You’re exactly right. What these comic book artists and their defenders are missing is that the comic book art is worthless. And especially at the time it was made was considered bottom of the barrel low culture that no adult that expected to be taken seriously would entertain.

But what Lichtenstein did was transform cultural detritus into something considered beautiful and culturally relevant. High art by the people who decide what that is.

What value do you think there is for a copy of a Lichtenstein which isn't from Lichtenstein?