Gauntlet Gallery
What is D*Face’s piece called “Panic Now”
Summary
A faux vintage comic-book cover in which a classic red-and-blue Spider-Man cowers, hand to his masked face, before D*Face's winged 'D*Dog' skull-creature looming out of a brick-wall panel; the masthead reads "D*Face Presents: Panic In The Streets!" with a "Free!" starburst and a "50th Year Anniversary Edition" banner over a spilled trash can. It is a representative example of D*Face's habit of hijacking Silver Age superhero and romance-comic iconography to stage his own grinning-skull motifs.
Why It Matters
The print distills D*Face's central strategy: appropriating the visual grammar of mid-century American comics — the Marvel masthead, the heroic pose, the halftone-flat color and bold inks — and corrupting it with his own death's-head 'D*Dog'. Casting Spider-Man as a terrified bystander rather than a savior turns a 50th-anniversary tribute into a comment on the collapse of pop-culture heroism and the manufactured anxiety ("Panic") sold by mass media. It sits firmly in his Pop Provocation work, where reverence for comic nostalgia and satire of consumer fear share the same frame.
Collector Perspective
With an edition of 76, this is a genuinely small print run for a hand-pulled screen print, scarcer than many of D*Face's larger pop editions. The overt Spider-Man/Marvel appropriation gives it crossover appeal to comic and pop-culture buyers as well as core urban-art collectors, which supports demand, though the same licensed imagery can make it a "love it or skip it" piece rather than a universal flagship. As a recognizable 'D*Dog' work on a famous superhero, it holds a solid mid-tier position in his market; condition, full margins and an intact signature/number will drive the realized price.
Historical Context
Made in 2010, during D*Face's Pop Provocation period when he was actively mining Silver Age Marvel and DC source material. The "50th Year Anniversary Edition" banner and Spider-Man framing nod to the era's comic-anniversary culture, while the layout faithfully mimics a 1960s newsstand cover — masthead, cover price gag, and cover-line typography — before subverting it with the winged-eye skull. It belongs to the broader 2000s-2010s wave of street-to-gallery artists (alongside StolenSpace, the gallery D*Face co-founded) reworking commercial and comic imagery as fine-art editions.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
A parody comic-book cover titled 'Panic In The Streets!' in which a classic Spider-Man cowers in fear before D*Face's winged skull character, the 'D*Dog', set against a brick wall with a spilled trash can and a '50th Year Anniversary Edition' banner.
What is the edition size?
The edition is limited to 76.
What medium is it?
It is a hand-pulled screen print, produced in 2010.
Is it signed and numbered?
D*Face limited-edition prints are typically hand-signed and numbered by the artist; for this specific impression that detail should be confirmed against the actual sheet.
Who is D*Face?
D*Face is British street artist Dean Stockton (b.1978, London), a pop-art provocateur known for defacing comic, advertising and celebrity imagery with his winged-eyed 'D*Dog' and grinning-skull motifs, and co-founder of London's StolenSpace gallery.
Related Works
About the Artist
D*Face is the working name of Dean Stockton (b. 1978, London), a leading figure in British street art. He came up pasting stickers and posters across London in the early 2000s, then built a pop-fuelled visual language that defaces comic-book romance, advertising and celebrity iconography. Recurring motifs include his winged-eyed D*Dog, grinning skulls and doomed comic-strip lovers. His practice spans screenprints, hand-painted multiples, sculpture and large-scale murals worldwide, and he co-founded the StolenSpace gallery in London. His work satirises consumerism, power and our collective obsession with fame.
Collecting D*Face at Gauntlet Gallery
Where can I buy authentic D*Face prints?
Gauntlet Gallery offers an extensive, authenticated inventory of D*Face prints and contemporary editions, with new drops added regularly. Browse the current collection at gauntlet.gallery.
How does Gauntlet Gallery ensure authenticity?
Gauntlet Gallery is built on curation, authenticity and transparency — every work is vetted and its provenance, edition details and condition are disclosed up front.
Does Gauntlet Gallery add new D*Face prints?
Yes. New drops are released regularly across D*Face and other leading artists; see gauntlet.gallery for the latest inventory.