legacy
Bill Sienkiewicz is considered by many to be one of the top comic book artists currently active in the medium. He continues to provide brilliant covers – see Moon Knight: Black, White & Blood #1 and Riddler: Year One #1 as just a couple examples – although it’s become increasingly rare to see his work in the interior of a monthly comic.
He attended this year’s San Diego Comic Con and continues to sell amazing pieces of original art for top dollar as well as prints of his pieces that often go for hundreds. His artwork has been displayed in museums and he has been nominated for two Emmy awards for his work in animation. Most importantly, those who have followed in his footsteps by expanding comic illustration to include fine art techniques owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for paving the way.
Do you collect Bill Sienkiewicz’s works? What are some of your favorites?
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