A Pile of Comic Books for a Unknown Artist’s Batman Painting – Who Got the Better Deal?

In 1962, Bill Steinfelt agreed to trade Mel Ramos a pile of old comic books for the painting above.

You’re probably thinking, man, I wonder what those comics would be worth today?  A lot, right?

Perhaps you should be thinking what that painting was worth.

The 1962 painting titled “A Sinister Figure Lurks in the Dark” was sold by Heritage Auctions in 2015.  It was bought by a Dallas collector who wishes to remain anonymous.  The winning bid was $173,000.

Mel Ramos created about 50 comic book and superhero paintings early in his career.  Bill Steinfelt was lucky to get one.