About the item:
The artwork of TSR captured the imaginations of an entire generation of Role Playing Gamers and fantasy art enthusias dramatically, with artists such as Larry Elmore, Clyde Caldwell, Jeff Easley, and Brom, among others, creating truly iconic images. The artwork graced the covers of not only books such as the Monster Manual, Players Handbook, and Unearthed Arcana, but modules, boxed sets, and Dragon Magazine as well. The art served as a hook to grab the attention of new players and also provided RPG’ers with a rich visual tapestry as the backdrop to their adventures into the realms of Dungeons and Dragons. So it only made sense that the game would be adapted into the graphic medium of comic books.
Thus in the late 1980’s TSR licensed DC Comics to produce comics based on several of the games fantasy settings. In all, DC produced four ongoing series’, launching in 1988 with Dragonlance (August) and Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (September). They were later followed by Forgotten Realms (September, 1989) and Spelljammer (September, 1990). The AD&D title lasted the longest, concluding with issue #36 in December of 1991.
This page, from the only annual produced for the series (released in September of 1990) features pencils by comics legend and Eisner Award winner Jan Duursema, (Star Wars, Warlord, Airon, Hawkman, X-Men, Hulk, X-Factor, etc.) and inks by her husband, Tom Mandrake (best known for Batman, Firestorm, and The Spectre). The series of stories focused on three of the main characters from the regular series, Timoth Eyesbright (a centaur), Onyx (a dwarf) and Vajra Valmeyjar, (a human female warrior). This page is a flashback from Vajra's earlier time as a slave. The page measures approximately 11 by 17 inches, is in excellent condition and will be s hipped with the utmost care. It is also signed by Duursema and Mandrake. Please note- this is an actual, original piece of artwork pencilled by Jan Duursema and inked by Mandrake. It is not a copy, print or pre-printed image. It is a one-of-a-kind original! The issue cover and the final, colorized page as it appears in the comic are shown for reference. But please note that the comic itself is not included in with the listing. The listing is for the original artwork only.
Certificate of Authenticity/Provenance:
Excepting pack-pulled autograph trading cards, CGC Signature Series, signed Sideshow prints, and like collectibles, all autographed items Vault Collectibles sells were personally witnessed, by myself, being signed by the writer, artist, or celebrity in question. No third party is involved. Further, art sketches - and most published original art I sell - were obtained directly from the artist themselves.
For buyers desiring this guarantee in written form, this statement guarantees that the above-referenced item is as stated in the listing description. A screen capture of the completed auction page, which includes this statement of provenance, may be saved by the buyer as a digital file or print off in hardcopy form. As this serves as written proof of said guarantee, no physical documentation will be included in the package when the item is mailed.
J. Brian O’Bryant
VaultCollectibles
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