Lee B.

I have been a Gene Colan fan for several years, and Cap #121 is a great-looking example of his work on that book. Joe Sinnott's inks are really strong on that issue. But I went for that book mostly because it was suddenly available, and I wanted to keep the pages together. My preference is quite costly, especially when I miss out on a page and it ends up with another dealer. Another collector had been trying to put Cap #121 back together but ended up consigning his 15 (?) pages to Mitch Itkowitz. When I saw those pages appearing on Mitch's site, I had a Pavlovian reaction to try to get them all. The same collector had a large number of Cap #120 pages--another nice-looking Colan/Sinnott book--and also consigned those pages to Mitch. I liked the mad scientist subject matter better in Cap #121, and couldn't afford both, so I went for #121. Many of the Cap #120 pages have ended up with Albert Moy, although a couple of good character pages remain on Mitch's site: https://graphiccollectibles.com/index.php/artist-search/?search=1&selectedSearchField[]=37&akID[37][atSelectOptionID][]=616 Cheers, Lee

Thanks for the kind words Terry (and everyone else)! I think you pretty much covered the perils and rewards of trying to reunite books. I'm sure it was pretty amazing to have a complete EC book with a cover. Those books must have been very tempting to disperse, selling off a complete story here and there, and then others breaking up those stories. Good luck with your British stories! Best, Lee

Good evening! I don't normally post art days, but I'm very happy to have acquired my 16th page to Captain America #121. This is by far the closest I have come to putting a book back together. Luckily for me, most of these pages were consigned last year to Mitch Itkowitz, who as always was easy and straightforward to work with. I didn't get all of the pages from Mitch, however, and have had to buy, sell, and trade to get a few of these pages (thanks David and Jeff!). You can see my latest acquisition here: http://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1474618 and all 16 pages here: http://www.comicartfans.com/galleryroom.asp?gsub=183592 I imagine Joe Sinnott may have some or all of the remaining four pages, but I'm keeping my eyes open. Best regards, Lee

Hello! My eBay auctions (see link above) are ending in a few hours. The highest bid for any of the three auctions right now is $26.00, so don't miss out on a possible bargain. Thanks, Lee

Thanks for bringing such amazing Sal Buscema art to the market Scott! I'm sure Sal appreciates your help. Best, Lee

Hello! I just listed some eBay auctions tonight, with some nice-looking art by Keith Giffen, Curt Swan, and Kurt Schaffenberger. You can see the auctions here: https://www.ebay.com/sch/leebenaka/m.html?item=112991933157&hash=item1a4ed812e5%3Ag%3AjiEAAOSwCGha-NTj&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562 Thanks, Lee

You gotta love the seller's other auction, which is a $250K comic art website domain name.

Like Nelson, I had a very good time at the show. It was nice to see Nick again, and fun to finally meet and talk to Nelson for a while. Nelson and Nick were a good pair and seemed to have a nice little crowd at their corner of the room most of the time. I personally did a bit better overall at the NYC show art sales-wise than at the most recent NJ show, although I did sell a few more books in NJ. I thought NJ was easier for setting up because you could just drive and park for free at the hotel parking lot and carry stuff in. At the NYC show, I had to lug my stuff about 10 blocks from my hotel because an early-morning bicycle race had the streets blocked off. Both rooms were comfortable and spacious. The attendee turn-out might have been a bit bigger at the NYC show than the recent NJ show. I would go back to both as an exhibitor, though. I didn't get to look around too much, but I was happy to chat with Rob Frey, Mike Williams, Alex Johnson, Rich Cirillo and his wife, and Joe Le when they stopped by my table. Before the show started up, I got to meet Glen Brunswick and talk Billy Graham art, and also visit with Brandon and his wife. I also was happy to say hello to Michael Finn, pick up a piece of art from Joseph Melchoir for a friend, and do a little deal with Rob Pistella. I'm sure I am forgetting others, and I apologize for that. I think I could get used to life behind the table. Best regards, Lee

Hi Flambit! I'll have to see if I have time for any Signature predictions. There is just so much stuff in that auction, I may not know where to begin. The weekly auctions seem more manageable. But if I have some time during a work trip this week, I might try to do some Signature auction predictions. Thanks for the suggestion! Best, Lee

Hello all! I just posted a new column of Heritage weekly art predictions and results on my ComicArtAds site. You can see it here: http://www.comicartads.com/content/heritage-weekly-auction-ending-5618 Thanks, Lee

Hi all! I'll be setting up this Sunday at the NYC Comic Art Expo to sell copies (signed if you want) of my new biography of inker Dave Hunt, which also is available on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Dave-Hunt-Artists-Lee-Benaka/dp/1543928757/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1525438544&sr=1-1&keywords=benaka&dpID=51scU%2BCDA2L&preST=_SX218_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch). I will be sharing a table with Paul Handler, who has a very deep and wide collection and should have some very nice bronze age Marvel and DC pages for sale at the show. In addition, I will have a portfolio chock-full of affordable original art from the Dave Hunt estate. If you like your Art Expo preview art with a few less zeros in the asking price, please check out my preview here: http://www.comicartfans.com/galleryroom.asp?gsub=151037 I may also have some old art catalogs at my table for you to peruse and cry over, so please stop by and say hello! Cheers, Lee

"You're Heisenberg." "You're right."

Thanks for the kind feedback Rick! You weren't the only person to accuse me of being too high on 4/20. I guess we were both a little too conservative with our estimates, as the page closed at $1,500 plus BP. I think the Phantom Stranger page was very special and quite worth it. These Aparo prices are going to be interesting to watch over the next few weeks/months. Cheers, Lee

I believe I got a final table and will be sharing it with Paul Handler. Paul will have a great variety of cool Marvel and DC art. I'll have art from the Dave Hunt estate and will be selling signed copies of my book Dave Hunt: An Artist's Life, which by the way is now available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dave-Hunt-Artists-Lee-Benaka/dp/1543928757/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524420212&sr=8-1&keywords=benaka&dpID=51scU%2BCDA2L&preST=_SX258_BO1,204,203,200_QL70_&dpSrc=srch You can also get a copy of the book directly from me via mail if you send me a PM. Thanks, Lee Benaka

Thanks for your kind words Rich! I certainly do admire your ability to put together a nice column every week. I don't always succeed in that, but I have just posted some predictions for this Sunday's Heritage weekly auction, which you can read here: http://www.comicartads.com/content/heritage-weekly-auction-ending-42218 Cheers, Lee

Good morning! I just posted some new predictions for this Sunday's Heritage weekly auction, as well as a recap of my surprisingly accurate predictions from two weeks ago. You can read it all here: http://www.comicartads.com/content/heritage-weekly-auction-ending-4818 Thanks, Lee

This is a fun exercise Bronty. If you search, in addition to Heritage, the database at www.comicartads.com , you can find these results from the time frame you documented: 1952 http://www.comicartads.com/content/astonishing-19-cover 1966 http://www.comicartads.com/content/strange-tales-142-cover http://www.comicartads.com/content/kid-colt-outlaw-131-cover http://www.comicartads.com/content/rawhide-kid-54-cover 1967 http://www.comicartads.com/content/x-men-36-cover http://www.comicartads.com/content/tales-astonish-91-cover http://www.comicartads.com/content/tales-suspense-85-cover http://www.comicartads.com/content/avengers-40-cover http://www.comicartads.com/content/x-men-37-cover http://www.comicartads.com/content/two-gun-kid-85-cover http://www.comicartads.com/content/avengers-45-cover http://www.comicartads.com/content/avengers-36-cover These could all be duplicates of the records you found at Heritage, but maybe there are a few extra covers to add to the yearly totals. It could be interesting to see during what years these covers were offered for sale "back in the day." Best regards, Lee

Here's the CBG ad that Mike mentioned. For more gut-wrenching blasts from the past, check out www.comicartads.com Shamelessly yours, Lee

Hi all! I just posted a new column my ComicArtAds website, where I once again try to predict the closing prices on some pages in this week's Heritage auction, included pieces by Aparo, Perez, and Tuska/Everett/Colletta: http://www.comicartads.com/content/heritage-weekly-auction-ending-32518 Thanks, Lee

I appreciate your kind words, and I am very happy that you like your page. It was nice to meet you and your wife at the show on Sunday! Best regards, Lee

Hi Fred! The Comic Art Con was a nice time. It was my first time having a table at a show. Several old collector friends, and some new ones, stopped by to say hello and buy books. I sold 10 books, which more than covered the price of the table. I also sold some pages, mostly inexpensive Staton/Hunt Scooby Doo pages, at the end of the show to Anthony Snyder. In addition, I had some old art catalogs at my table for folks to check out. As Brandon mentioned in this thread, I have several Dave Hunt pages listed for sale in my CAF gallery, and I will be posting more in the future. Please let me know if you are looking for anything. And if you or anyone else wants to get a copy of they book, you can buy it here: https://store.bookbaby.com//bookshop/book/index.aspx?bookURL=Dave-Hunt-An-Artists-Life1 or pre-order it here: https://www.amazon.com/Dave-Hunt-Artists-Lee-Benaka/dp/1543928757/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1521602137&sr=1-1&keywords=benaka Or contact me directly for a copy. Thanks! Best regards, Lee

I appreciate your kind words! That's strange about the Infinity War #1 page. Maybe the consignor insisted that the page be listed in a Signature auction instead of a weekly auction? It was a nice piece for a weekly auction, but Heritage has run Amazing Spider-Man pages from the late 1960s in weekly auctions, so you see that sort of thing once in a while. Best, Lee

Good morning! I just posted a new auction prediction column for the Heritage auction ending this Sunday: http://www.comicartads.com/content/heritage-weekly-auction-ending-31818#overlay-context= Enjoy! Best regards, Lee

You should try your fellow APA'er Chad Kolean. I think he knows a lot about Jones's art. Best, Lee

Hi Mitch! Did you sell that splash before Tony Dispoto offered it in his 1976 catalog? Best regards, Lee