SquareChaos

Loved the original series, don't own any of the art, have 15 or so of the deluxe trades. So... there are dozens of us.

I'm sure Lukas would thank you for your kind words, I appreciate them as well. This piece is the only unpublished, non-commission piece I own, I usually don't collect in those waters, but I did want this one when I saw it.

(Apologies for the picture) Published The Strange Talent of Luther Strode #1, page #22 by Tradd Moore

Unpublished Witch Doctor cover by Lukas Ketner

I use a Google Spreadsheet - I used to use Collectorz when I still collected comics (and I might still if I had an art collection near the size of what I imagine @mister_not_so_nice has) and definitely include purchase dates, prices, artist, published, acquired from columns, etc, etc. If I didn't track the dates or where I picked up a particular piece there is no way I'd remember half of that information with any accuracy... and like I said, I have a small collection.

I'm too verklempt to add meaningfully to the discussion.

It was interesting, but more as a character study than anything else. I'd have liked to see more exploration of the institutional failure, more exploration of the techniques to reproduce individual works, but I understand there is only a limited amount of time. The thing I will likely remember the most is Beltracchi's comment that being involved with the art market makes one less passionate about the art (paraphrasing).

I watched this earlier this evening - thanks for the heads up.

I have to imagine his... technique... makes it easier to meet deadlines.

I mean, we can certainly tell which parts were 'sourced' elsewhere on that one

Reverse image searched this so people can see it better - see below. Value is probably determined by how many PMs you've received since posting.

I can imagine no incentive for them to actually do this - they'd need to see a huge increase in volume to even break even.

He became divisive in comics for 'milking it', but I'll always have a soft spot for him. Having grown up reading the soapbox I guess it is hard not to. Stan, Jack, and Steve are all gone now, maybe the rest of us can let it go.

Posted in Variety as confirmed by his daughter - RIP Stan.

I wonder what happened to JSC's Lockarm pages?

Despite the original request for just an amount, you can find some of what you're after in this recent thread.

I collect several artists that I'm pretty sure will not become 'All Stars' as defined by this thread. While I don't personally think there is anything at all wrong with not being the 'Top Woman / Man' in their field (I'm certainly not in mine), it does seem as if, in general, it may be in poor to taste to right out say it ain't happening for so-and-so even with the follow up caveat of '... but I obviously like their work.'

There are absolutely people that buy any book Tradd Moore works on as well. Probably a lot of them. Hell, I read an issue of venom because he was the guest artist, if that doesn't say something I don't know what does.

I'm trying to imagine how much of a fight you put up against yourself on that

No doubt on the first part of what you're talking about, the 'Jewelry' part is certainly more subjective. Hiding it further by making the second 'E' and the 'L' fully visible suggests, if he did do it with intent, that he knew that what he was doing was in tremendously poor taste and he felt enough shame or fear in doing so to add those extra two characters as camouflage. Of course, the 'Jewelry' sign may be a complete coincidence, but after the rest, I see no strong reason to be too charitable in my view on this. I do hope Mr. Ardian learns something from all of this situation, it is true that some people have realized the error of their ways in similar scenarios, but in general, I tend toward the old adage that 'people don't change' and look forward to being pleasantly surprised if I'm ever proven wrong.

This reply seems way, way out of line purely as a response to what Magnus actually wrote. I actually considered reporting the comment it is so ridiculous, and I've never done anything of the the sort.

I live in Ohio and I'm one of the few residents that considers it a greater state treasure than the college football team.

I have it on good authority that the DC decision makers aren't even aware that they still make comic books

Maybe I'll live long enough to outlive American prudishness... but I doubt it. To add my thoughts: 1) Of course DC knew this would get ink, but who can say whether or not the art was instructed toward this result, or if it was done as directed by the -script and given approval afterwards at least in part for that anticipated ink 2) Bermejo is not a bad artist, I would want to hear more 'behind the scenes' info before putting him down for his behavior here 3) I'd rather have this Batman moment go down in history over Kevin Smith's scripted Batman 'bladder spasm' tarnishing Year One 4) Batman has all of the appropriate parts, we all get death and taxes, and everybody poops - big deal

Unless a blackhole collection defines art that goes in but doesn't come out (as in, it is not sold or traded) and is naked to the eye once captured, then metaphors are being mixed and narratives are confused... which is likely par for the course for this hobby considering other terms like 'grail.'