Just sold at auction!
I love little tidbits like this: John Romita’s preliminary cover for 1976’s trade collection Bring on the Bad Guys: Origins of the Marvel Comics Villains was sold through Heritage Auctions this week for a relative song: $780, including buyer’s premium. Nice.
But the fact that it was up for sale is secondary to just how plain groovy the image is:
Sure, it’s incomplete but the layout and use of color make this a piece of artwork in its own right. (Let’s not get into the whole “By Stan Lee” rigamarole here. Let’s just focus on the pretty.)
Here’s the official auction description: “John Romita Sr. Bring on the Bad Guys Preliminary Cover Sketch Original Art (1976). Incredible alternative cover preliminary by John Romita Sr. for the titanic tome Bring on the Bad Guys. The art is a photostat colored in mixed media. The image area measures 7.75″ x 10″. In Very Good condition.”
Nevertheless, Stan (or somebody) decided things should go in a different direction because the illustration bears little resemblance to the final cover, save for the choice of villains depicted:
Can’t lose either way.
And, hey, since Simon & Schuster is releasing a 50th anniversary edition of Origins of Marvel Comics this year, including a deluxe version, perhaps we’ll get similar treatment of this one in 2026. It would be groovy if this sketch (and/or others) were included.
Evil fingers crossed.
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MORE
— ORIGINS OF MARVEL COMICS to Get 50th Anniversary Re-Release — Including a DELUXE EDITION. Click here.
— ALEX ROSS’ MARVEL SUPER VILLAINS to Get 2025 Calendar. Click here.
