FrankJP

Hi Mike, These look great, as well as your full collection, very nice! I wanted to add a quick note that Par2ch was the facilitator who helped me with those particular Sketch Books, picking them up, submitting them. As expected, he did a great job, evidenced by maintaining a 9.9, not easy in a sketch cover that the artists are handling. Have a Happy New Year!

Hello everyone, I wanted to give a big thanks out to Dan "Par2ch" for helping me get a handful of books signed and sketched by Joe Benitez & Peter Stiegerwald at Dragoncon last year. He took great care and handling, all the books came back with excellent grades, including a couple sketches, one which graded at a 9.9. He kept me informed when CGC had them, when graded, etc, thanks for the help! Here are a couple of the books. I don't really collect sketch covers, but wanted these for my LM set, and am thrilled with them.

I had an issue as well, had a non-payment case open, but he paid the day before I was going to close it out. I sent a message as well, asking if he was going to go through with it, but no response. Heck, if he would have replied saying he needed some extra time, I would have been OK, but nothing. Got paid in the end, but hate dealing with that.

Received my first covers, Lady Mechanika Issue #0 and Issue #1, from Joe Benitez...one of my favorite artists and love this book.

Thanks again for all the advice, it's a big help to hear from folks who have been in the field. I know I've made my fair share of mistakes when diving into something new, so avoiding the pitfalls will make this a much more fun experience.

Purchaseda Soulfire with Turner SS that arrived quickly and just as described, very happy with the whole deal.

I would like to thank everyone so far for all their advice, it will definitely help! I still need to pick up a few storage supplies, so far just a couple portfolios, 19x13 and 11x14, but want to pick up some more bags/boards to put them in as well. I did a thread a couple months back that had some good ideas on that. I purchased a cover from Joe Benitez, should have it soon. He's at the top of my list and am very excited about it. I've been looking for awhile at a couple of other pieces by a couple other artists I like, closing in on a couple of things. It's more modern stuff, which is what I enjoy and makes me happy. I have started looking at some older pieces, from characters I really like, and all, but still a lot to learn so definitely going to wade slowly. Thanks again for all the help, and always open for more tips/advice!

Thanks, I'm definitely listening and trying to save myself some heartache and $$ as I go forward.

Thanks for the replies, some good information. I'm feeling a bit better in that I've been pretty cautious and have been following the market for awhile, picking up just a cover. I do have several commissions and sketch covers, but I put those in separate categories(pub vs unpub). My commission themes are not the most popular so I care most about what I like, rather than what others do. So, I've been watching pieces that I really like, rather than what might be otherwise popular. I still enjoy going through the commissions and covers I have and often find something new about the art, that's something I don't want to change. I have no plans on making a living out of this, do not thinking of it as an investment. I do factor it in some since we're talking a fair amount of money, but it's not the intent. Thanks again, this has helped with some ideas, reinforced some good practices that I will definitely follow.

Thanks again, appreciate it! I wish I could buy everything I thought was cool! I spent a little toouch like that on collecting books and such, so been through that unfortunately. I do have quite the bookmark collection now though, hehe. My question on publishers was I guess more of a general trend, if anything. I understand that good art is good art, but that doesn't always tell the story, or that's my perception. Thanks again, appreciate it!

Hey Mephisto, thank you for the advice. I did buy a cover as I really liked it and am happy. I haven't purchased any pages yet, but am looking into it, if I find some that are really striking. I've seen a few, some nice splash pages, but haven't pulled triggers yet. I like the covers as they are often, it seems to me, the most visually striking, but of course pricey, so I can see some caution there. I am still trying to figure out what I like...a trip to a convention next year to see some in person is something I am looking forward to. I guess my philosophy as I learn the market and all is to buy things that really hit a chord, only pieces that I really like from artists I really like. Thanks again for taking the time to answer.

Hi Malvin, Thank you for taking the time to give some advice. I'm looking around, being a bit cautious, and focusing mostly on what I like. I have purchased a cover, but I am very happy with it, but I understand your point. I am not really looking at these items as an investment, as in something to make money on, but it is something I want to be cognizant of as items are not inexpensive. Thanks again, and you are right in that I want to learn more about the market before diving in too much, hence my questions. Thanks again, appreciate it very much!

Hi, I've recently become very interested in collecting published original art, along with more larger commissions. I did some searching, poorly perhaps, but was just looking for general tips, advice, things that could be a benefit to a newer collector(other than to not start!). Things to stay away from, what to look for, the condition of the OA and how that is handled? I've looked at covers to some more modern books, and not sure if there are any general thoughts on the OA for regular covers vs. variant covers? I've been looking mostly at covers, as I am drawn more to them, but is this a better investment over pages, or is it just based mostly on the content and artist? (While I love the art, at these prices, of course I look at longer term value). How does independent OA compare versus Marvel or DC work, or does that not matter as much? Basically, just wanted to learn from the experts a little, try to avoid any costly mistakes or learn the hard way on things. I've always loved the art, but not something I've ever collected and I've learned enough to know that I could always use a few tips. Thanks for any help, Frank

Big thanks to Rich Henn and Joel Elad for all their help the past few weeks, thank you, thank you, thank you!

Very nice, grats on that Adam.

Big thanks to Rich Henn for getting a couple sketches for me at the VA Comicon last year, love them! I posted them in the sketch covers threads.

I didn't much like the bricks, shows a thought process they don't have, or at least that's my interpretation. They could have had the same effect by just showing a zombie banging their head against the glass, or with some type of helmet, or something that could cause a break? Oh well, I'll enjoy the show for what it is and not spend time or energy trying to pick out all the things that were different from the comic.

I never expected it to follow the comic book exactly...it's just not the way it's done. My wife has real all the True Blood and Dexter books and she comments often how the show is moving further and further away. Perhaps they do not believe they can follow the book entirely for reasons of casting, or just how the story can be told on TV, or some other reason. I understand the fear of TV people coming and thinking they know better and ruining things, but Kirkman is there, so I would imagine he would make sure the main points of the story are held true. Right or wrong, that doesn't mean the show can't be entertaining. I've enjoyed it so far, with only the climbing and rock breaking being the things that made me pause. My wife has even watched it, meaning it has gone well outside the comic book world.

This is a bit of an older transaction, but wanted to add it in. I was submitting some books with Adam(PeterPalmer) for Dragoncon and when I found out that several True Blood cast members were going to be there, I really wanted to get a #1 Photo Variant signed. I had no luck finding anything, so ended up asking Dre who was able to pick up a raw copy and due to time constraints, shipped it right to Adam for me(thanks to Adam too for putting up with me and multiple shipments), along with a few other books he found. I just found out today that the #1 Photo Variant with the 4 Cast Member signatures came back at a 9.8, just great! A TB#2 sketch also came back at a 9.8. Thanks again for the work in picking up books weekly and going the extra mile, or two, to help me out.

I have purchased several books from Steve, and as everyone has said, they come quickly, and in great shape...with very fair prices. I always check out his sell threads!

I'll add on, have purchased a number of items and all are great, many raw and several slabs. He has also gone above and beyond in working with CGC to handle some signatures and other things that were last minute, including handling a few Scarlet issues and getting them signed by the writer/artist. I also use his Pre-screen service and he happily answers all my questions(that probably drive him nuts). (thumbs u

Hi, I was looking for some clarification on the on-site grading. The minimum cost to get a book graded and picked up the same weekend is $120, correct(max $1500)? The savings is not having to pay shipping/insurance to/from the CGC facility? The services page lists 2.5% FMV††, with the min/max at $120/$1500....so just wanted to make sure I was reading that correctly. Thanks, Frank