Jean-Michel Basquiat's fascination with comic book heroes is a recurring theme throughout his art, with characters such as Batman, the Joker, Superman, Thor, and Captain America featuring prominently alongside his signature text and expressive marks.
In a 1983 interview with Andy Warhol's Interview magazine, art critic Henry Geldzahler inquired about Basquiat's early drawing subjects. Basquiat's response was unexpectedly candid: "As a kid, I was a really terrible artist. Too much like an abstract expressionist...very messy. I never won any painting contests. I remember being beaten by someone who did a flawless Spider-Man."
When questioned about his satisfaction with his art during childhood, Basquiat admitted, "No, not at all. I always wanted to be the top artist in my class, but my work always came out looking quite rough." It's possible that this ambition drove him to produce works like the Superhero Portfolio. This collection contains a sense of nostalgia across four screenprints: Riddle Me This, A Panel of Experts, Piano Lesson, and Flash In Naples.
Each piece by Jean-Michel Basquiat is akin to a riddle, and the Superhero Portfolio is no different. Within these four artworks, one can find allusions to Saturday morning cartoons, corn puffs, the bat symbol, and a cartoonish depiction of alcohol marked with "XXX." And that's just the beginning—there are always more symbols and connections to uncover, such as why the Riddler is depicted standing on a snake.
The Superhero Portfolio, comprising Riddle Me This, A Panel of Experts, Piano Lesson, and Flash In Naples (1982-87/2022), is a collection of four screenprints published by Pace Prints. Limited to an edition of 85, each piece is stamped and signed by Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Heriveaux, the artist's sisters and executors of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat.