The original cover of Deadpool’s first release would set a world record for comic book art if it reaches the asking price of $7.5 million.

The image from New Mutants No. 98 is being sold online by Heritage Auctions.

The image was drawn in pencil by the then 23-year-old artist Rob Liefeld and was intended to replace Action Comics No. 1, the first appearance of Superman, as the most valuable comic book ever sold.

A copy of this magazine fetched $6 million at auction (also through Heritage) earlier this year.

Liefeld sold the cover image, which appeared in February 1991, and does not regret it.

“Back then, selling artwork was part of my source of income,” he told Reuters. “I sold it 25 years ago. I have no regrets.”

The complete cover of Deadpool’s 1991 debut film is worth $7.5 million today. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

The owner is said to be a well-known comic collector.

Deadpool is the alter ego of Wade Wilson in the Marvel series. On screen, he was played by Ryan Reynolds.

He can currently be seen in the hit films Deadpool and Wolverine, so this is a good time to sell this unique piece of art.

“New Mutants #98” is currently trading for hundreds or even tens of thousands of dollars; a copy is being offered on eBay for $55,000.

The 10 x 15-inch illustration – which also features the characters Domino and Gideon – is signed by Liefeld and is in “excellent” condition, according to Heritage.

Bids can now be submitted.

Comic art is a growing collector’s market, as Liefeld told Reuters: “Nobody (selling original art) has seen anywhere near the numbers we’ve seen in the last five, six years, because the art market has exploded in the last five, six years.”

He added that the owner of the Deadpool cover had turned down several “seven-figure” bids for the piece. Will he now cash in on it and collect a world-record fee?