Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest says ‘holy money’ after expert revealed the value of his Batman painting (marketrealist.com)
Holy high appraisal, Batman! A lucky “Antiques Roadshow” guest got a shock when his painting from the 1966 Batman movie was valued at a hefty $6,000 to $8,000—considerably more than the $1,000 he originally paid.
The painting, a rather racy reimagining of a scene from the Adam West film, caught the eye of appraiser Laura Wooley. While admitting the scene wasn’t quite so “debaucherous” in the original movie, Wooley praised the artist’s “artistic license” and the painting’s unique portrayal of the Caped Crusader and company enjoying some adult beverages and revelry.
Though unsigned, the piece is believed to be the work of Leslie Thomas, the artist behind the 1966 Batman series and film. Wooley noted the scarcity of Thomas’s work on the market and the growing collector interest in production art, suggesting the painting could even fetch more than the initial appraisal.
And it’s not just Batman making waves on “Antiques Roadshow.” In a previous episode, a guest brought in an incredibly rare Superman figure—one of only a handful known to exist.
The figure, believed to be a retailer incentive from DC Comics, left the expert visibly excited, barely containing his inner “superhero geek.” The guest was overwhelmed with emotion upon learning the figure could be worth $3,000 to $5,000 at auction, eager to share the good news with her family.
It seems the market for vintage superhero memorabilia is anything but kryptonite!