Lee B.

Hello all! In the hopefully better-late-than-never department, I offer you the latest installment of the ComicArtAds Auction Preview for the Heritage weekly auction ending...tomorrow: http://www.comicartads.com/content/heritage-weekly-11418 I was way low on my predictions from last week, with one $15K exception. You can take this week's predictions with a grain of salt as they come a day before the auction ends. I plan to be health and on track for next week. Best, Lee

It has been great to see everyone's 2017 acquisitions so far. 2017 was a good art year for me, dominated to a great extent by one comic. Captain America #121, page 1, by Gene Colan and Joe Sinnott http://www.comicartfans.com/LowryPiece.asp?Piece=9110 The collector who had been trying to put this book back together for years consigned his pages to Mitch Itkowitz. I nabbed the first batch of pages to be listed in Mitch's site, including this page-one splash. However, I missed one page, only to find it several months later at NYCC in Albert Moy's booth. I now have 15 pages from this book. (Greg G., let's talk about your page sometime....) Marvel Team-Up #60, page 26, by John Byrne and Dave Hunt http://www.comicartfans.com/LowryPiece.asp?Piece=9108 I actually bought this page in 2014, when I first met Dave Hunt, but I didn't post it until Dave passed away in March 2017. I had been working with an autobiography with Dave for the past three years, so this page means a lot to me. (And the book will be done soon!) Marvel Team-Up #83, page 26, by Sal Buscema and Steve Leialoha http://www.comicartfans.com/LowryPiece.asp?Piece=9111 I was lucky to have quick reflexes when Romitaman listed this page in an update. I think the Buscema/Leialoha pages from this storyline are beautiful, and they are pretty rare. Amy + Jordan comic strip, by Mark Beyer http://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1406900 I love Mark Beyer's intricately depressing comic strips and was very happy to pick up some great examples in 2017. This strip features no psychological or physical abuse of the main characters but still manages to end on a down note. Marvel World Dr. Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum production drawing by Dave Hunt http://www.comicartfans.com/LowryPiece.asp?Piece=9117 Dave gave me this drawing during my last visit with him. He was proud of his work on this much sought-after toy from the late-1970s. Happy collecting, and good health, to everyone in 2018! Best, Lee

It's too bad the Masterworks volumes are so expensive. Hopefully I'll find the books on sale somewhere if I wait long enough. The editor is a nice guy, and I had the time, so I was happy to share my toys. I am expecting a credit in the books, at the very least.

Over the past several months, I provided scans of three complete issues I own for upcoming Marvel Masterworks volumes. When I asked, I was told they don't provide comp copies. I was still happy enough to help the editor create a high-quality book. Best, Lee

Hello! I have some auctions on eBay this week, including a pair of Al Milgrom pages from West Coast Avengers: https://www.ebay.com/itm/West-Coast-Avengers-original-comic-art-2-pages-Al-Milgrom-Dave-Hunt-Iron-Man-NR/112740990848?hash=item1a3fe2ff80:g:cwEAAOSwBRVaUqk1 and a pair of Scooby Doo pages by Joe Staton: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Scooby-Doo-original-comic-art-2-pages-Joe-Staton-Dave-Hunt-Mummy-NR/112740995470?hash=item1a3fe3118e:g:EawAAOSwFLBaUtIe I addition, I have three pages from Daredevil #247 with art by Keith Giffen for sale in my CAF gallery: http://www.comicartfans.com/galleryroom.asp?gsub=151037 Thanks, Lee

Thanks for the Transformers insights! That all makes sense. There were so many characters in that book, I definitely can't keep them straight. Dave Hunt, who inked several "later" issues of the series, told me that the book was not a lot of fun because of the phonebook-sized style guide he was forced to use to accurately depict the various characters. I have to say, though, that the concept of brainwashing a car wash seems strangely compelling now that I have a salt-encrusted car. Best, Lee

As I mentioned in my new column, I am totally mystified by Transformers prices. Maybe Don Perlin is more beloved than Jose Delbo when it comes to art from this series. I agree that there was no New Year's Eve effect. Art collectors would rather spend their money on art than champagne, it seems. Best, Lee

Good morning and happy new year! I just posted my new Heritage weekly auction preview, for the current auction ending 1/7/18: http://www.comicartads.com/content/heritage-weekly-auction-ending-1718 This week's auction has some very cool pieces, including a panel page that is already up to $10,000 in bidding. Thanks in advance for checking out the column! Best regards, Lee

I'm not sure whether you knew, but I am just about done (really) with a book on Dave Hunt, which was a three-year collaboration with Dave up until his passing earlier this year. The book will include a 25-page checklist of Dave's work, including all of his Marvel UK work as well as uncredited 1970s Marvel inking done when Dave assisted Frank Giacoia and Mike Esposito in the Marvel Bullpen, as well as when Dave assisted Joe Sinnott on titles such as Fantastic Four and Ms. Marvel. I'll post information on how to get the book in January when it is available. Dave tells a lot of great stories in it. Thanks, Lee

I would hate to come off as being at all too slick. The date is fixed (thanks Chris!), with a new URL to boot: http://www.comicartads.com/content/heritage-weekly-auction-ending-123117#overlay-context=

Hi everyone! I just posted a new installment of my Heritage weekly art auction previews at ComicArtAds: http://www.comicartads.com/content/heritage-weekly-auction-ending-123117#overlay-context= For this past weekly auction, I did pretty well with three out of four predictions. This week I highlight art featuring Captain America, the Phantom Stranger, Spider-Man, and the Transformers. Thanks for reading! Cheers, Lee

PUBLISHED World's Finest #262, page 9, by Don Newton and Dave Hunt

Thanks for the editing tip D.O.! I think $1.3K for the Keown page would be a pretty strong result. However, there aren't a lot of solid Keown Hulk examples available on CAF for less than $1.5K, so I suppose there could be some interest at over $1K. It will be interesting to watch that one for sure! Cheers, Lee

Art Adams Godzilla #2 splash--$699.95 BIN

There are comments once in a while on these boards that eBay is a wasteland/flea market/general mess in terms of original comic book art. I used to troll eBay daily looking for deals, but I don't have the time or patience myself anymore. However, I do hear about what seem like great eBay "buy-it-now" deals once in a while, so I thought I would create a thread to discuss these instances (for example, are these actually good deals?). I am going to start off with a couple of BINs that have occurred his month. I'm not including links, but I will share images and BIN prices. Please feel free to share any deals you come across, especially if you were too late to the party, like I almost always am. Cheers, Lee Iron Man #300 cover--$1,100 BIN

Why was that Bloom County result surprising Malvin? I don't follow that market it all. Was it a really strong result, or weak? Thanks, Lee

Thanks for the kind words David! And congrats on your Duck v. Kubert prediction! Sunday strip art is a bit outside of my wheelhouse. I have just posted my second installment, where I review my predictions and highlight some interesting pieces from this week's Heritage auction ending 12/24/17: http://www.comicartads.com/content/heritage-weekly-auction-ending-122417 By the way, if anyone can tell me how I can edit this thread title, I would appreciate it. I have tried clicking and holding on the thread title, but that doesn't seem to allow me to edit the title. Alternately, if folks would like to see a new thread each week, I can do that instead. Cheers, Lee

Interesting Panelfan1! I wasn't aware of that research. If folks end up being concerned about any influence I may have on, for example, the final outcome of an auction for John Calnan Superboy art, please let me know. I plan to focus on pieces that typically are not widely debated on these boards. Cheers, Lee

So that's what "insufficiently_thoughtful_person" means!

It takes a village, my friend. (And maybe I'll end up the village insufficiently_thoughtful_person!) Keep up the good work yourself! Best, Lee

Game on David! The Plastino is a very nice example. I wonder whether there is any DC large art fatigue with all the pieces from the Ethan Roberts collection coming up for auction this year. It's certainly an exceptionally good page for a Heritage weekly auction. And great point about BP or not BP, Michael! My guesstimates all include BPs. Best, Lee

Thanks Malvin and Matches! Overs/unders are always welcome. Cheers, Lee

Thanks Jerome! I'll try to get out of my comfort zone a bit more for next week's report. Cheers, Lee

After reading the discussion in this thread today, I decided to try writing a comic art auction column. My goal is to try to publish a preview of Heritage's weekly auctions, on a weekly basis. I am focusing on comps and previous sales, as well as old ads, but I couldn't resist tossing out some barely educated guesses at auction estimates. You can read my first column here: http://www.comicartads.com/content/heritage-weekly-auction-ending-121717# Enjoy! Best, Lee

Hello all! After reading about @ O.'s challenges in fitting auction previews into his schedule, I decided to try to pick up some slack by posting previews of Heritage's weekly auctions on my ComicArtAds website. The first edition is now online: http://www.comicartads.com/content/heritage-weekly-auction-ending-121717# I will try to do this every week, picking pieces that are interesting to me, providing some information on related sales/listings, and predicting a final price for each of these pieces. I hope you enjoy this, and please let me know here if you have any feedback on anything. Best regards, Lee