Jim Aparo, An Appreciation 1 1

[comicfanboy007]

So last night I won my first Jim Aparo page.

Per Heritage.com
“The page is most likely from an unused inventory story, as it was created on 1990 DC Bristol board, with no issue number written in the top margin, nor any other publication stamps. Ink over graphite on Bristol board with an image area of 9" x 14.75". Creasing in top left and bottom right corners, but doesn't affect the image area. In Excellent Condition.”

This is a very special page for me as it is drawn by my all time favorite Batman artist Jim Aparo. My best guess based on the inking is that 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’s still absolutely fantastic.

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.
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 finally won a piece from my grail Batman/Comic artist. The joy was palpable and I knew that this would be the first of many pieces I would eventually own from Jim Aparo. My Batman artist. Unfortunately I never had the opportunity to meet him. I was wondering if anyone here had the chance to meet him at a Comic Con or Signing and if they did, would they mind sharing any stories or anecdotes about this incredible artist. What was he like? Thank you in advance.

[comicfanboy007]

My second Aparo piece is gorgeous!!! Feel free to share your thoughts, Aparo OA, or just your appreciation of a great artist. 

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.

[Rick2you2]

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

[DjMartini]

Awesome peaces of art! Kind of jealous as Aparo is my favorite Batman artist as well. Congrats! 

[comicfanboy007]

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.

[Rick2you2]

7 hours ago, comicfanboy007 said:

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

Bleeds like that are rare. Aparo really did a nice job.

[Flambit]

Congratulations!  Like you, my dad bought me my first issue of Batman (by Aparo) at our local Circle K in the late 70's, and it was one of the first four or five comics I ever owned, and my first issue with Batman.  Aparo will always be my #1 Batman artist, certainly from a sentimental standpoint.  Hopefully you'll be able to track down a page or the cover to #442 and add it to your collection!

[theflashunc]

I know there's Adams fans and Jones fans and Jock and Breyfogle and everywhere in between, but my favorite Batman artist will always be Aparo. 

[Rick2you2]

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.

[comicfanboy007]

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?  

[Rick2you2]

6 hours ago, comicfanboy007 said:

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?  

2 collections came on the market.

[Chillax23]

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:

[comicfanboy007]

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!

[Norrin_Radd]

I love Aparo's Spectre run in Adventure, but this price seems way over the top. 

https://comics.ha.com/itm/original-comic-art/jim-aparo-adventure-comics-433-story-page-12-spectre-original-art-dc-1974-/a/121821-14006.s?ic4=ListView-Thumbnail-071515

 

[Rick2you2]

11 hours ago, Norinn Radd said:

I love Aparo's Spectre run in Adventure, but this price seems way over the top. 

https://comics.ha.com/itm/original-comic-art/jim-aparo-adventure-comics-433-story-page-12-spectre-original-art-dc-1974-/a/121821-14006.s?ic4=ListView-Thumbnail-071515

 

I agree. I suspect it has been fueled by some really high prices which were recently paid for the Aparo Spectre art lately, including a cover for Adventure. 

One thing I find surprising is that even though the amount of material Aparo did is quite high, the prices keep going higher.

[jjonahjameson11]

12 hours ago, Rick2you2 said:

I agree. I suspect it has been fueled by some really high prices which were recently paid for the Aparo Spectre art lately, including a cover for Adventure. 

One thing I find surprising is that even though the amount of material Aparo did is quite high, the prices keep going higher.

Very true!

And perhaps another example of increasing Aparo prices may be seen at Tuesday nights Clink auction, when the complete interiors to Brave and the Bold 132 is auctioned off.  Don’t recall ever seeing complete B&B interiors being sold in one lot before...

http://www.comiclink.com/auctions/item.asp?back=%2FAUCTIONS%2FALLSUB.ASP%3FFocused%3D1%26id%3D1398%23Item_1248796&id=1248796&itemType=1

[Norrin_Radd]

Lovely Aparo Green Lantern page just ended on Heritage. 

https://comics.ha.com/itm/original-comic-art/jim-aparo-the-brave-and-the-bold-173-page-14-original-art-dc-1981-/a/121825-14007.s?ic4=ListView-Thumbnail-071515

 

Just read the story in my Aparo Legends of the Dark Knight Volume 3.

[jjonahjameson11]

Yeah, and others must have been thinking the same ‘cause it sold for $4.2K ?

[Rick2you2]

9 hours ago, jjonahjameson11 said:

Yeah, and others must have been thinking the same ‘cause it sold for $4.2K ?

Has anyone been paying close attention to various sub-trends for all the Aparo art prices which have come up lately? Some seem to be really high; others, not so much. I'm also a little surprised if everything is moving higher because so much has come on the market as of late. Anyway, just curious.

[BeholdersEye]

7 hours ago, Rick2you2 said:

Has anyone been paying close attention to various sub-trends for all the Aparo art prices which have come up lately? Some seem to be really high; others, not so much. I'm also a little surprised if everything is moving higher because so much has come on the market as of late. Anyway, just curious.

Where with Marvel, it used to be Kirby and Ditko, then Romita and Buscema were the next tier to go up in value, followed by Kane, then now you're seeing Pollard and other solid run artists go up, I feel with Aparo, he's in that Pollard realm of an underappreciated artist who has an excellent resume of his body of work for DC that is now being recognized.

Art from the 1980's and prior continues to shoot up.  It's only a matter of time when some of the mediocre 90's art surges and becomes not-so-average.

The only things that don't seem to go up or has less investment potential, yet many today still spend good money on are commissions and CGC certified sketch covers in the original art realm where published mainstream (Marvel and DC) super-heros seem to be the safest bet.