Best of 2020.. The Polls are open for just two more days 0

[Brian Peck]

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CASTING YOUR VOTES: 

Voting is a TWO STEP PROCESS. First, browse the entire list of entries and for the artworks you think are most deserving of your vote, please check the SELECT box under each artwork. This first step will help you narrow your list of favorite artworks on the page, so you can select as many artworks as you like. When you are done, click the "UPDATE FAVORITES" button at the top or bottom of the list. Now, all your favorite artworks in this Cateory are moved to the top of the list and are highlighted with a yellow background. You can refine the list if you like by selecting more artworks, or removing artworks by checking the REMOVE checkbox on already favorited artworks - but always click the "UPDATE FAVORITES" button to update your selections. You can now cast your vote by selecting no more than your 5 best artworks from those that you have selected by checking the VOTE checkbox under each artwork you want to cast a vote for, then click the "CAST MY VOTE!" button. YOU CANNOT CHANGE YOUR YOUR VOTES AFTER THEY ARE CAST.

Voting starts Monday, January 18th
Voting end Sunday, January 31st at 11:59 PM EST

The 10 Categories:

1. Published/Unpublished Comic Book Covers
2. Published/Unpublished Comic Book Splashes, Title Pages
3. Published/Unpublished Interior Panel Pages
4. Published/Unpublished Comic Book Pin-Ups, Illustrations, Trading Cards 
5. Published/Unpublished Strip Art
6. Published/Unpublished Commissions/Recreations
7. Unpublished Sketch Covers/Convention Sketches
8. Published/Unpublished Media artwork (Music, TV, Movie)
9. Published/Unpublished Non-Comic Covers, Pin-ups, Illustrations, Gaming Art 
10. Published/Unpublished Other

You can access the Best of 2020 voting either from your Accounts and collections menu or Best of 2020 Preview page (link is there).

Here is a direct link, you must be logged in as a CAF member.

https://www.comicartfans.com/bestofyr.asp?fbclid=IwAR1esgKXx03ksg65N78Pv59Gxle2IeZi_kqwYS8eybxK1KIfVPgzfeVhsLk

 

I encourage everyone to vote even if they did not enter any artwork. There is over 1100 great pieces of artwork to view. Enjoy!!!!

 

 

 

Edited January 30, 2021 by Brian Peck

[rsonenthal]

Surprised I haven't read more about people's votes.  This year, there is a lot of great art, and I love the two step voting process.  In the past, I would try to look at each category from the top down and from the bottom up, so I didn’t use my votes too quickly, and inadvertently disadvantage someone with a name later in the alphabet.  The new two-step process is brilliant.  Thanks to Bill and Brian for improving a fun (but tough) process.  This took a really long time, but I love seeing so many pieces that I somehow missed!  So, perhaps more importantly, thanks to everyone that posted such amazing art to keep all of us busy with something to see over such a terrible year.

That said, my votes (alphabetical within each category) are as follows:

Published/Unpublished Comic Book Covers

Nick - Barry - Matt - Hal – Namor – Romita Jr. Amazing Spider-Man

Amir Eyal – Adams Detective

Wallace Harrington – Kaluta Shadow

Chris K – Aparo Detective

Michael One Minute Later – Miller Doctor Strange

Published/Unpublished Comic Book Splashes, Title Pages

Glynn Crain – Wrightson Swamp Thing

Robert Frey  - Byrne Avengers

Rob Hughes – Aparo Spectre

Dan P – Romita DD

Jason Schachter – Sale Superman

Published/Unpublished Interior Panel Pages

Comicart B – Everett Sub-mariner

Glynn Crain – Smith Weapon X

Ephiny22 – Batwoman origin

Luca Esse – Cooke New Frontier

Howland – Kirby Thor

Published/Unpublished Comic Book Pin-Ups, Illustrations, Gaming Art

Rich Cirillo – Willingham Elementals

Ray Cuthbert – Adams FF

DJ – Mignola Uncle Creepy

Jason K – Stevens Rocketeer

Justin Porter – Jim Lee Death

Published/Unpublished Strip Art (the toughest category IMHO)

Monty B – Raymond Flash Gordon and Jungle Jim topper

Felix Lu – Pearls Before Swine

Bill Morrison – Lil’ Abner 1944

Jeff Singh – Caniff Male Call daily

John Stuart – Frazetta Johnny Comet

Published/Unpublished Commissions/Recreations (ouch!  This was tough too!)

Alan Hamilton – Goblin Queen by Pearson

Alex Johnson – Sugar, Spike, and George Reeves by Aikins

Michael One Minute Later – Blacksad by Guardino

Leonard Richman – Warlock by Nauck

Jeff Singh – Dragon Lady by Manara!

Unpublished Sketch Covers/Convention Sketches

Stephen Albrecht – Mister X by Rivoche

Artless Artmore – Female figure by Hoffman

W Grief – Byrne Dark Phoenix

Hans Kosenkranius – Supergirl by Timm

Leonard Richman – Copiel Thor

Published/Unpublished Media artwork (Music, TV, Movie)

Imran A – Lord of the Rings

Soumya Das – Scooby Doo painting

Terry Doyle – The Passionate Friends movie poster

Matt E – NYT magazine

Jason K – Lone Wolf and Cub cover

Published/Unpublished Non-Comic Cover, Pin-ups, Illustrations, Gaming Art

Imran A – Dragon’s Lair Poster

Doug Ellis – DeLay Weird Tales prelim

Roger K – Kaluta Starstruck

Morrison – NCSFest poster

Jeff Singh – Count by Charles Addams

Published/Unpublished Other

Doug Ellis – Herman Vestal, Planet Stories

Doug Ellis – Virgil Finlay Illustration

Rabid Ferret-  Cuneo Santa Claus

George Hagenauer – Simpsons Mandala

Michael One Minute Later – James Montgomery Flagg

Again, thanks to all for posting!!!

Ron

 

 

[mtlevy1]

Wow – what a great set of art!

Agree the voting process is very well thought out but give an inch and they will take a mile so request for Bill - would be great, if after voting, there was a way to cut/paste our selection to share with the list

I generally selected what I’d like to see most in my collection

Published/Unpublished Comic Book Covers

Monty B. – Don Rosa, Scrooge McDuck --> Rosa Rules

Glynn Crain – BWS, Conan Saga --> BWS

Amir Eyal – Bill S, Dune --> Great Combo

Nick K. – Bucker, Iron Man 58 --> Nostalgia

Rick W. – Sim, Cerebus 15 --> Classic Indy

 

Published/Unpublished Comic Book Splashes, Title Pages

Nick Barry – BWS, MCP 84 --> Great run

Albert G. – Kirby, Cap 200 -->  Splashy!

Dino M. – Bill S, Elektra Assassin 6 -->  Perfect

West S. – Sal B,, MTU Ann 1 -->  Nostalgia

Oliver S. – Bisette / Totleben, ST 34 -->  Great Art

 

Published/Unpublished Interior Panel Pages

Comicart B – Everett, Sub-mariner -->  Outbid on this gem

Lee B – Perez, FF 178 -->  Impossible Man!!

Sean C – Kirby/ Everett, TTA 78 -->  Great art in this issue!

Dino M. – Kirby FF Ann 2 -->  It’s Clobberin’ Time

West S. – Ditko, ASM 32 -->  Splashy gem

Published/Unpublished Comic Book Pin-Ups, Illustrations, Gaming Art

Jason K – Stevens, Rocketeer -->  Classy!

Justin Porter – Jim Lee, Death -->  Nicely done

James B. – Moore, SIP -->  Cool nod to Mucha

Ingred N. – Hughes / Cho, Vampi -->  Tough to beat this combo!

Pat C. – Mignola, Hellboy 2013 -->  Need me some Hellboy

 

Published/Unpublished Strip Art

Monty B. – Raymond, Flash Gordon and Jungle Jim topper -->  Classy

Felix Lu – Pastis, Pearls Before Swine -->  Funny

John S. – Frazetta, Johnny Comet -->  Classic, I need one

Greg S. – Schulz, Peanuts Sunday -->  Sunday Baseball

Wally H. – McClusky, James Bond -->  Splash panel, 007 and Wally Provenance!

 

Published/Unpublished Commissions/Recreations (A lot of choices here!)

Octavio D. – Mignola, Dragon Man --> I was an underbidder!

George H. – Guice, Mlle. Marie -->  Love the character

George H. – Bastian, Wizard of Oz --> Great Combination

Javier S. -   Pope, My History with Comics --> Pope and large too

Jeff Singh – Dragon Lady by Manara --> umm...

 

 

 

Unpublished Sketch Covers/Convention Sketches

W Grief – Byrne Dark Phoenix -->  Classic Byrne

W Grief – Byrne Wolverine -->  Classic Byrne

Hans K. – Supergirl by Timm -->  Timmy!

Ray C. – Adams, Wrightson Bust -->  Always cool when an artists draws an artist

DJ – Art Adams, Hellboy -->  Art Adams, why not

 

Published/Unpublished Media artwork (Music, TV, Movie)

Imran A. – Jung, Lord of the Rings -->  Cool

Soumya D. – Troya, Scooby Doo painting -->  Nostalgia button

Terry D. – Fratini, The Victors -->  Now I need to see the movie

Jason K. – Pope, Lone Wolf and Cub cover -->  Pope party

Brian S. – Mignola, Hellboy -->  Mignola on his creation

 

Published/Unpublished Non-Comic Cover, Pin-ups, Illustrations, Gaming Art

Roger K. – Kaluta, Starstruck -->  Studio Guy

Jeff S. – Addams, Count -->  Classic artist on his most famous creation

Kopecki - Wrightson, Cycle of Werewolf -->  King-related, Wrightson beauty

Comicart B – Watterson, C&H -->  Anything Watterson gets a vote!

B J – Lily Jones, Scribe -->  I like birds

 

Published/Unpublished Other

Ray C – Stevens, Jill the Bare Witch -->  Stevens always gets a vote!

Doug E. – Finlay, Skeleton Illustration -->  I’m a big Finlay fan

Miguel AD – Kojima, Daigoro -->  Lone Wolf & Cub

Steve N. – Frazetta, Came the Dawn -->  I’ve got a panel so must vote for this one!

Ingrid N. – Smith, Lady and Tiger -->  Nice piece

 

 

Edited January 25, 2021 by mtlevy1

[Brian Peck]

Still a week left to vote!!!

Even if you did not enter you can still vote. Some great artwork posted in the Best of much of it most people probably missed seeing when they were originally posted.

 

Check out all the great art in Best of 2020!!!!

 

 

https://www.comicartfans.com/bestofyr.asp

[Stefanomjr]

Finished all my votes in all my categories last night. I love that this year we still have access to prior year results and that we can narrow the field down before making final vote in each category and finally that we can go back and see what we picked after the fact. 

Audit trail is important and it's fun to look back on prior votes and final results 

[The Voord]

I like how the new voting system works which is a lot more manageable to narrow down your selection.  I have cast my votes, with the exception of the sketch covers stuff - which doesn't really excite me.  I didn't keep a list of the art I voted for though the Ditko ASM pages were no-brainers for me to select.

Edited January 26, 2021 by The Voord

[Brian Peck]

Here are my votes. Alot of great artwork. My criteria is artwork I would like in my collection.

 

 

Published/Unpublished Comic Book Covers

 

George Perez -- Tales of the New Teen Titans #4 Cover (1982) Starfire!

Owner: Roger K.

Artist: George Perez (All)

 

"WEIRD" ADVENTURE COMICS #435 COVER ART by JIM APARO - THE SPECTRE!

Owner: Rob Hughes

Artists: Jim Aparo (Penciller) ,  Jim Aparo (Inker)

 

Frank Thorne

Owner: Zaddick L

Artist: Frank Thorne (All)

 

 

Will Eisner

Owner: Zaddick L

Artist: Will  Eisner (Penciller)

 

 

Frank Brunner

Owner: Zaddick L

Artist: Frank  Brunner (All)

 

Runners-up

Adams, Neal - Detective Comics #418 Cover (DC, 1971)

Owner: Amir Eyal

Artist: Neal Adams (All)

 

 

Aparo, Jim - Detective Comics, issue 443, cover (Nov 1974)

Owner: Chris K.

Artists: Jim Aparo (All) ,  Tatjana Wood (Assistant) ,  Gaspar Saladino (Assistant)

 

 

 

 

Published/Unpublished Comic Book Splashes, Title Pages

 

Buscema, John - Silver Surfer: Judgement Day Pg. 44 (Marvel, 1988)

Owner: Amir Eyal

Artist: John Buscema (Penciller)

 

'WEIRD" ADVENTURE COMICS #434 TITLE SPLASH ART by FRANK THORNE and JIM APARO!

Owner: Rob Hughes

Artists: Frank Thorne (Penciller) ,  Jim Aparo (Inker)

 

Tor #1, page 2-3 DPS

Owner: Steve Kriozere

Artists: Joe Kubert (All)

 

Haunt of Fear #15 (EC) "Death of Some Salesmen" (complete story)

Owner: Steven Filosa

Artist: Jack Davis (Penciller)

 

 

Bernie Wrightson - Swamp Thing No. 1 - Page 21 Splash

Owner: Glynn Crain

Artist: Bernie Wrightson (All)

 

 

 

 

Runners-up

 

Captain America 200 Title Splash

Owner: Alberto Gonzalez

Artists: Jack Kirby (Penciller) ,  Frank Giacoia (Inker)

 

Flash Comics 97 (DC 1948) - Hawkman splash by Joe Kubert - unpublished

Owner: Michael One Minute Later

Artist: Joe Kubert (Penciller)

 

RIMA, The Jungle Girl # 4, page 10 – superb art by NESTOR REDONDO

Owner: John Stuart

Artists: Nestor Redondo (Inker) ,  Joe Kubert (Layouts)

 

 

 

 

Published/Unpublished Interior Panel Pages

SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #29 SPLASH ART by FRANK THORNE - RED SONJA X 5!

Owner: Rob Hughes

Artists: Frank Thorne

 

Redondo - Sweet Rima Page

Owner: Mark Levy

Artists: Nestor Redondo (Inker) ,  Joe Kubert (Layouts)

 

Al WIlliamson - Flash Gordon 5 pg 4

Owner: Wallace  Harrington

Artist: Al Williamson (All)

 

Marvel Spotlight #5 pg 5 1st Ghost Rider

Owner: Chris Swartz

Artist: Mike Ploog (Penciller)

 

 

Silver Surfer Graphic Novel, page 16

Owner: michael weigant

Artists: Jack Kirby (Penciller) ,  Joe Sinnott (Inker)

 

 

Runners-up

 

Sub-Mariner #54, (Story: "Comes Now ... The Decision!", page 2)

Owner: Comicart B

Artist: Bill Everett (All)

 

 

Avengers #79 p18 John Buscema Lethal Legion Vision

Owner: Andrew Rallis

Artists: John Buscema (Penciller) ,  Tom Palmer (Inker)

 

 

 

 

Published/Unpublished Non-Comic Cover, Pin-ups, Illustrations, Gaming Art

 

John Richard Flanagan - "Son of the Dragon King" pulp illustration

Owner: Doug Ellis

Artist: John Flanagan (All)

 

Michael Wm. Kaluta -- Erotica Ann Plate from the 1980 Starstruck Portfolio

Owner: Roger K.

Artist: Michael Wm. Kaluta (All)

 

Blood Debt

Owner: Ryan M

Artist: John Jude Palencar (Painter)

 

Top Gear 3000 Super Nintendo Snes Original Box Cover Video Game Painting

Owner: Jeremy  S

Artist: Marc  Gabbana (All)

 

The Count by Charles Addams

Owner: Jeff Singh

Artist: Charles Addams (All)

 

 

 

 

Published/Unpublished Comic Book Pin-Ups, Illustrations, Gaming Art

 

DWM 100: The Legacy of Gallifrey (1985)

Owner: Ben Heywood

Artists: Garry Leach (All) ,  Gary Russell (Writer)

 

The Rocketeer Cover

Owner: Jason K

Artist: Dave Stevens (All)

 

 

Batman & Robin Portrait

Owner: Larry Wilson

Artist: Sprang (Penciller)

 

 

Storms at Sea Space Jockey

Owner: George Hagenauer

Artist: Mark Schultz (All)

 

Alex Nino

Owner: Zaddick L

Artist: Alex Nino (All)

 

 

 

 

Published/Unpublished Strip Art

Male Call by Milton Caniff

Owner: Jeff Singh

Artist: Milton Caniff (All)

 

Peanuts Daily 6/28/1960

Owner: Hans  Kosenkranius

Artist: Charles Schulz (All)

 

Secret Agent Corrigan

Owner: Roger K.

Artist: Al Williamson (All)

 

Alex Raymond Flash Gordon Sunday & Jungle Jim Topper 19.05.1940

Owner: Monty B

Artist: Alex Raymond (All)

 

Jim Davis - Garfield

Owner: Maicol Senzacqua

Artist: Jim Davis (All)

 

 

 

 

Published/Unpublished Commissions/Recreations

The Justice Society of America by Tom Derenick

Owner: michael dunne

Artist: Tom Derenick (All)

 

Shadowcat - Joseph Linsner

Owner: Steven Iwasa

Artist: Joseph Linsner (All)

 

Sprang Batman #20 cover recreation

Owner: Ron Lim

Artist: Sprang (All)

 

Dragon Lady by Milo Manara (NWS)

Owner: Jeff Singh

Artist: Milo Manara (All)

 

The Wildest She-Devil Unhanged - Belit, Pirate Queen of Conan

Owner: Robert Fairbanks

Artist: Sanjulian  (Painter)

 

 

 

 

Unpublished Sketch Covers/Convention Sketches

Hulk v. Thing by Sal Buscema

Owner: Ken Carson

Artist: Sal  Buscema ()

 

John Byrne X-men Dark Phoenix Sketch 1980

Owner: w grief

Artist: John Byrne (Penciller)

 

Everett - Namora and Human Torch Sketches

Owner: Mark Levy

Artist: Bill Everett (Penciller)

 

 

 

 

Published/Unpublished Media artwork (Music, TV, Movie)

The Lord of The Rings (1978) Movie Poster Concept Art

Owner: Imran A

Artist: Tom Jung (All)

 

 

Cover art for August 1992 New York Times Television Magazine 1st appearance of Harley Quinn Ever!

Owner: Matt E.

Artist: Bruce Timm (Layouts)

 

 

Mike Mignola Blade II Concept Art Storyboard

Owner: Brian Sieber

Artists: Mike Mignola (Penciller) ,  Mike Mignola (Inker)

 

 

 

 

Published/Unpublished Other

Green Arrow by Mike Grell Omnibus Cover Prelim

Owner: Malvin V

Artist: Mike Grell (Penciller)

 

Lady & Tiger

Owner: Ingrid Neilson

Artist: Dan  Smith (Painter)

 

Virgil Finlay - Weird Tales pulp illo - "The Skeleton in Armor"

Owner: Doug Ellis

Artist: Virgil Finlay (All)

 

Stevens, Dave - Jill, The Bare Witch

Owner: Ray Cuthbert

Artist: Dave Stevens (All)

 

Spider-Man Hostess Ad

Owner: michael Avila

Artist: Mike Esposito (Penciller)

[Ted_L]

I put in all my votes yesterday and it was really tough, particularly in the covers and pages categories!  Maybe in the future we should think about splitting the most popular categories out further by era -- maybe Pre-Silver Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, Copper Age, Modern Age.  At this point, most of the top vote-getters in those categories will probably be $50K or more pieces, so it would be nice to try and figure out how to split that further to give more art a chance to get recognized.

Agreed that the new voting process is much better -- kudos to Bill and Brian. I'm not posting my votes here as it was exhausting enough just to vote in every category.  I guess I had a good year, because while I doubt my covers will get many (if any) votes, I personally love them and smiled when I saw them show up.  I don't vote for my own pieces out of principle though.

A few additional thoughts:

What do people feel about art submitted that wasn't obtained in 2020, but just uploaded to CAF in 2020?  I know some people did it, but I think it kind of defeats the purpose of the exercise.  (I could probably get some votes by uploading my Wrightson Frankenstein or Ditko Dr. Strange, but it doesn't seem right since I've had them for 15-20 years). 

It definitely feels like enthusiasm for strip art has diminished in recent years as there's less and less each time.  Maybe more strip collectors are in Europe or older and don't post on CAF as much, but it's a shame.  There were definitely some great strips posted, but considering that many more people have probably read newspaper comic strips than comic books, it seems a bit counter-intuitive. I can't believe there wasn't even one Krazy Kat strip posted this year (although kudos again to Bill for organizing that great panel discussion on the strip recently).

[mtlevy1]

12 hours ago, Ted_L said:

I put in all my votes yesterday and it was really tough, particularly in the covers and pages categories!  Maybe in the future we should think about splitting the most popular categories out further by era -- maybe Pre-Silver Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, Copper Age, Modern Age.  At this point, most of the top vote-getters in those categories will probably be $50K or more pieces, so it would be nice to try and figure out how to split that further to give more art a chance to get recognized.

Agreed that the new voting process is much better -- kudos to Bill and Brian. I'm not posting my votes here as it was exhausting enough just to vote in every category.  I guess I had a good year, because while I doubt my covers will get many (if any) votes, I personally love them and smiled when I saw them show up.  I don't vote for my own pieces out of principle though.

A few additional thoughts:

What do people feel about art submitted that wasn't obtained in 2020, but just uploaded to CAF in 2020?  I know some people did it, but I think it kind of defeats the purpose of the exercise.  (I could probably get some votes by uploading my Wrightson Frankenstein or Ditko Dr. Strange, but it doesn't seem right since I've had them for 15-20 years). 

It definitely feels like enthusiasm for strip art has diminished in recent years as there's less and less each time.  Maybe more strip collectors are in Europe or older and don't post on CAF as much, but it's a shame.  There were definitely some great strips posted, but considering that many more people have probably read newspaper comic strips than comic books, it seems a bit counter-intuitive. I can't believe there wasn't even one Krazy Kat strip posted this year (although kudos again to Bill for organizing that great panel discussion on the strip recently).

I always thought it was art obtained in the year indicated - as you say, otherwise we could see no art in 2020 getting votes

 

[Bronty]

how do we check out the winners?

[Bronty]

never mind, I see its under the galleries column in CAF

[batman_fan]

My wife now thinks I am an uber dork.  I tried to tell her I was now a world renowned art collector but she isn't buying it.

[alxjhnsn]

14 hours ago, batman_fan said:

My wife now thinks I am an uber dork.  I tried to tell her I was now a world renowned art collector but she isn't buying it.

I understand.

I'm quite well known in my field and I have worked all over the world. I told my kids that I'm world famous with more knowledge of my field that 99.99999% of the people in the world. The didn't care.

:)

[The Voord]

5 hours ago, alxjhnsn said:

I'm quite well known in my field 

This?

 

[alxjhnsn]

3 hours ago, The Voord said:

This?

 

Exactly! (per the kids!)