comicfanboy007

Congratulations man, great story too. Wonderful looking cover, enjoy it my friend. 

I realize this may be a strange topic. I am just throwing this out there and would love to hear from other collectors to hear if this ever happened to them and if it did, what did they do?

I have been collecting art for over twenty years, with the past two being a pretty active and involved collector. This month I had the incredible good fortune to pick up several pieces that  completed several major goals for my art collection. I have always wanted a Dark Knight Returns piece and at SDCC I had picked up a prelim to the cover for the DKR 10th Anniversary HC. I was thrilled!!! A gorgeous prelim that is tighter than you would expect and really shows Miller's process. Also at that same con I received a stunning Dave Gibbons commission of the golden age Nite Owl that wonderfully represents my love of Watchmen.

These were two major goals that I never thought I would achieve, actually achieved.  I am THRILLED with these pieces they are wonderful representations of some of my favorite artists and comics. Particularly with the budget I can afford for the hobby.  But now I am having a collector's existential moment of "What's next?" "Where do I want my collection to go?"

I acknowledge this is a good problem to have and that every collector is different. I know there will always be more art because I am always looking at new art.  As I take a breather I  wonder if something similar has ever happened to you? Have you ever reached the top of your mountain and go what's next?  If it did, what did you do to evaluate or reevaluate your collection? How did you figure out what you wanted your collection to be? Did it change your collecting habits if so, how?

Thanks for listening and I look forward to hearing your responses.

From SDCC. 

Nite Owl. Golden Age cover commission. By Dave Gibbons. To describe this piece as infinitely special doesn’t even begin to cover it. With Watchmen Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore created a story that redefined the medium. My favorite sections were about Hollis Mason the Golden Age Nite-Owl. I poured over them constantly. My comic Mysteryman exists because I wanted more adventures with the character. So to have a new piece of Watchmen artwork by the original artist is just amazing. I love that Dave made it a cover to a comic book. This feels like this should be in Hollis’ apartment, hanging on the wall. It’s a little meta and it makes me love it all the more. I am so grateful that I got to thank Dave for this piece in person over the weekend.

http://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1487366

http://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1485582

Starting my SDCC 2018 week off right.

This piece is a two year collaboration that turned out even better than I could have imagined.

At the 2017 C2E2 I met Dan and had the opportunity to get on his list. That alone was amazing. When it was done and I picked it up hesaid with all the times people have Commissioned him to draw Superman no ones ever asked for this pose. Which surprised me I love that it's so simple and iconic. I have always loved this pose. When I was a little kid I loved that Superman wore glasses like me. And the costume reveal/transformation show that.

In May of 2018 I met Inker extraordinaire Brett Breeding at Three Rivers Comic Con. I asked Brett if he was taking any inking commissions and he said he could maybe fit it in but he offered if I wanted to have it inked with his full ink kit he would be willing to take it home and ink it there. Knowing that this would allow him to take his time I immediately took him up on the offer. Less than two months later I received word it was done and it is GLORIOUS.

“The Death of Superman” was the first major comic event I ever experienced. It was the first time I learned there was more than one comic shop. I went to the phone book and called Adventures in Comics who told me they would be receiving more copies but it was not the first printing in the black bag. I didn’t care, I was just so excited to read the story. I was at the age where I honestly believed that when Superman died he was not coming back. The artwork was incredible, the power, the great use of the splash page. With Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding drawing my definitive Superman it is just incredible to have this collaboration in my collection.

We are almost a week away from SDCC 2018 and I CAN. NOT. WAIT!!!  This is not my first year going to SDCC but I would say this is my first year going as an active member of the Original Art Collecting Hobby. I will be there all days including Preview Night but I was wondering if you all had any advice to get the most out of the SDCC experience. Are there any original art collector meet ups?

What are art/panels/ artists are you hoping to see?  I can't wait for the Artist Edition Panel.

Do you have any pre-show commissions set up that you can't wait to pick up?

Thanks for taking the time to chat and I hope to officially meet a lot of you face to face next week.

I will be there!!! I am really hoping to meet some of you in person. I have learned so much about the OA Hobby and Community since I was last there in 2016 and I can't wait to be back.

22 hours ago, cheekyj2112 said:

Hi all

We have just updated the website with a number of new pieces.

I will be at San Diego next month if anyone wants to pick up art in person

Artists added include:
Dave Gibbons
Frank Quitely
Mark Buckingham

Dave Stevens
Barry Windsor Smith
Rick Leonardi
John Bolton
Joe Linsner
Adam Hughes
Eduardo Risso

The Brian Bolland Joker cover has been reduced in price.

http://www.britcomicsart.com/newitems.asp

Thanks for looking.

 

Great selection of pieces. I could not pass up the Dave Gibbons Super Soldier page. Story by Gibbons and Waid , Gibbons' pencils, and Palmiotti's inks, add in an appearance by Winston Churchill!!! It really doesn't get better than this.

I wish I could be there Benno. I've never made it to Heroes but EVERYONE says this is the show to be at in regards to art and the lineup of guests this year looks incredible. I think this is going to have to become a priority to get to ASAP. I hope everyone has a great time and I can't wait to see pictures of all the great new art.

9 hours ago, RabidFerret said:

I've been wondering about this topic recently as well, and while fire protection is one of my concerns, it's not the only one.

On the most basic of levels - theft concerns me. Not that most people know what this stuff is when they see it, and they couldn't sell it publicly without drawing attention, but plenty of people still steal things for the thrill or because they like the pretty pictures.

Water damage is another concern. Not that a safe solves that entirely, but it certainly seems a lot more watertight than a bookcase or whatever piece of furniture we store our art in.

So I'm curious for thoughts from people who have bought safes for their art.

1. Did you go with a gun safe or a burglary/fire safe?
2. How big of a safe did you get dimension-wise?
3. Any particular brand?
4. Do you store the art in portfolios? Museum boxes? 
5. Do you store the art inside of plastic tubs inside the safe?
6. Are you concerned about moisture inside the safe? Do you use desiccant bags to reduce moisture or does that risk drying out the art?
7. In retrospect, was it worth it to you? Do you sleep easier?

And anything else I'm overlooking that a safe owner may find important.

Thank you everyone for your input and thoughts. Also thank you RabidFerret for thinking of much better questions than I did, these are great.

Hi Everyone,

So my original art collection is starting to grow, both in size and financial value/input. I have considered insurance but there seems to be a lot of steps and prohibitive cost associated with that. I am looking at getting a safe for my collection. I am primarily concerned more about fire more than theft and I am not sure where to start. My collection is stored primarily in 14x17 portfolios and I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations. Any input regarding collection protection would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.  

Had an amazing time at 3 Rivers Comicon 2018 this weekend. Met some new friends, talked Comics and art with some old friends and all in all had an amazing time. Thanks to all involved!!!

Nightwing. If this piece had a title I would call it “Balance.” In one hand he is clutching his original Robin costume. In his other hand he is clutching the cape and cowl of Batman. 

On 5/18/2018 at 1:35 PM, Chillax23 said:

I love Aparo's work on Batman - for me Knightfall was the huge Batman story growing up - so I was really excited when I was able to pick up this page by Aparo from Batman 494:

This is incredible!!! Knightfall pages are so rare. I love this. That was a great issue and this page is fantastic storytelling by Jim. Thank you so much for sharing this I hope one day to have a Knightfall page myself. Thank you again!

19 hours ago, Rick2you2 said:

After seeing some of the prices paid at the recent auctions for Aparo art, which have been steadily climbing over the years, are we at a point where the price is getting out of line for the artisanship? Over $52K for a Spectre Adventure cover, for one. I'm also shocked that a Phantom Stranger page sold for just shy of $2K on HA when about 4 months ago, the seller would have sold it for $1K on CAF ($1.1K on eBay). And it was only an "okay" page.

I'm curious how those Aquaman pages are going to sell for, next.

I know the pages I got were unpublished and from the end of his career but I was shocked that I was able to get the two pages I did for the prices I did (Splash for $436 and panel page for $136).  For the past year most Aparo pages before this were falling at $1K plus.

I am an Aparo fan from the late 80's and 90's and those pages are completely gone. (When I tell that to most collectors they are surprised since the Brave and the Bold stuff is what most people covet) What I would give for a page from Knightfall or a page with Batman unmasked but I know that would easily run me $3-5K if I was lucky and that is out of my price range. I am very interested to see where the Aquaman pages fall as well. There seems to have been quite a wave of Aparo pages showing up in auction I am wondering what is up?  

20 hours ago, rotembk said:

As you can see here Joseph Melchior reps Gibbons. You can message him through CAF or the ‘contact’ page on his website. Good luck.

Thank you so much!!! I know this is a shot in the dark, but I have to try.

5 hours ago, Rick2you2 said:

I think this is a better page than the first one you bought. And frankly, I was hoping you'd get this one, too.

Thanks so much Rick, it really is something I was genuinely blown away when I opened up the splash and examined it.

My latest addition. Jim Aparo Batman Unpublished Inventory Splash Page 14 Original Art (DC, c. 1990s). A stunning right hook on a powerful splash page autographed "For Neal - Best Wishes - Jim Aparo" in the lower margin. Ink over graphite on DC Bristol board with an image area of 10.5" x 15". The page is has light handling wear in the margins, causing slight discolorations. There are water stains on the reverse side, but not onto the front. In Excellent condition. 

This is a very special page for me as it is drawn by my all time favorite Batman artist Jim Aparo. The Inker for this page would be Stan Woch. Estimated year of creation is 1997 based on the time period that Jim and Stan collaborated on Batman: Shadow of the Bat. This is definitely representative of Aparo ‘s later work but it definitely captures what I love about his work. The page is so powerful and the dynamic.  It’s also a splash page. Which is one of the first few I have been able to acquire. 
This is also signed by Aparo which is amazing... I wonder who Neal was and how he got this page. 
Why do I love Jim Aparo?
When I was five my Dad bought me my first comic, Batman #442. Prior to this my exposure to Batman was the 1989 Tim Burton film and the Super Power Action figure. 
I remember picking up Batman #442 off the shelf of Phantom of the Attic in Parkway Center Mall. The cover by George Perez featured Robin (Tim Drake) swinging towards us with the Batsignal shining bright perfectly framing the Boy Wonder. It’s an iconic cover and I can easily see why my five year old self picked it up of the shelf even though the issue was not a new release. The comic was drawn by the incomparable Mr. Jim Aparo. Since that day Jim Aparo’s unmistakable style is, was, and will always be synonymous with my favorite storytelling medium and my favorite fictional character. 
Aparo’s style was a no nonsense superhero style. His Batman was built more like a gymnast than bodybuilder, which lent to how  Batman would move and fight. His pacing was perfect Aparo’s action and storytelling is still my favorite and epitomizes what comics are to me. 
I have collected comic art and sketches for almost twenty years with the past two being a very active and engaged member of the OA community and in all that time I have not had an opportunity to really afford an Aparo Batman page whether that be because of my own ignorance or financial limitations. 
I never had the opportunity to meet Mr. Aparo but the stories I have heard from other collectors are that he was polite and pretty modest, not quite grasping why the fans loved his art so much. To this day I would love to know more about him and hope to hear more during my collecting adventures.
Granted I had just won an Aparo Page, my first and also from this unpublished Inventory story. But when this page presented itself on Heritage I knew I had to take a shot. Previously I had not won any auction on Heritage, to be honest it was never even close. So this time I looked at the page and made my bid, which I was hoping since the page was unpublished would bring me over the top. 
As I watched the clock run down and the hammer drop I won another piece from my grail Batman/Comic artist. The joy was palpable and I knew that this was an even greater  example of Jim Aparo’s work. My Batman artist.

I realize there may not be an answer to this question but I would rather ask the community and know, than not ask and maybe miss my chance. I would love to get a sketch/commission from Dave Gibbons. I have tried at previous cons and have not lucked out. The sketch I would ask for really would not be more than a bust of a single character. Is there a way to reach out to Mr. Gibbons and or a rep? Any advice for this rookie art collector would be appreciated. Thank you.

Great piece!!! Bagley is my favorite Spidey artist, hands down.

So far it’s been a very good art month for me. I have not bought as much original art I as did last year but the pieces I have acquired have meant a lot. Last month I bought a page from the excellent Green Lantern Earth One by Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Bechko. Then I lucked out on this gorgeous warm up sketch of Will Eisner’s the Spirit by Daniel Warren Johnson and last but not least I finally own a page by Jim Aparo!!! Aparo is my grail Batman artist so this is a really big collecting mile stone for me and I just had to share.