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Hero Initiative Blank Variant Cvr ; White pages; SIGNED original SKETCH by CLIFF RATHBURN
Adlard art; 1st app. Negan & Lucille
Everyone that is a Walking Dead fan knows that issue #100 was a game-changer, the issue ushered in the legendary villain Negan and introduced his weapon, the barbed-wire wrapped baseball bat, Lucille, and let's just say, it was not a happy day in TWD land. This issue is considered a turning point in the storyline of the comic, as it was in the televised version as well. Before the book came out, creator Robert KIrkman warned his fans that it would be the goriest and most shocking issue of the series yet, which led to record breaking pre-sales and the highest amount of variant covers produced for the run, possibly of any comic ever made. Besides issue #1, this is probably the second-most important issue in the series. Which is saying a lot considering how many iconic moments and indelible images have been dumped into the collective pop culture consciousness of fans of this Modern Age classic.

This is a one of a Kind issue 100 Blank Variant with an original drawing by Cliff Rathburn (Not part of the Hero initiative). Cliff Rathburn is known for his work as the colorist and greyscales for the Walking Dead series.


History

In honor of the 100th issue of The Walking Dead comic book series, creator Robert Kirkman's company Skybound and The Hero Initiative group teamed up to release just over 100 blank-cover copies of the hundredth issue of The Walking Dead to various comic book artists and let them put their own designs on the blank covers.


The result was 105 unique designs for the 100th issue of The Walking Dead.


Each of these covers is an original, one-of-a-kind piece and were sold at auction to raise money for comic creators who had fallen on hard times.


In fact at the free-to-the-public gallery event to celebrate the success of the The Walking Dead franchise one cover was actually drawn live by artist Todd Nauck during the event. This last cover brings the total Walking Dead blank 100 cover designs to 106.



Blank Variant

In the course of events a few blank variants slipped through the net. There have been mixed reports about how many copies of this book actually exist and found their way out of Image and Hero Initiative hands --the official number is unknown, however it has been suggested that the number ranges anywhere from 5 to 25 copies - either way this piece is extremely rare - being one of those 5-25 copies.



This Copy

This copy started out as one of these 5-25 blank variants at which point an acquaintance of Cliff Rathburn's that lives nearby him in Vermont, USA commissioned him to sketch on it in his spare time last year. What makes this one so rare is that Cliff was not part of the original Hero Initiative Project.



However one important note is of the two artists on the 100th issue, only Adlard was part of the hero initiative and at auction that copy sold for $12,100. This copy here is not only one of the rare blanks but it has a wonderful sketch by Cliff Rathburn -- the other artist on the walking dead 100th series



These blanks because of their "unknown status" are not graded by CGC as they made a deal with Robert Kirkman that they would never grade another issue of this blank book except the ones for the Hero Initiative.



This book has been certified by PGX at 9.8 and is no doubt amongst the rarest and most desirable of walking dead memorabilia.
As a desirable object it is incredible. As an investment its potential is huge.

Artists Information

Charlie Adlard is a British comic book artist who has worked for several years in the industry with Marvel, DC and Image. Charlie's most notable works include Image comics the Walking Dead and Savage.

Penciller/Inker/Colorist and greyscales, noted for work on The Walking Dead