cloud cloddie

X-factor Annual 7 cover. Sold on ComicConnect 3.18.24 for $13,226.15. 

https://www.comicconnect.com/item/1036727

Now available for whatever Los Bros quote…

https://www.comicartfans.com/ForSaleDetails.asp?ArtId=11121441

On 4/9/2024 at 10:53 PM, Xatari said:

Did you read his original post? Also, I don’t see this type of lengthy discussion around other pieces in this price range. It just feels it is time to move on. Malvin and the owner already communicated directly and worked this out. Not sure why it keeps being perpetuated. 

To your points… yea, I read the original post. Did you?

If you’re so bored with a post about a piece of art somebody didn’t pay 100K for at HA, then yes, it’s time for you to move on. 

And from my understanding, the situation has not been worked out, other than both parties deciding to stop posting publicly about it. It’s probably being perpetuated because people are flaming the noob, and others are throwing the word bully around on Malvin. 

I just put in proxy bids today. Won 1. I’m fine saving a little money over watching 10 hours of auction. 

On 4/7/2024 at 11:42 AM, MAR1979 said:

 All due to lack of knowledge on the newb's part and unwillingness to believe they were in effect defrauded directly or indirectly by the entity that they purchased it from.
 

 

Basically this. Seems he doesn’t want to accept he might’ve overpaid for a piece that isn’t what it was described as. And he might be too new to the hobby to understand auction houses are often not accurate. 
 

Regardless, I like your piece better. Mostly because whatever that pocket thing is on Blue Beetle’s waist, it looks like b**ls on his piece. I thought it was nsfw at first. 👀

Keep it in the auction with lower fees. I barely look at the catalog, partly because it gets to me usually within a week of the auction ending. I’ve long since tracked what I want online at that point. 

Excalibur 31 cover. Sold on HA 11.19.23 for $3840.

Now available for 5K. 

https://www.romitaman.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=29069&ArtistId=1087

X-factor Annual 5 splash. Sold on HA 11.19.23 for 1320. Now available for 2499.99. 
 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/364748779480?itmmeta=01HQA655SMWBVR2WSG7R4T1VHC&hash=item54ecb8afd8:g:Q-YAAOSwkQNl2CO4&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwF9d5V1Af0MRKf3bi6YPxKNY%2FQDuYOKiZOnFmBKt9QUbG%2B77MhRrwhiC3Wfp5OnAy9DBt1roWqeqAkIJL3%2Bq7tfhtmw2H9PewJ9d6uG8NIrZM0IaDUecTM2lhwVboHvAeXrNl35Tv%2B1fc%2Blm8GLZuQfViWVwx8laWUOYISfL7w5PS5Z0epxNNGZaPVUbpuM0Y8gqfQnwkcIyEKT%2BMqEcfO%2BVGI6QV1mpKK4W7rEpCYOXjE0GMpIrP53Ij5thZY8Bgw%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR_DclMa6Yw

Does truly top tier art ever lose its value? Besides from a few attempted quick flips of very high profile pieces, it seems like A+ pieces are a safe bet. What one considers top tier can vary with mileage…

On 1/17/2024 at 2:20 PM, Bronty said:

I have a different approach as well in that I really don't care what the percentage is.    I'm more concerned with having enough value outside of collectibles that retirement will be comfortable.    After that, the remainder can be in collectibles if I choose.    So I look at it more like... there's a minimum amount of 'real world' assets I want to have.    After that, it’s a free for all.   

That’s where I’m at. Regardless of what my art is worth, I have a number where I want my other investments at. As long as that threshold is met, it’s all fun and games. 

On 1/17/2024 at 3:34 PM, thethedew said:

All else being equal, if the value of my OA collection dropped by 50% overnight, and I could still afford to keep my collection, I would not care about the paper loss one jot.

Yup. My art either appreciates while I appreciate it, or the market crashes and I can buy more art to enjoy. I’m good either way. 

On 1/12/2024 at 12:25 PM, Kryptic1 said:

Wow, $102k for the Quesada Daredevil cover.  At this rate, Mandel is going to have enough money for another X-Wing by the end of the auction.

Yeah, I don’t follow that section of the market, so glad I wasn’t the only one surprised by that price. 

On 1/4/2024 at 8:11 PM, Will_K said:

Like being addicted to plastic surgery, keeps getting worse.

 

What always amazes me is that they don’t have to do this s***. I understand not everything they have ‘for sale’ is still in their inventory, but they still have A LOT. Plenty of which they got years ago at a fraction of the cost. Their pricing is one thing… they could just do double market instead of 3-8x and make money hand over fist, and still get new art in by their lopsided trade value. Their art, their prices - seems to work for them. But altering art… no reason for it. They’re choosing to be scumbags. 

Biggest change for me - I miss thrill bidding. I liked being able to buy little pieces here and there. Stuff that I knew wouldn’t be in my collection long term, but something I could enjoy for a few years, then throw back up at auction. Didn’t matter if I made money or not, just put them back out in the world and get some new things. Money hasn’t inflated like comic art, so paying 500/1000 for the same page that used to be 50/100 isn’t a thrill. And to have money for the even bigger pieces, that have inflated even more, I really have to be more selective. I don’t necessarily want my collection to be as focused as it is, but I can’t currently justify the prices for stuff that’s C level in my collecting eyes. 

I’m pretty happy with where my collection is at, so think next year will be about upgrading some of my examples. Hopefully sell some of the Bs to pay for the As. 

On 12/9/2022 at 8:56 PM, cloud cloddie said:

My goals remain mostly the same. Keep looking for pages from a few specific books. There’s a higher ticket piece I’ve been wanting, and I think 2023 is the year I try to pry it loose from a collector. 

Found 1 page to a book I’m working on, so progress is progress. Made an offer a few weeks ago for the higher ticket item, worked out a price, and picked it up from FedEx today. So overall good year. 

On 12/15/2023 at 10:17 AM, RBerman said:

I had not heard it put quite this way, but this is a fair point. In fact, some art collectors have bought booth space which which functions as a back door 'VIP' status to give them more direct access to earlier hours, artist contact in the green room, etc. I don't know any way around this with respect to either dealers or collectors, but it doesn't warm the heart to contemplate the possibility that the best pieces and best deals were already taken before the show officially opens. Regardless, I will be there to see the sights.

Yeah, that’s not a knock against Bill, because no way of really getting around it regardless of the con. Just the nature of the beast. I know some artists and reps that won’t put the good art out til the floor opens. 

I’d imagine it will be a fun show for those that attend. Seems like a good bang for your buck if you don’t attend a ton of shows. Lots of good commission opportunities, some from artists that don’t commonly do them. And lots of mingling with like minded collectors - I’m sure many will bring pieces just to share that’ll be drool worthy. Those are the pros. 
The cons - having that many dealers in one place is not a selling point for me. I’ve had better OA luck at cons where dealers are low and haven’t scoured the floor pre show to scoop up all the best stuff for resale. I do a good amount of cons a year, so there’s nobody on the roster I’m jonesin for I haven’t seen in the last year or two. And Florida. Nuff said on that. 

On 12/10/2023 at 10:33 AM, malvin said:

On the OA side, I can't decide between clink and cc as the #2.

Malvin

I put CL over CC for two main reasons. I think CL gets overall better offerings. And I loathe CC’s 3 minute time add on at auction end. Regardless of CL’s issues, I appreciate being able to set an alarm for exactly when an auction ends. There are times I’ve sat on one piece at CC for 30/45 minutes because it just won’t end. I bid on less there because I don’t want to sit there for hours on a few pieces. 

On 12/10/2023 at 8:43 AM, Readcomix said:

Thank you. Who is #2? I Don’t have my head around the auction houses for OA as I do for comics.

IMO it would go Heritage, Clink, ComicConnect then Hakes. I’d even have an argument putting eBay before Hakes. I wouldn’t know how to rank everything else… propstore, nerd crawler, mycomicshop, etc…

On 12/9/2023 at 8:38 AM, vodou said:

I'm confused. Why is Colossus sporting wood (Man of Steel?) And just what exactly is Wolverine doing "back there"?

I’d be more confused if a guy named Cockrum didn’t draw a 7’5” metal dude in speedos with a little eye candy…

On 12/6/2023 at 8:06 PM, Dirtcheap31 said:

When you win that page you thought would go much higher

On the opposite end, when you win that page you hoped would go much lower…