Caltex98

Like David (Hi David!) I also collect humorous stuff where the one-page gag is quite common. I think I have shown this one before, but in this page from Josie #87 Dan DeCarlo shows how a pretty lame gag can be turned into something brilliant with a master behind the drawing board: If you click on the picture you will be directed to a bigger scan in my DeCarlo-gallery on CAF. BTW, is Sunday gags considered one-page stories or are they a category by themselves?

I own 88 OA pieces by Dan DeCarlo (I think), but if I have to single out one to keep it will be this Humorama page from 1963. It is from the very brief (so I have been told) period when he stopped doing inkwash and used zip-a-tone (or similar film) and cross-hatching instead. It also have two ladies in one drawing which even if it wasn't uncommon certainly is rarer than just one: This was the first Modesty Blaise strip (1560 from 1968 and the adventure "Bad Suki") I acquired and it is still my favourite (I own four). It shows off the artistic genius of Jim Holdaway and the effortless storytelling by writer Peter O'Donnell: Of the nine OA pieces by Frank Robbins I have in my collection I think I'd choose the magnificent Johnny Hazard Sunday page from June 4th, 1972. One of the last really huge (26" x 18 1/4") ones before he switched to 2-strip. The storytelling and attention to detail is incredible. Not to mention his very distinct lettering and dynamic inking. Like Brian I am a huge fan of Eduardo Barreto (even though I don't own nearly as many pieces of OA as him, only 33) and my favuorite is this two-page spread from Robin Annual #6 (1997). I think I have pointed out this before, but the name of the acting U.S Marshal seems very familiar...

Can't say I'm surprised. No U.S. vacation this year for me then.

When DC modernized their teenage humor comic Binky in the late sixties it would have been fun if they had teamed up with Archie and the gang. I asked Bill Galvan what it would have looked like, and with a little inspiration from classic Justice League covers this is his take on the subject: Before it was finished he designed two logos which can be seen on the pencils and inks respectively: Click on the pictures to see it in slightly larger format in my CAF gallery. There I also show the prelim and some of the authentic fashions the characters are wearing on the cover.

Some time I eventually will get around to read it...

My humble nominees for Best of 2019: Published/Unpublished: Covers Megan Levens - Angel City #3 - cover Published: Interior Panel Pages Megan Levens - Angel City #6 - p10 Published: Strip Art David Wright - Carol Day - strip 1748 (1962) Published/Unpublished: Commissions Natalia Batista - Sword Princess Amaltea (disgruntled) Unpublished: Sketch Covers/Convention Sketches Jonas Darnell - Herman the heathen passed out in a tankard Honorable Mention Published/Unpublished: Commissions Fernando Ruiz - Modesty Blaise Published: Interior Panel Pages Natalia Batista - Sword Princess Amaltea #2 - p58 Published: Splash Pages, Pinups Megan Levens - Spell On Wheels #1 - p17

Modesty Blaise strip 1558 from the episode Bad Suki by the first and foremost artist of the comic, Jim Holdaway:

At the recent Gothenburg Book Fair I got my 24th convention sketch by Peter Madsen. The subject? A very angry Freyja! (from his graphic novel series Valhalla) (Click on the picture for a larger scan.)

Page 58 from the second part of Natalia Batista's epic fantasy Sword Princess Amaltea: Natalia actually added screentone to the original in the old-fashioned way to make it look more like it was published - normally this is done in the computer. I guess this makes the page something between real original art and recreation... Two comic strips from the very successful Halge comic about a moose and life in rural Sweden by the late Lars Mortimer. Here a conflict over a hunting pass quickly escalates out of hand and the prime minister wants to call on the UN to solve it: Lars Mortimer's widow sometimes is kind to collectors and let go of the occasional strip for a reasonable sum if one asks nicely. Click on the pictures to see larger scans on CAF.

At the recent Comic Con Stockholm I bribed my favorite comic creators properly with donuts, swedish chocolate and comic related beer (smuggled in disguised in a gift wrapped box) before I slammed down my stack of comics in front of them to sign. Jimmy Palmiotti was so inspired that he offered to sketch something right on the spot and I asked for his own creation, Painkiller Jane: Slightly larger scan in my CAF gallery.

This one is rather easy, it goes from top to bottom on the tower to the right on the temple. (D.U.C.K. = "Dedicated to Unca Carl from Keno", more about it here,)

Joëlle Jones is auctioning off one cover quality commission on eBay. It has been several years since her commission list had any open slots at all (writing and drawing DC:s Catwoman book don't leave her any time for that) so it will be very interesting to see how high it will go before it ends on Monday. The asking price for her covers (when they are available) is usually around 0,5-3K (No Catwoman or Lady Killer covers). A published cover can't be compared to a commission though since its resale value most of the time is much higher. (To my knowledge none of her Catwoman covers has been offered for sale, so it is possible that this commission opportunity is affected by that.) https://www.ebay.com/itm/123896729582?_trksid=p2471758.m4703

My oldest comic strip is this Li'l Abner by Al Capp (and unknown assistants) from December 30, 1955:

I have collected convention sketches by dane Peter Madsen since the early nineties so I guess it can be considered a theme. My goal was to have a sketch by him in all single graphic novels and collections of Valhalla that I own. I have succeded, BTW (the only publication left is a "how to"-book which I aim to get a sketch in at this years Gothenburg Book Fair). And I settled for sketches because Peter's OA from the graphic novel series Valhalla is way out of my league money-wise. He puts a lot of work into them, so I am quite proud of my collection (which is rumoured to be the biggest in Sweden). As long as I move to the end of the line there is never a problem to get more than one at the same signing... Madsen, Peter (sketches) (Some of them are not office-safe.)

Carol Day strip 1748 from 1962 by David Wright. Look at the meticulous cross-hatching in panel 2 & 3. Two pages by Megan Levens from the Oni Press miniseries Spell on Wheels, #1 page 17 and the last page from #2 (22) where the three witches drive off into the sunset. Their '58 T-bird is prominently featured in both of them. Another two pages from the drawing board of Megan Levens, both from the hardboiled Hollywood noir six-issue miniseries Angel City. The cover from the third issue and page 10 from #6 (where the plot gets rather intense). Ms Levens draws in what I would call her own interpretation of the "Ligne Claire" style, which gives the story a very different feel compared to how this kind of stuff is commonly handled. Click on the pictures to see larger scans in my CAF gallery.

Thanks. I would like to add some more of the 1960's Betty and Veronica artwork, though. You keep working on it and your collection will grow fast. Plenty of Dan's work is still available for reasonable rates.

1) Dan DeCarlo, no doubt (by the sheer volume of it). 2) Also Dan DeCarlo (see above for explanation).

Thanks Brian! As always one of the highlights of my SDCC experience. So grateful that you keep organizing this. Everyone attending seemed to have a good time enjoying themselves:

Hi Brian! I will bring a guest. /Karl-Erik

I will most likely be there.

I like all my commissions very much and I have yet to be disappointed in the result of my requests, but if I have to choose, based on how utterly stunned I was when I opened the package since I had not recieved any prelims, pencil scans or anything, it has to be Jeff Shultz' interpretation of Mort Drucker's movie poster from American Graffiti but with the gang from Riverdale in it (colors by Hedvig Haggman-Sund): After finishing up Jeff made a vow to never take on a request for a commission with so many characters in it again... Another commission who made feel that way when I first saw it was Terry Dodson's take on Dan DeCarlo's cover from Sabrina the Teen-Age Witch #4. Made between Friday and Saturday at SDCC 2015 (Terry obviously stayed in his hotel room, hard at work):

I suppose the only key page of some significance I own is Preacher #42, page 23 where Jesse is reunited with his mother: When I mentioned to Ennis & Dillon at SDCC 1998 (where I bought it for what now seems like a very measly amount) that I never intended to let go of the page they insisted on signing it in a way that would help me keep that promise... The first page of the epic miniseries Archie: Freshman Year by Batton Lash, Bill Galvan & Bob Smith might also be considered as "key". Archie #587 page 1: The gang looks really young in that story, thanks to Bill altering a few things when he drew them. The first appearance of Archie's female counterpart, Archina, in the "Reversedale"-story from Archie #636, page 4: Art by Gisèle Lagacé and Rich Koslowski. I believe that some Archie collectors would call the entire issue "key" and I don't mind since I own all of the interior art (the covers were digital).

Don Rosa & Sergio Aragonés discussing something important in San Diego 2017:

This is something that provides hours of enjoyment of beautiful and interesting OA. Thanks to everyone who participates and makes the effort to post their best acquisitions from the previous year. And to Brian & Bill for organizing! In this company every single vote your own art get is just icing on the cake...

As every year I am so impressed with all the beautiful art everyone's acquired during the previous year. This is really a great opportunity to see a lot of great stuff! Thanks to Brian & Bill for doing this. Here are my votes: