The Spider-Steve Collection: A Tribute to a Spider-Man Superfan
Spider-Man fans, get ready to be blown away by the Spider-Steve Collection, a one-of-a-kind collection of Spider-Man merchandise, comics, and original art that was recently offered at Heritage Auctions. The collection belonged to Steve Levine, a Los Angeles defense attorney and a true Spider-Man fanatic who passed away in February of last year.
A Labor of Love
Levine had been a luminary in the comic-collecting community, having devoted most of his life to collecting everything Spider-Man. The collection featured a wide range of items, including comics, toys, t-shirts, original art, and every book, magazine, advertisement, and product featuring the Spider-Man.
The collection was not only a treat for comic book enthusiasts but also for fans of Spider-Man costumes, as it included original artwork that inspired many of the iconic outfits worn by Peter Parker and his alter-ego Spider-Man.
They called him The Amazing Spider-Steve, this man who spent decades amassing what The Hollywood Reporter described as “perhaps the most unique Spider-Man collection in existence.”
Antique Trader
The auction featured 22 pieces from Levine’s assemblage, most of them original pages of comic-book art from 1965 to 2009 by the likes of Steve Ditko, John Romita Sr., John Buscema, and Todd McFarlane. Among the offerings was Page 18 from 1969’s Amazing Spider-Man No. 75, in which Spider-Man watches the vanishing of the villain called Silvermane, and Page 4 from Amazing Spider-Man No. 61, featuring a web-slinging Spider-Man over New York streets.
A Legacy Left Behind
Levine never intended to part with his collection; it was too much a labor of love to sell. However, after being diagnosed with cancer in November 2016, he attempted to auction off the collection to a single buyer to help his family financially in his absence. Levine’s oldest friend, Nick Segal, described the collection as “one of the most comprehensive and loved collections of all things Spider-Man.”
The Heritage Auctions event provided fans with a unique opportunity to own a piece of Spider-Man history and a piece of Peter Parkes’s outfits. The auction was a success, with many items selling for above their estimated value.
“I mean, it’s not like I didn’t have a life,” Levine said. “I did get married, had a career, had a daughter. But from 1998 until the present, I just always loved finding things that you just can’t find with Spider-Man. When I say everything, I kind of mean it.”
Levine
A Tribute to a Superfan
The Spider-Steve Collection was not just an auction, it was a tribute to a true Spider-Man fanatic who dedicated his life to collecting everything related to the beloved superhero. Levine’s collection was a testament to his love and passion for Spider-Man and it was an honor to be able to share it with other fans.
In conclusion, the Spider-Steve Collection was a one-of-a-kind event that offered fans a chance to own a piece of Spider-Man history and a piece of Peter Parkes’s outfits. It was a tribute to a true Spider-Man fanatic who dedicated his life to collecting everything related to the beloved superhero. The collection was a testament to his love and passion for Spider-Man, and it was an honor to be able to share it with other fans.
