The market for original comic art is getting stronger by the day. What is especially invigorating is that collectors are starting to appreciate the work of artists who sometimes seem to be overlooked when talking about the greats.

"We have watched original art sales on eBay rise for several years now," said Mark Squirek, the Comic and Art Auction Manager for Diamond International Galleries. "As I talk to the collectors, I find that many of them are purchasing for the love of the art. They almost uniformly have an emotional or technical attachment to the work. We have had some significant sales to younger artists who look to Wunder or some one like Martin Branner, (who worked on Winnie Winkle for many years), as forgotten greats who were experts at combining an exciting story with highly stylized art. To be able to get their hands on affordable original art allows them to study the work in detail."

This week, Diamond International Galleries sold three original daily strips by longtime Terry and the Pirates artist George Wunder for $331.00. The three continuous strips represented the middle of an exciting story arc which found Terry going undercover as a cameraman. The strips were dated May 11, 12, and 13, 1972. This is a very solid price for the work of an artist who is quickly gaining a new reputation with collectors, George Wunder.

Terry and the Pirates is rightfully remembered as one of the greatest action dailies of all time. Created by Milton Caniff in 1936, the strip moved quickly and for many readers, opened up an entire world to them.

From its first appearance in a newspaper; the strip was a hit. In 1938 it quickly spawned a radio show and a movie serial in 1940. A master story-teller, Caniff stayed with the strip until 1946. He knew what the syndicate was making on the strip and wanted more of that money to come his way. Following the example of Roy Crane, who had left Wash Tubbs to create Buzz Sawyer, Caniff left Terry in the hands of the syndicate and went on to create an equally impressive classic, Steve Canyon.

Replacing Caniff on one of the country's most popular daily strips was a man named George Wunder. Taking Caniff's place was a near impossibility, but Wunder maintained the strip's popularity and ended up staying with it for over 20 years. The strip finally saw cancellation in 1973. By the very end of it's run, the strip was being mostly handled by Al Plastino, who is most noted for his work on Superman. The strip continued with Wunder's byline and it is believed that he supervised and approved every daily.

The three strips that sold showcase Wunder (and Plastino's) ability to create highly individualized and dramatic situations in a crowed scenario. The action is taking place in a forest and the artists clearly make you feel the claustrophobic atmosphere of the crowded woods.

Through the use of some very detailed close-ups, they take you right into the middle of the deception and intrigue. The last panel showcases a close-up of Terry as he is being summoned by the leader of the very group he is attempting to infiltrate. The look on his face is absolutely perfect. The strips are as cinematic as a comic strip can be. Together, the three strips are a classic example of a veteran artist and his assistant at the top of their game.

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