wormboy Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 R.I.P. Sheba, and luckily no one else was hurt. Not sure if Ellison is refering to Hulk 181 Art? From THE BEAT... Writer Harlan Ellison just posted the following on his website: - Monday, April 6 2009 11:55:36 EXTREMELY BAD NEWS Len Wein called this morning. More than half of his house burned down earlier today. Len and Chris Valada and Chris’s son, Michael, got out okay, but their beloved dog, Sheba, ran back inside and is gone. In addition to both bedrooms, the bathroom, and much of the office, what was burned first was the original art for the first Wolverine story, the cover of GIANT X-MEN #1 and other art pieces worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Susan and I will be over there as soon as I pick up my car today, and as soon as I’ve met the dental appointment we have scheduled. This is a major catastrophe for one of my oldest and closest friends. Like your Host, Len is a lifetime freelancer and, even though he remains a star of the comics world, even though he created Wolverine and Storm–among other characters–he goes from day to day earning a freelancer’s living, as do I…and these are frightening economic times for those of us out there, to paraphrase Arthur Miller, “on a few words and a shoeshine.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comix4fun Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 R.I.P. Sheba, and luckily no one else was hurt. Not sure if Ellison is refering to Hulk 181 Art? From THE BEAT... Writer Harlan Ellison just posted the following on his website: - Monday, April 6 2009 11:55:36 EXTREMELY BAD NEWS Len Wein called this morning. More than half of his house burned down earlier today. Len and Chris Valada and Chris’s son, Michael, got out okay, but their beloved dog, Sheba, ran back inside and is gone. In addition to both bedrooms, the bathroom, and much of the office, what was burned first was the original art for the first Wolverine story, the cover of GIANT X-MEN #1 and other art pieces worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Susan and I will be over there as soon as I pick up my car today, and as soon as I’ve met the dental appointment we have scheduled. This is a major catastrophe for one of my oldest and closest friends. Like your Host, Len is a lifetime freelancer and, even though he remains a star of the comics world, even though he created Wolverine and Storm–among other characters–he goes from day to day earning a freelancer’s living, as do I…and these are frightening economic times for those of us out there, to paraphrase Arthur Miller, “on a few words and a shoeshine.” That would be news to real owner of that cover....he's owned that cover for years. C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chainnball Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Herb Trimpe told me he sold 181 years ago to some brothers in Ca. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westform Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I think that was 180, but I could be wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudio Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 That would be news to real owner of that cover....he's owned that cover for years. C Aw, man. I am sure he's totally bummed..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem1138 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Perhaps it was the #182 to the brothers Donnelly? http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Page=1&Order=Date&Piece=189133&GSub=4822&GCat=0&UCat=0 As has been discussed previously, the GSXmen #1 cover had sold but Len still owned the complete interiors to #181 -- which were destroyed in the fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clemso Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I think Len might have also owned the all stat version of the GS X-Men 1 cover, hence the report that it had been lost in the fire. Clem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKA Rick Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 Dave Cockrum did some recreations of the Giant Sized X-Men #1 cover that he originally did with Gil Kane, with the last one being dated 2002. Does anyone know if Gil Kane did any recreations of the Giant Sized X-Men #1 cover? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WYLDCHYLD Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 The X-men GS #1 cover had been sold by Len and rests safely in a private collection. The stat cover of GS #1 also rests in another private collection. Because Len owned the original at one time is where the confusion comes in that it was burned in the fire...this is untrue. Now as for the Hulk art- Len owned the last page to Hulk #180 and the entire book of #181 which are now destroyed from the fire. The cover to #181 was not in Len's posession, as it was sold many years ago and has not resurfaced since. Trimpe sold most of his other Hulk art to the Donalley brothers years ago... Hope that helps straighten out any confusion... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronty Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedy-D Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 I'm glad Len & his people are safe and okay. That said... O my god, the all the interior OA for Hulk 181? Yikes!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronty Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 sad indeed. at least someone out there still has the cover. its pretty cool to know that's out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timely Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 (edited) sad indeed. at least someone out there still has the cover. its pretty cool to know that's out there. That's not the only thing that's still out there! Luckily, I get to look at these every day thanks to my friend Vince. http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Page=1&Order=Date&Piece=253576&GSub=38015&GCat=0&UCat=0 http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Page=1&Order=Date&Piece=253574&GSub=38015&GCat=0&UCat=0 :o Historic...to say the least! West Edited April 22, 2009 by Timely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutant Manatee Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 I can't help but wonder, was the art totally consumed by flames, or is it just heavily damaged by smoke and water? Is it completely beyond any hopes of restoration? From what I've read in the blog of Len Wein's wife LINK the bathroom and bedroom were consumed by flames but items in the other areas of the house suffered major smoke and water damage. Do the Hulk pages still exist, but in heavily damaged form? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WYLDCHYLD Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Does anyone know what other art he owned by chance? I'm curious what else is now lost to history due to unfortunate circumstances... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comix4fun Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Does anyone know what other art he owned by chance? I'm curious what else is now lost to history due to unfortunate circumstances... I heard tell the Avengers #161 and Super Villain Team Up #14 covers were the first ones to go... C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Daddy Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 When they say the art was in his garage, is that where his studio was? I just can't see people having over 100k of paper art sitting next to their Pinto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvengersFan Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 You would be amazed by where people keep 5 figure pages of art lying around...as well as 100k + portfolios. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Daddy Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 True I probably would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 From Heritage's magazine, it looks like the Wolverine splash from Hulk 180 is coming to auction. Should be interesting to see how high it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
