The Shoveler

Very nice Conan & Red Sonja cover...Congrats. FOOM! And congrats to whoever picked-up that Ditko Hulk page, and the Groo & Rufferto frontspiece. Very good deal on that Ditko Captain Atom #89 page. Panel #4 looks like it could be a Clea & Spider-Gwen panel. But the other panels definitely show that it's Spider-Glenn. Sidelined on this one due to finances. The items above, those Kane covers, a pre-1950 Walt Kelly Pogo. Geez, I'm missing out...

I generally prefer the black & white "Essential" tpb reprints over the colorized versions (except for when the Essentials attempt to use grey tones to replicate the colors), so I love this Kirby FF Artist Edition. YMMV. VDPloeg's link above is a good preview, with some eye-watering comments there too (especially robwaltoon's). Here's your chance to see the bestial Borers in all their 11x17 glory! (from Ploeg's gallery: http://comicbookdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Jack-Kirbys-Fantastic-Four-Artists-Edition-interior-9.jpg ) The book is a fun look into the process. In FF #71, story page 11 panel 2, Johnny Storm looks more like a Romita change/addition as directed by Stan (again from Ploeg's site: http://comicbookdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Jack-Kirbys-Fantastic-Four-Artists-Edition-interior-5.jpg). And just get ready for this in July: https://www.idwpublishing.com/jack-kirbys-anticipated-artists-edition-coming/. Twice-up Kirby AE book featuring FF #33, 45, 47, 60 and a gallery of 22 covers, pin-ups, splashes and interior pages! Disclaimer: I am not an employee or agent of IDW, and I'm not involved in book sales in any capacity.

I don't know if he keeps it or sends it back. I was more impressed with the very nominal $5 autograph fee. That seems very fair and fan-friendly to me. And good on him if he keeps the $5...

Picked up mine from the LCS the day after release...Very happy with the book! The pages all looked clear, sharp, and they seemed to be the correct color/tone. I had considered the options to obtain a Sinnott signature and/or sketch, but funds are currently low. Would love to do it if I can work it into the budget. (Edit) Just checked http://joesinnott.com/ and as of the latest update on 27 January 2017, he's no longer doing sketches, but will do autographs for $5 plus return postage (no con appearances confirmed as of this time). Please note that: requests for ANY type of free sketch will result in ALL items being returned UNSIGNED. And Stan Lee will be making appearances at cons in NYC and Orlando, FL if you're interested in getting his auto in the book along with Sinnott's. Time to check the sofa for loose change...

Thank you, NelsonAI. However, I'm no artist. And if I ever tried to ink a page, people would assume that Jackson Pollock is my biggest influence!

Joe Sinnott, Frank Giacoia, Tom Palmer, and Terry Austin. I'd leave room on the back of my Rushmore for Klaus Janson, Tim Townsend, Scott (The Inker) Williams, and Mark Morales.

Well, they are lovable! Yeah, love those pages from the Kang storyline too! That #70 page 23 is another one that got away from me on ebay. Dig those dramatic angles in panels 4, 5 & 6! Origin of Super...uhhh...Hyperion and an action-packed confrontation with Thor! There were so many times that I thought I'll just get it the next time it hits ebay...and it will probably be cheaper! We all know how that strategy worked!

Face it, Tiger: Happy (belated) Birthday! Wishing you many more jackpots! What an amazing career. All of his definitive Spider-Man work, all the great covers and iconic images across the entire Marvel line. Working-out the designs for Wolverine, the Punisher, Mary Jane, Luke Cage, Tigra, Bullseye and the Kingpin. And not to be forgotten, all the artwork he did for licensing and merchandising that formed a gateway to bring in new readers. Edit: Yeah, I have fmaz's problem too. We'll keep looking!

First, big thanks to Brian, Bill and CAF. And thanks to everyone who participated. Like Jade Giant, this was my first year too and it was fun to see everyone’s favorites for 2016. I bought my first post-2000 comic art in Dec 2015 and I’ve gone all-modern ever since. I’m happy & surprised to see that some of my pages got a few votes when paired against the many excellent, prestige offerings. To everyone who voted for my pieces, thanks to both of you! Doc Joe: If you haven’t already set to flames, I have some cereal boxes I might be willing to trade for those covers. Some of ‘em even still have cereal flakes leftover, so you can see that this is a really good deal for you. Act now, and I can even throw in a spoon…its plastic and used, but itsa really good one despite all the cracks. Here's my votes, with a few comments from my secret ballot scratchpad: Covers: 1. K, Kyle All Star Batman #1 Variant Cover - Batman & Robin VS. Rogues Gallery 2. Beaumont, Charles The Maxx: Maxximized #29. Check the technique! 3. Shaffer, Joe Frank Brunner Fear 16 cover 1973 4. Radisich, Jeremy Daredevil #125 cover by Gil Kane 5. G, Andreas Team Titans Annual #1 In The Mind of Chimera Honorable Mention: Killack, Ronan Romita, Sr., John - Amazing Spider-Man, issue 125 Splash: 1. Simmons, Jared Secrets of the Batcave. Such a unique stand-out schematic with so many cool details! 2. Simmons, Jared Marvel Treasury Edition #6 Dr. Strange. THE definitive Dr. Strange piece. 3. Singh, Jeff Bissette/Tottleben Swamp Thing Splash. Great piece that stands on its own, independent of Moore’s classic story. Very nice portrayal of the intimacy, and the tension, between Swampy and Abby. Swampy is facing away and not in physical contact with Abby while he's immersed in his own obsessive, brooding contemplation. 4. Peters, David Martha Washington, Secret Service by Dave Gibbons 5. Bedwick, Filmore W Captain Marvel #57, page 1. Always liked Broderick’s work. Great to see one of his splash pages from this period. Honorable Mention: Katradis, Nick Man-Thing #2, Page #1 Splash. Very good Mooney-Wiacek combo. Interior Panel Pages: 1. ephiny22, ~ Batwoman #0, p. 20 (end page) - J.H. Williams III. Dramatic climax and Williams' illustrations could be animated into a brilliant silent movie. 2. Rauseo, Ivan Jim Starlin - Warlock #10 pages 17 & 18. Peak Starlin work, great content. 3. Peck, Brian Avengers #58 page 12. George Klein inks look so great on John Buscema's pencils. 4. Kosenkranius , Hans J. Kirby - F.F. #46 p.11. Is your dog getting enough iron in it's diet? Joe Sinnott and the Inhumans arrive to herald the World's Greatest Comic Magazine entering it's prime period. Kirby's creative genius is hitting new peaks right here. And Lockjaw chews on an I-Beam! 5. ephiny22, ~ Detective Comics #860, p. 18 & 19 (DPS) featuring Batwoman - J.H. Williams III. Like stepping into a classic silent movie. Honorable Mentions (Lotsa great stuff here!): • Bobby, Ricky Amazing Spider-Man #68 - pg 18 - Romita Sr and Jim Mooney • Bella, James Strangers in Paradise v3 #20 page 10 • D, Mike X-men #109 page 15 BYRNE and AUSTIN 1st app of Weapon Alpha/Vindicator/Guardian • Diaz, Michael Michael Golden - Marvel Fanfare (issue 1, page 5). I can still remember the smell of the paper when this book was first released. • Ferret, Rabid Don Rosa's 2nd story ~ "Nobody's Business", Page 1 ~ Uncle Scrooge in the Money Bin(1987). Great story behind this pick-up. I was very tempted to make a run at this page, but glad I did not interfere with destiny. • Frey, Robert Marvel Team Up 59 page 27. A favorite page from this Byrne two-part story. Great inks by Dave Hunt! • LEGION, MY NAME IS G. I. Combat #139 pg.11 Heath/Kubert Strip Art: 1. Halperin, James Flash Gordon. Such an amazing work of art. 2. Jim Warden December 22, 1961 Pogo Daily by Walt Kelly. Great "Deck the Halls with Boston Charlie" strip. 3. V., N. Krazy Kat Sunday (10.29.1922) 4. Portillo, P. WILL EISNER: THE SPIRIT "Ward Healy" (March 28, 1948) 5. Rothschild, Benno Tom Grindberg Tarzan Honorable Mentions (another loaded category): • Land, Gary Jack Burnley Batman Sunday 2/17/46 • B, Comicart Prince Valiant #340 - Partial Sunday Comic Strip dated 15 August 1943 • V, Malvin Bloom County by Berkeley Breathed - Opus & Milo gets a call from Walter Mondale! • Howland, Mark Carol Day 135 by David Wright Commissions: 1. Johnson, Alex Nick Pitarra vs. Supergirl by Nick Pitarra 2. Rothschild, Benno Ian Bertram commission. 3. Lu, Felix ALIENS: The Official Marvel Movie Adaptation (Chris Mooneyham). How do I reserve my copy of the complete illustrated adaptation by Mooneyham? 4. Avila, Michael Darwyn Cooke Flash/Superman race homage 5. Bailey, John Silver Surfer/ Galactus Honorable Mentions: • Brümmel, Thorsten Mike Perkins - Asterix & Obelix • Yanko, Mark Chinese mermaid Sketch Covers/Con Sketches: 1. Johnson, Alex 40 for 60 Sketchbook. The quality of the sketches is only exceeded by the caring and thoughtfulness that went into preparing this amazing project. 2. Bella, James DK3 Francine and Katchoo by Terry Moore. Great characters, great concept! 3. V, Malvin David Mazzucchelli Vintage Batman Year One sketch! 4. D, Octavio Flash Jam by Jim Cheung. It's great that someone turned Jim Cheung loose on the prolific "Flash" material! 5. Anderson, Phillip Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Black Canary Other: 1. L, Rob Schultz, Mark -- Jack Tenric and Hannah Dundee prelim. An amazing Schultz piece. His prelims are such fully-conceived pieces. And the XT Artist Edition is one of the best ever. 2. Park, Gene George Herriman - Krazy Kat Color Presentation Drawing (c. 1925) 3. Doyle, Terry PATTON (1970) movie poster painting 4. Frey, Robert Barry Windsor-Smith Britannia 5. Warden, Jim "For the Children" by Walt Kelly Honorable Mentions (An unbelievably loaded category): • Annamanthadoo, Miki Untitled by Michael Whelan • Brümmel, Thorsten Hergé - Tintin & Milou • Kosenkranius , Hans D. Cooke - New Frontier • Cogan, John Darwyn Cooke Selina's Big Score Cast of Characters Illustration • Doyle, Terry RASPUTIN - THE MAD MONK (1966) vintage Hammer Horror movie poster painting • Frey, Robert Barry Windsor-Smith Fire • Espinoza, John Darth Vader and Son - "Cookie Jar"

Happy Birthday, Sal! Earlier today, I just finished reading his TwoMorrows book (for the third time!) -- Sal Buscema: Comics Fast & Furious Artist: http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=794. This book includes the self-portrait featured on Jade Giant's site, and some of Sal's excellent gouache paintings along with extensive comic art generously provided by Eelco and others. Sal's longevity and consistency are legendary. When Marvel had so much trouble shipping books late during the 70's, I wonder how many months they made payroll based primarily on Sal's ability to actually get the work done on-time...for multiple books! Love his early stuff...inking brother John on Surfer #4, doing the Avengers #67 cover and the #68 story. And Zhamlau has a great point...I can't think of any other artist who was so open to effectively evolving his style over such a long career, with Sal taking inspiration from Walt Simonson and Bill Sienkiewicz among others. Sal's work on the Balder the Brave limited series and Hulk #256 are among my favorite from his later work: http://www.supermegamonkey.net/chronocomic/entries/hulk_256.shtml I've made a run at some of his pages, including those Avengers #68 pages that have gone to auction, but never won. I'll have to keep trying...

Thanks to each of you for sharing your excellent selections for 2016. It’s a privilege to see your favorite pieces for the year. Here are my top 5. Hope you see something enjoyable. And I hope that deadline floats across the time zones. http://www.comicartfans.com/MyLowry.asp?GSub=3534

Were the same thing being done at DC? If so I wonder why Jim Lee went to DC and became Co-Publisher. I'd expect that Jim had a little more bargaining leverage for his moving Wildstorm into DC than he had during his first tenure at Marvel, and even more leverage for accepting the co-pub position. Heck, I'd expect that his Heroes Reborn contract had some upgrades in protective terms compared with his earlier Marvel period.

Good points, Doc. It seems to be generally held that Kirby (and Ditko, among others) were subject to unfair compensation practices, most of which were standard practices in a perpetually dying and denigrated industry. I recall that Sean Howe's book "Marvel: The Untold Story" relates that Kirby and Ditko didn't receive compensation for their art used on t-shirts, posters and other licensing. Also for the Kirby original art that was sent to Marvelmania, given away by Marvel at conventions and to staff/clients, or handed-out for other promotional purposes. Same for the use of their stories adapted for animation, reprints and other formats. The book later states that this same practice remained consistent up to the 90's and played a factor in Jim Lee's decision to bail with the rest of the Image crew: Jim Lee was similarly not being paid for the use of his art being re-purposed for lucrative t-shirts, posters and other licensed products.

I have great sympathy for the extensive and pervasive indignities and unfairness endured by Kirby regarding his artwork. However, doesn't the accuser need to provide some evidence of proof that an item is stolen? I'm disappointed to hear that Heritage is shaking down its clients and customers. It's hard to imagine how concerns over this corporate practice would not influence the decision of potential clients/customers in any potential future business. What Brian Peck said: I'd love to see the family documentation to support any of their claims. Below is a draft response to Heritage's inquiry...feel free to use/modify as you see fit. Please note: I'm not a lawyer, high-powered auction house, or a dealer: Todd, I hope this finds you well. I'd be happy to assist Heritage Auctions and the Kirby family in determining provenance of Kirby artwork. Please forward me a copy of Marvel's complete inventory of the relevant Kirby artwork; Marvel's inventory of artwork returned to Kirby; Marvel's internal and external audit and inventory reports and all associated documentation, including internal correspondence and all associated memorandum, for each period in which Kirby art was in corporate possession; Marvel's documentation on Kirby artwork destroyed, damaged, modified, gifted, and/or otherwise unaccounted for through the production process, promotional activities, education and training purposes, fire, flood, and/or other disaster(s), theft and/or neglect, and other uses/misuses; Marvel's internal and external theft reports and all documentation concerning such; the theft reports and complete file records of all involved investigation and/or law enforcement agencies; Kirby's personal inventory documentation for each page of art returned to him from Marvel; all of Kirby's documentation concerning the disposition of each individual piece of artwork, including sales, gifting, items damaged or destroyed through the production process, promotional activities, education and training purposes, fire, flood, and/or other disaster, theft and/or neglect; Kirby's receipts for any sales transactions; and official theft reports and complete file records of all involved investigation and/or law enforcement agencies for any items stolen from Kirby's possession and/or that of his agent(s) or intermediaries. For any questions regarding Kirby artwork from DC or other publishers/sources, the same documentation as the above will be required. Please ship all files and documentation through certified mail to the attorney's office courtesy-copied on this message. Please notify, in advance, me and the attorney of any shipments at least five business days prior to delivery. In the notification, include all tracking numbers for each individual package or shipping container. Additionally, please include your billing authorization number or credit account number to be used for proper reimbursement of all labor; materials; overhead and administrative costs; fees; and expenses associated with this effort. We're pleased that you've contracted this legal research project with us. And we look forward to receiving the requested items from your organization. Cheers,

Wilson! I'm digging that Cockrum/Rubinstein page!

That Spidey/Superman page is very nice, chromium. What a way to start an art collection!

I don't have any Doom art, but here's a video by MF Doom that's modeled as a Kirby-Lee classic comic... Madvillain - All Caps Madvillian is MF DOOM & Madlib Edit: My favorite Doom moment is FF #116 when Sue Storm goads him into leading the FF and he makes a valiant last stand against the Over-Mind. Ruthless, brilliant, arrogant, vengeful and yet possessed by pretensions of regal nobility...Doom is definitively a cut above and apart from the standard four-color funnybook villian. And John Buscema and Joe Sinnott portray Doom perfectly.

That Frank Cho Hulk vs She-Hulk...

Great piece of history! Congrats on the finds.

for Human Duplicators & Nosferatu. "What Happened to Movie Posters?" by GoodBadFlicks: Here's a profile of one movie poster featured in the brief video: https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/movie-poster-of-the-week-wes-craven-s-a-nightmare-on-elm-street-and-the-posters-of-matthew-peak

My one penciled page is in a mylar polybag with a self-adhesive strip. The artist helpfully provided the polybag, so I'm not sure if it came from E.Gerber Products or Bags Unlimited. I think some vendors at the comic con carried these mylar polybags too. The artist advised that no other special storage was really needed for the pencil-only piece and no fixative spray was necessary to preserve the art. I keep it in the first sleeve of an Itoya portfolio from Anthony's, and I keep that portfolio on top of my other portfolios so there's no weight applied on top of the penciled page. I'll eventually place an acid-free backing board in the poly. I've recently moved my portfolios into a closet, on top of a bookshelf with a small Eva-Dry renewable dehumidifier desiccant unit recommended by Ankur J.

Big John Buscema + Sinnott inks. This is how thou dost do a Thor page!

Very cool DK3 pieces! And getting the whole creative team's autographs is the way to go!

Bah