Researching Pieces 2 2

[BuraddoRun]

One of the things I really enjoy about this hobby is researching OA I get that isn't fully credited. I've picked up pieces that didn't have a listed artist, didn't have a listed title, or didn't have a listed issue or page number. Any time that happens, I do my best to hunt down that missing information, and sometimes uncover interesting stories about the artwork itself, or its creators. I've posted a few of these stories in this thread:

 

But, I want to know some of the things you've researched and discovered about pieces you own! Here's a couple more of mine I recently had to do my homework on:

1. This piece was listed on Anthony's website for cheap, and didn't credit an artist or title. I liked it because the art was somewhat classic, and there was a funny interaction with an arcade game. First, I Googled "Bill," "Pam," "brother," "sister," and "comic," based on the story on the page, and after searching through images and articles/blogs, I found out it came from Dynamite Duo, which was published serially in Dynamite Magazine. Then, I found some old Heritage auctions that gave general information like, "Dynamite Duo, Chic Stone, circa 1970s." From there, I found various pictures online that had story numbers in the title. The way Bill and Pam looked changed over the years to match the current times, and I eventually found a pic that looked like it came from around the same time my page did. From there, I resorted to buying a random issue off ebay. I had learned that Dynamite Duo didn't start getting published until a bit later after the magazine started, so I bought a late issue first. Unfortunately, it ended up not having a Duo comic in it. Then, I bought an older issue, but it had an older comic. From there, I simply counted issues to my estimated story number, and bought yet another issue. I was close, but still not there. Then I counted a little more, and found a listing that had a scan of the title page in it. Why hadn't I thought of that before?! I could look for listings with scans and/or PM the sellers to ask. So I emailed that seller. He told me his mag did indeed have a Dynamite Duo story in it, and he scanned it for me. As it turns out, that story was my story! Unfortunately, it was just Part 1, and mine must've come later, because it wasn't in that mag. But, that would mean that surely my page would be within the next 2-3 issues. I looked for listings with scans, and literally found every issue with my story in it EXCEPT for my specific page's part! Still, there was 1 issue in-between the rest that didn't have scans. So it had to be my issue, right? I purchased it, and sure enough, it was my issue! Dynamite Magazine Issue 83, page 18. Dynamite Duo # 47, by (most likely, according to multiple sources) Chic Stone.

2. I've had this manga piece for a while, but I bought it at a time when I was collecting anime cels and not comic art, so I grouped it with them. The listing was in Japanese, and Google translate gave me a name, but the listing just said "illustration by" and didn't label where it came from besides the artist. To top it off, the translation of the name was off, which I didn't know at the time, so I resigned to just having a cool art piece of unknown origin. But, literally last night, I was reading old posts about manga, and anticipating some manga OA that was scheduled to arrive today, and I remembered that piece. So, I dig it out of my old cel Itoyas, and took another look. Then, I went through my Mandarake purchase history, and reran the listing through Google Translate. This time it gave me the correct name of the artist. I did a search with the Japanese name as well, which confirmed it and got me to a page that listed his work. I searched through those titles and found something that sounded like it fit the theme of my art (Geopolice Joe), and when I puled it up, it definitely fit! OK, now I had the title of the book, but where was my art? After some more Googling, I found an auction on Yahoo Japan that had pictures of the front and backs of the first 2 volumes of the collected manga, and there it was! It's on the back cover of the 2nd volume! Anyhow, I was about to bid on the auction, because I like getting the finished publications where all my OA are, but then Googled some more and found a used manga store in Japan (this title is out of print unless I want a digital version). So, I placed an order for all 3 volumes, because why not? I'll attach a pic that I stole (shhhh) from the Yahoo auction page as well.

Edited April 8, 2021 by BuraddoRun

[John E.]

Great detective work! My research skills got nothing on yours!

[aokartman]

Thanks, fun read!  I also enjoy hunting down information about original comic art, and I have been looking into the background of my Milt Story archive of an unpublished daily strip, "Adam Bumm" which consists of 24 dailies and some character studies.  Milt Story was a bullpen artist and idea man for Al Capp Enterprises, and wanted a daily of his own.

Turns out he had created a 4-page story "Planet Pete" in the back of Li'l Abner #87 (thanks, comics.org) which inspired Adam Bumm.  Cool!  I picked up a reader copy of the book to see for myself.  Best, David S. Albright

 

 

[exitmusicblue]

Eggcellent thread idea as always, good Buraddo, and solid sleuthing.

The extent of my recent research involved tracking down the Werewolf (White Wolf) sourcebook that contained a painting done by Brian LeBlanc.  All I knew was the year of its creation, so I found a digital drove of sourcebooks and scrolled down page after page of werewolves and other beasties.  Upwards of a thousand+ pages.

Eventually, I hit jackpot... it was from the War Against the Pure sourcebook.  Felt great.  }:-)

Edited April 8, 2021 by exitmusicblue

[timguerrero]

nice topic! Yes, it is nice when you can do the research to learn were a piece of OA in your collection has been published. It takes a lot of skill and patience! 

[Lobstrosity]

I purchased this page from Excalibur back in 2012

It was listed as being the work of Steve Epting (penciller) and Philip Moy (Inker), but honestly it never looked right to me. The issue was credited to them however.

When I received it, my suspicions were confirmed, as I found a signature of Joe Madureira had been written in pencil on the front....but then erased (you could still make it out though). 

I started contacting the various artists, but had difficulty getting in touch with Joe Mad. As luck would have it though, in 2015 I saw that he was to make an appearance at SDCC, so I took the page with me and tracked him down to talk about it.

Sure enough, he said the work was his...in fact he said he was either still in high school when he did it, or just out. He filled in on just this one page for the issue! He signed the margin for me and gave me a few suggestions on who the inker was. With a little more sleuthing, Bill Anderson confirmed that they are his inks.

 

Edited April 9, 2021 by Lobstrosity

[vodou]

1 hour ago, Lobstrosity said:

I purchased this page from Excalibur back in 2012

It was listed as being the work of Steve Epting (penciller) and Philip Moy (Inker), but honestly it never looked right to me. The issue was credited to them however.

When I received it, my suspicions were confirmed, as I found a signature of Joe Madureira had been written in pencil on the front....but then erased (you could still make it out though). 

I started contacting the various artists, but had difficulty getting in touch with Joe Mad. As luck would have it though, in 2015 I saw that he was to make an appearance at SDCC, so I took the page with me and tracked him down to talk about it.

Sure enough, he said the work was his...in fact he said he was either still in high school when he did it, or just out. He filled in on just this one page for the issue! He signed the margin for me and gave me a few suggestions on who the inker was. With a little more sleuthing, Bill Anderson confirmed that they are his inks.

 

that's a great story