are artwork and memorabilia from the collection of Hollywood director Frank Darabont will be offered for sale at Profiles in History later this month.
The dedicated auction will feature original comic book and illustration art by the likes of Bernie Wrightson, Mike Mignola and Will Eisner, along with rare vintage movie posters and sculptures of famous cinematic monsters.
Darabont began his move career as a screenwriter in the 1980s, before adapting and directing the Stephen King story The Shawshank Redemption, now ranked by critics and audiences as one of the greatest films of all-time.
He then directed two further King adaptations, The Green Mile and The Mist, and more recently developed and executive-produced the first season of the hit U.S TV show The Walking Dead, having first discovered Robert Kirkman’s source material through his passion for comic books.
In his introduction to the auction catalogue, Darabont writes:
"…here’s one thing I always knew: This amazing art wouldn’t be mine forever. It couldn’t be. We don’t own these things. We can only be their caretakers for a time, enjoying them as much as possible until inevitably they must pass on to the next caretaker.
"I will be ever grateful for the joy these wonderful pieces of art have brought me. I can only hope that they will bring their next caretakers (and all caretakers after that, ad infinitum) equal or greater joy."
Amongst the top lots are several original illustrations by Bernie Wrighton, the celebrated comic book and horror artist renowned as the co-creator of Swamp Thing. These include the original cover artwork for Swamp Thing #4, estimated at $60,000 – $80,000; the cover of House of Mystery #214, valued at $40,000 – $50,000; and several original plates from ‘Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein’, described as "one of the finest illustrated books of the 20th century".
Darabont’s collection of vintage movie posters includes a poster for the 1941 Italian release of Frankenstein, believed to be the only surviving example, estimated at $40,000 – $60,000; and a 1946 poster for the French release of The Maltese Falcon, valued at $15,000 – $20,000.
Further highlights from the collection include original Spider-Man art by John Romita, a Golden Age cover by Jack Kirby, horror and fantasy artwork by Richard Corben, rare bronze sculptures by animation legend Ray Harryhausen, and important original paintings by Frank Frazetta.
The Frank Darabont Collection sale takes place at Profiles in History in Calabasas, California on July 30.
