Hake’s to Auction Milestone Original Art, Color Guides

Milestone Media was formed by comic book industry veterans Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, and Michael Davis, and business executive Derek T. Dingle to increase minority representation in comic books. The company arranged a relatively unique deal through which their comics would be published by DC Comics with Milestone retaining full editorial control over the content.

In what would later be dubbed the “Dakotaverse,” the main action was set in the fictional midwestern city of Dakota based on an extensive story bible created by McDuffie with character designs by Cowan. The precipitating event for the arrival of most of the super-powered individuals in Dakota was “The Big Bang,” a conflict between rival gangs in which the authorities intervened and used a dangerous gas to control the situation. The unintended consequences were many dead and some transformed. The survivors who manifested powers, “Bang Babies,” were not always clearly cut good guys or bad guys.

Milestone original art and color guides featuring prominent characters from Milestone Media are listed in Hake’s Auction #241, which is now open for bids.

Leading the pack is Walt Simonson’s Shadow Cabinet #0 original cover, for the issue that served as the conclusion of the Shadow War crossover event. It also marks the first full appearance of the Shadow Cabinet with Hardware, Xombi, Iron Butterfly, Icon and Rocket, Static, and Blitzen ready for action. Simonson original art rarely comes to market, making this a great opportunity for Simonson and Milestone fans.

The Milestone Comics PREVIEWS catalog original cover penciled by Denys Cowan and inked by Jimmy Palmiotti from December 1992 served as an introduction for many fans to the Milestone characters. The artwork features the main Milestone characters with Rocket, Icon, Hardware, and Static in the forefront, surrounded by Blood Syndicate’s Wise Son, Tech-9, Aquamaria, Holocaust, and DMZ.

Denys Cowan’s Icon/Paragon Comics Buyer’s Guide #990 original cover is a large splash panel of Icon accompanied by a portrait of his human alter ego Augustus Freeman IV. Of special note, Icon was referred to as “Paragon” on the published piece because his name had not been finalized yet. The splash is one of three that Cowan created for the cover of Comics Buyer’s Guide (the other two were Hardware and Static).

Icon #1 cover original color art by Noelle Giddings made for the direct variant cover features watercolor paper, watercolor dyes, paint, and color pencils. Denys Cowan and Jimmy Palmiotti provided the line art, then Giddings – who was Milestone Color Editor – hand-painted the cover.

There are multiple other Milestone original color covers by Giddings in the auction, including Shadow Cabinet #0, Static #3, #5, and #17, Blood Syndicate #7, #10, and #18, Hardware #3, #11, and #25, and Icon #9 and #11.

Hake’s premier Auction #241 runs through Tuesday and Wednesday, July 30-31, 2024.