ComicConnect has announced a record-breaking sale of original art by well respected Spanish comics creator Carlos Pacheco.. A collector paid $25,000 for a set of original concept art and preliminary sketches by Pacheco for 2012’s Captain America #25 – the comic that made history as Sam Wilson moved on from decades as the Falcon to take on the role of Captain America.

The sale was brokered by ComicConnect President Vincent Zurzolo and Original Art Consignment Director Micah Spivak even as Captain America: Brave New World hit theaters as the big screen adaptation of the pivotal Marvel Universe event. Pacheco was tasked with creating a new uniform for Captain America that included elements of the Falcon’s costume design, as the acclaimed artist paid tribute to the history of both beloved heroes.

“I mostly collect historical pieces, and I love the insight that this work gives into how Carlos Pacheco built the character,” buyer David Chao said. “So much of the tradition of the comic-making method is getting lost. It’s going digital, and things like coloring are being done more on computers. I’m hoping to someday collaborate on a museum wing that will preserve this kind of work, and people can see the paste-up and the Zip-a-Tone being applied. Otherwise, it’s going to become a lost art.”

The innovative work was another career highlight for Pacheco, with the innovative artist already an industry favorite for his dynamic work depicting the X-Men, Superman, Batman, and assorted Avengers. Pacheco passed away at 60 years old in 2022, just weeks after announcing he’d been diagnosed with ALS. Alejandro Pacheco worked with ComicConnect in arranging the sale of his father’s work from Captain America #25.

“The idea of honoring my father’s legacy came to me a few months before meeting Vincent and his team,” Alejandro said. “When Captain America: Brave New World was released, Vincent reached out to ask if I had any material related to my father’s work on Falcon becoming the new Captain America. My father was incredibly proud of being the artist responsible for giving the Falcon his new powers. We were fortunate enough to track down the original sketches for the Falcon design, and seeing them – both from a fan’s perspective and as a son – was an incredible experience.”

Pacheco’s own enduring legacy was recently celebrated with the March 2025 opening of a permanent exhibition of his work at the San Roque Contemporary Art Center in Spain. Alejandro has donated 371 works by his father that will be part of a rotating display titled, When Dreams Come True.

“ComicConnect handles millions of dollars in private sales every year,” Zurzolo said. “It’s always gratifying to bring together a serious collector and a seller who wants to know that this art will be carefully preserved. We’ve enjoyed over 25 years of getting to know a range of buyers and investors, but this is the kind of sale that gets to the heart of being a comics fan!”