A small signed & numbered print of Dave Gibbons' "Whaat?"

Dave Gibbons created "Whaat?" in response to Roy Lichenstein's "Whaam!" (1963) that appropriated images by Irv Novick and Russ Heath without credit.

Gibbons piece includes "Original image created by Irv Novick appropriated by Dave Gibbons"

Paul Gravett:

It 's high time comics creators themselves re-appropriated Roy 's original sources and turned the spotlight back onto the brilliant, unsung illustrators who originated them. In that spirit, Dave Gibbons has responded to Sooke 's art-criticism that Lichtenstein 's re-mix was "more successful" than Novick 's original composition by making 'WHAAT? ', his own appropriation of the panel and replacing none of Novick 's original elements (above). Gibbons has also stayed true to the full original script in both caption and balloon, probably written by editor Robert Kanigher, and to the design and placement of letterer Gaspar Saladino 's lettering and sound effects. Gibbons wittily turns WHAAM! ' into ‘WHAAT? ' and the missing onomatopoeia of the missile firing, ‘WHOOSH! ', into the telling question, ‘WHOOSE? '. ‘WHAAT? ' even at this scale proves that there is every bit as much graphic power and compositional artistry in the source material. And do enlarge this masterpiece further and you 'll discover the real secret behind those red Benday dots.

In an email to me, Gibbons explains, “Glad you like my Novick re-purposing. I drew the piece in Adobe Illustrator using vectors, so it can be enlarged to any size and still stay pin-sharp. I intend to do a HUUGE stretched canvas version. The idea would be to present it in as much the same way as the Lichtenstein version as we could. I would then sell it and donate the profits to the Hero Initiative." The public get their first chance to see this one-and-only giant print of ‘WHAAT? ', when it goes on show on Saturday April 20th 2013 at Comica Festival 's day of events and exhibits at Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design near King 's Cross, London, displayed in The White Lab from 11am to 7pm, admission free. Gibbons also plans a signed, limited edition of smaller prints of this piece to raise funds.

Hero Initiative is an appropriate charity, as its proceeds go to help comics professionals who need financial assistance, often due to the shoddy work-for-hire contracts and lack of medical and other benefits typical of America 's comic-book corporate giants. As their mission statement explains: ‘Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays ' creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It 's a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment. '