Susan Cicconi

[TrippyMcSkippy-migration]

Yeah, I'll probably get some hate mail from this post...But I must say...I had two books restored by her and I wasn't impressed. I mean, she is "supposed" to be the best right? I think she is more talk than anything else...anyone agree with me? I have a story to tell, but I won't get into it--but the bottom line is she did not come through...Anyone out there get a grasp of what I am saying?

[Cimm]

Yeah, I'll probably get some hate mail from this post...But I must say...I had two books restored by her and I wasn't impressed. I mean, she is "supposed" to be the best right? I think she is more talk than anything else...anyone agree with me? I have a story to tell, but I won't get into it--but the bottom line is she did not come through...Anyone out there get a grasp of what I am saying?

 

I'm thinking you might better elucidate... like, give with the story, mate... I mean, she's a bit of a legend, enshe? What happened???

[FFB]

Yeah, I'll probably get some hate mail from this post...But I must say...I had two books restored by her and I wasn't impressed. I mean, she is "supposed" to be the best right? I think she is more talk than anything else...anyone agree with me? I have a story to tell, but I won't get into it--but the bottom line is she did not come through...Anyone out there get a grasp of what I am saying?

 

I think Kenny S. and Matt Nelson as a combo (Classics Inc.) are the best in the business right now. They are doing groundbreaking work and the results they're getting are unlike anything I have seen before. The irony is hilarious because for years, Matt N. had the reputation as the premier, high volume pressing service first, whereas his full blown restoration practice seemed almost an afterthought because it was too time consuming and wasn't particularly profitable. Now his business is not only the best at pressing books, it's the best at pretty much everything on the hard core restoration side as well (with new, revolutionary developments coming all the time thanks to an anally retentive, insomniac, mad scientist who he keeps locked in a basement in Indiana).

 

As an added bonus, he and Kenny have managed to improve their methods to the point that even the hard core restoration is a lot more efficient and profitable - which is to say nothing of the dramatic improvement in quality of the end product that they're getting. The books they're turning out are stunning, mind-blowing, squint-your-eyes-and-pull-your-face-to-within-an-inch-of-the-monitor-because-you-can't-believe-how-good-it-looks amazing. They're literally doing things that no one thought possible five years ago, and are improving on virtually every aspect of restoration, from stain removal, infilling and inpainting, reinforcing, etc. They've taken comic book restoration into the 21st century.

 

And no, I don't work for Classics Inc. or make a commission. I've just had my mind blown away so many times on so many books over the past couple of years that I would be derelict in my duties if I didn't say this. Judging from the website photos of most professionals, they seem to have worked on five or six "great books" that turned out really well, and there are pictures of those books adorning said professionals' websites to show what they can do. (And three years later, those same pictures are still there, with no new ones.) Most of those pictures are smallish and somewhat grainy, and they have to be because up until recently, really good moderate or extensive restoration wasn't exactly invisible when looked at closely. On those pictures that are neither small nor grainy, it's pretty easy to spot the work done even on my 14 inch laptop monitor.

 

Kenny, on the other hand, has posted screen-stretching photos in super duper high resolution of his work. From a resto-porn perspective, the typical restoration professional's website photos are like casually flipping through a JC Penney lingerie catalog circa 1971, while Kenny's pictures are like smashing your Lamborghini at 175 MPH into Hugh Hefner's 2008 birthday party orgy. The books he's worked on are crazy (both in terms of how key they are and also in terms of the beat-to-tedness of the books themselves). And he's doing some really impressive stuff to them, akin to raising the dead in many cases where the books had brittle pages (which was formerly considered virtually unfixable).

 

As for Susan, I've seen some of her work in the past and by those standards (1980s/1990s), she was the best I had seen. I haven't seen any of her work in a long time because she was out of the game for so long and have no idea what her current skill levels are. So spill with the details already.

[rockman2008]

She only accepts "softball" jobs these days. Anything mildly complicated in paper restoration, she'll have difficulty. I am interested in hearing your story.

[Count]

[comicwiz]

Yeah, I'll probably get some hate mail from this post...But I must say...I had two books restored by her and I wasn't impressed. I mean, she is "supposed" to be the best right? I think she is more talk than anything else...anyone agree with me? I have a story to tell, but I won't get into it--but the bottom line is she did not come through...Anyone out there get a grasp of what I am saying?

 

I think Kenny S. and Matt Nelson as a combo (Classics Inc.) are the best in the business right now. They are doing groundbreaking work and the results they're getting are unlike anything I have seen before. The irony is hilarious because for years, Matt N. had the reputation as the premier, high volume pressing service first, whereas his full blown restoration practice seemed almost an afterthought because it was too time consuming and wasn't particularly profitable. Now his business is not only the best at pressing books, it's the best at pretty much everything on the hard core restoration side as well (with new, revolutionary developments coming all the time thanks to an anally retentive, insomniac, mad scientist who he keeps locked in a basement in Indiana).

 

As an added bonus, he and Kenny have managed to improve their methods to the point that even the hard core restoration is a lot more efficient and profitable - which is to say nothing of the dramatic improvement in quality of the end product that they're getting. The books they're turning out are stunning, mind-blowing, squint-your-eyes-and-pull-your-face-to-within-an-inch-of-the-monitor-because-you-can't-believe-how-good-it-looks amazing. They're literally doing things that no one thought possible five years ago, and are improving on virtually every aspect of restoration, from stain removal, infilling and inpainting, reinforcing, etc. They've taken comic book restoration into the 21st century.

 

And no, I don't work for Classics Inc. or make a commission. I've just had my mind blown away so many times on so many books over the past couple of years that I would be derelict in my duties if I didn't say this. Judging from the website photos of most professionals, they seem to have worked on five or six "great books" that turned out really well, and there are pictures of those books adorning said professionals' websites to show what they can do. (And three years later, those same pictures are still there, with no new ones.) Most of those pictures are smallish and somewhat grainy, and they have to be because up until recently, really good moderate or extensive restoration wasn't exactly invisible when looked at closely. On those pictures that are neither small nor grainy, it's pretty easy to spot the work done even on my 14 inch laptop monitor.

 

Kenny, on the other hand, has posted screen-stretching photos in super duper high resolution of his work. From a resto-porn perspective, the typical restoration professional's website photos are like casually flipping through a JC Penney lingerie catalog circa 1971, while Kenny's pictures are like smashing your Lamborghini at 175 MPH into Hugh Hefner's 2008 birthday party orgy. The books he's worked on are crazy (both in terms of how key they are and also in terms of the beat-to-tedness of the books themselves). And he's doing some really impressive stuff to them, akin to raising the dead in many cases where the books had brittle pages (which was formerly considered virtually unfixable).

 

As for Susan, I've seen some of her work in the past and by those standards (1980s/1990s), she was the best I had seen. I haven't seen any of her work in a long time because she was out of the game for so long and have no idea what her current skill levels are. So spill with the details already.

 

Feedback from customers is invaluable - but your take is an entertaining read too. Thanks for sharing this! (thumbs u

[CheezyWhiz]

She only accepts "softball" jobs these days. Anything mildly complicated in paper restoration, she'll have difficulty. I am interested in hearing your story.

 

You may have a point.. I had originally contacted her to work on my Popeye Feature Book #nn and she turned it down. She thought the book was too far gone to fix. Classics Inc never balked at taking the job and the finished book looks amazing.

 

 

From a resto-porn perspective...

 

resto-porn

[DrWatson]

Susan worked on a couple or three books for me several years ago and I was quite pleased with the outcome. However, I fear that in terms of modern restoration, she has passed her prime. Furthermore, I believe her association with NOD has not been the best thing for her.

[Silverslinky]

[VintageComics]

Yeah, I'll probably get some hate mail from this post...But I must say...I had two books restored by her and I wasn't impressed. I mean, she is "supposed" to be the best right? I think she is more talk than anything else...anyone agree with me? I have a story to tell, but I won't get into it--but the bottom line is she did not come through...Anyone out there get a grasp of what I am saying?

 

I've heard that Susan's work is top notch from many people who are pretty well respected so if you are going to sling some mud you really need to back it up.

 

 

[VintageComics]

Susan worked on a couple or three books for me several years ago and I was quite pleased with the outcome. However, I fear that in terms of modern restoration, she has passed her prime. Furthermore, I believe her association with NOD has not been the best thing for her.

 

I really think you need to strike the word NOD from your vocabulary. It'll do you a world of good.

 

[Hero Restoration]

[Transplant]

Susan worked on a couple or three books for me several years ago and I was quite pleased with the outcome. However, I fear that in terms of modern restoration, she has passed her prime. Furthermore, I believe her association with NOD has not been the best thing for her.

This is just stupid. Careful, your prejudice is showing.

 

As for her work, I only have one example to review and it is pretty amazing.

 

 

[comicdonna]

Susan worked on a couple or three books for me several years ago and I was quite pleased with the outcome. However, I fear that in terms of modern restoration, she has passed her prime. Furthermore, I believe her association with NOD has not been the best thing for her.

 

I really think you need to strike the word NOD from your vocabulary. It'll do you a world of good.

 

Unfortunately, he can't help himself. He's too much against disclosure.

[comicdonna]

Susan worked on a couple or three books for me several years ago and I was quite pleased with the outcome. However, I fear that in terms of modern restoration, she has passed her prime. Furthermore, I believe her association with NOD has not been the best thing for her.

This is just stupid. Careful, your prejudice is showing.

 

As for her work, I only have one example to review and it is pretty amazing.

 

 

Wow!

Very cool!

[Transplant]

As for Susan, I've seen some of her work in the past and by those standards (1980s/1990s), she was the best I had seen. I haven't seen any of her work in a long time because she was out of the game for so long and have no idea what her current skill levels are. So spill with the details already.

I have a lot of respect for what's being done at Classics Inc. But don't you think this is really the only on-topic response to the comments of the OP?

 

And yes, obviously you came to get your story out, so please do Trippy.

[Transplant]

Susan worked on a couple or three books for me several years ago and I was quite pleased with the outcome. However, I fear that in terms of modern restoration, she has passed her prime. Furthermore, I believe her association with NOD has not been the best thing for her.

 

I really think you need to strike the word NOD from your vocabulary. It'll do you a world of good.

 

Unfortunately, he can't help himself. He's too much against disclosure.

Mike, that's not Doc's reason for the anti-NOD stuff. Let's not muddy the waters.

[Hero Restoration]

Susan worked on a couple or three books for me several years ago and I was quite pleased with the outcome. However, I fear that in terms of modern restoration, she has passed her prime. Furthermore, I believe her association with NOD has not been the best thing for her.

This is just stupid. Careful, your prejudice is showing.

 

As for her work, I only have one example to review and it is pretty amazing.

 

 

First let me say I think it looks great and I hope my work looks as good or better some day.

Just one thing I noticed, The whites are whiter but almost all the colors are a lighter shade now. I did that to a X-men 34 and that was the second complaint I got about it when I posted it. She told me she doesn't "bleach" but it clearly was bleached, in fact it looks like acetone was used on it.

[Transplant]

First let me say I think it looks great and I hope my work looks as good or better some day.

Just one thing I noticed, The whites are whiter but almost all the colors are a lighter shade now. I did that to a X-men 34 and that was the second complaint I got about it when I posted it. She told me she doesn't "bleach" but it clearly was bleached, in fact it looks like acetone was used on it.

Let's not speculate as to what was done. How about just reading the detailed listing she provides.

 

[Transplant]

First let me say I think it looks great and I hope my work looks as good or better some day.

Just one thing I noticed, The whites are whiter but almost all the colors are a lighter shade now. I did that to a X-men 34 and that was the second complaint I got about it when I posted it. She told me she doesn't "bleach" but it clearly was bleached, in fact it looks like acetone was used on it.

Also, there's some difference attributable to the scanners. Here's Susan's scan of the book: