TommyRaiko

I've felt the same way since they moved from Secaucus, and I keep hoping they find a way to get back to a Secaucus venue...

An interesting question. Especially if you imagine that ATT would sell DC Comics as a publishing entity separate from Warner Bros, then maybe typical publishing companies might be purchasers--folks like Penguin Random House or Scholastic, or maybe even some of the still existing major magazine publishing companies like Hearst, Condé Nast, or Meredith. If you're thinking of any of the existing media companies, aside from Disney, you could sorta see Warner/DC fitting with Comcast or Sony. CBS/Viacom is trying to sell their Simon & Schuster book publisher, so they might not be a great place for DC as a publishing entity even if they go for Warner Bros. NewsCorp still has publishing (books and newspapers) but has sold Fox studios to Disney, so may not be a natural home for the whole of Warner/DC. Beyond existing media companies, maybe some of today's major tech companies--especially with existing presence in the media space like Amazon, Netflix, and Apple--might be potential landing places for Warner/DC, but still might not be a great home for the traditional publishing part of the DC business.

Yeah, I was watching that one too out of interest. I vaguely recall another JLA #200 page selling in a previous ComicLink auction for a comparable price (just can't remember the details.) But it's definitely a nice piece, from a fan-favorite issue, including two characters very associated with Jim Aparo. And I think that there are enough Phantom Stranger fans/collectors out there so that it's not unimaginable that this piece caught the eyes of a few of them, who wound up in a bit of a bidding war.

I do think that what you decide to do kinda depends on what you want the outcome to be, what you're willing to live with, and how far you're willing to go toward those ends. I am reminded, however, of the story of Ray Bradbury and EC Comics. Mark Evanier (among many others) have told it over the years: essentially, EC Comics writer/editor Al Feldstein wrote a comic that was based on two Ray Bradbury stories. When Bradbury discovered this, he wrote them a nice letter complementing them on the adaptation and observing that his credit and fee had been omitted--something that we'd perhaps call a passive-aggressive approach. Ultimately, EC responded and the result was an ongoing and official relationship where EC adapted several Bradbury stories. In this scenario, there's probably not the possibility of an ongoing relationship as with Bradbury and EC. And modern society is perhaps more litigious and sensitive-to-accountability issues than in 1950s comics. But setting aside possible credit or payment, if what you really want is for the filmmakers to know that they appropriated your image and for them to know that you know that they did, then an approach like Ray Bradbury's--a chiding passive-aggressive letter, delivered directly or perhaps through your lawyer--might an appropriate approach to that end.

Websurfing, I came across a Fine Arts auction this month from Toronto's 888 Auctions that includes pieces attributed to Will Eisner, Bob Kane, Charles Schulz, and Jack Kirby. I still get a kick out of comics art showing up in "real" art auctions (and am especially amused that they don't identify the Demon or The Spirit as the characters for Kirby and Eisner...) so I figured this might be of interest to the crowd here. Lot #190: Jack Kirby American Pop Art Ink on Paper: Lot 217: Will Eisner American Pop Marker on Paper: Lot 103 Charles Schulz Mixed Media on Paper Pop Art: Lot 123 Bob Kane American Pop Mixed Media Batman:

I've gone to this show a few times when it was in a Seacacus hotel and remember loving it. Hasbrouck Heights is a bit more of a hassle for me to get to (coming in from New York/Long Island and haven't been able to take the car, but that's on me...) so I haven't been to a many of the recent shows. But I do love Comic Art Con, and I'm sure it'll be a great time if you go. And if they ever do manage to move it back to Secaucus (or other closer-to-The-City place) I'm sure I'd be back in a heartbeat, And someone who's going--post pictures please!

Are there any markings on the back? If not, that might support the idea of it being an unpublished piece...

I've been to a few of the Veteri/Gallo Comic Art Con shows, and it's definitely great. The new Hasbrouck Heights location is a little more a hassle for me to get to than the old Secaucus one. I guess that the old Secaucus hotel venue is closed or under renovation or something, but I do hope that show gets back to Seacaucus proper at some point. Anyway, I'm theoretically willing to give this new NYC expo a shot at least one time--assuming at least a few good dealers set up to exhibit. But I ain't gonna stay at Hotel Penn if I can avoid it.

For what it's worth, Meth is currently running a gofundme campaign aimed to create a scholarship in Rich's name at the Joe Kubert School of Comic Art, which is also worth a look, a thought, or a donation--for it's own sake, of course, but also noteworthy is that Meth is offering a recent artist portfolio and (very limited quantities) of original art as incentives...