Flambit

WTB Alan Moore Top Ten OA I'm looking for ABC Top Ten art (only from the Moore written run) Ideally I'd love one of the two TPB wrap around covers, but would consider any cover though. Would consider interiors as well.

In a lot of ways, this hobby is heartbreaking. I did get a couple of minor pieces at Moy's table way back when. But I'm just constantly in awe of how insane the prices can get. Kirby's 1970s Captain America books were a tremendously important run in my life and I remember seeing two separate eBay auctions in 2003 for the covers to 197 and 199 (that I couldn't bid on) and both sold for less than 6k each. But I think the auction I really regret, in recent history, was in 2008 when the FF 100 cover sold on Heritage in the mid 50k range. At the time I thought that price was totally nuts, but now?

Damn! What an iconic page!

Almost positive it was 1986, but it *could* have been 1985. That would make more sense as to why the prices were so insanely low - right before DKR came out and spiked Miller prices. I have no memory of seeing any DKR pages whatsoever.

It's good to commiserate with like minded members of the hobby, right? We've all had to pass on stuff here and there, but i was just wondering if anyone had that one 'big one' they passed on, and they still remember, above and beyond all others? My one (was actually two at the same time): I was a young kid at SDCC in the 80s. Been collecting comics for a while, but just discovered the concept of OA, and I was at a table (learned much later it was Albert Moy). He had, literally, stacks of Miller DD at the time. It's like a fever dream remembering what I saw on the table. I wish I'd taken a picture of it. The complete 187 book, the Power Man/IF DD cover... and I remember he had the DD 170 cover -- $600. Then I saw him take someone aside and he pulled out Wolverine 3 -- $800. I begged my parents - haha, I was a kid, didn't work, no money - but they couldn't understand why I would want this ugly stuff that was so much money! Still think about that one every now and then...

Tell me about it. I never saw a Cockrum UXM cover for sale back in the day. First time was a few years ago - Moy had the UXM 124 for 22k at SDCC and I seriously considered it - now even at 22 I wish I'd bought it! On an unrelated note, at the same time my friend had the 161 cover, he had acquired the Alpha Flight 7 cover. Always wondered where that one went!

Did Wein have the cover to 181 or just the interiors?

That's a beautiful page! it also brings up a burning question: why is the thug on the cover so different looking then the one on this page? I wonder because I've always thought that maybe the thug on the cover was supposed to be Bullseye, but out of costume. Bullseye appears in the book sans costume and he looks the same on the cover (despite wearing the thug's outfit) as he does in the story. Is it possible Daredevil was supposed to fight him and the story was altered -- or just concidence?

You are correct. I knew I should have looked it up the number before I posted. It was 161 - "Gold Rush," with Magneto. He bought it at SDCC in the 80s for, like, nothing - if he spent a hundred bucks I'd be surprised. We hadn't spoken in years - Hi Robert! - and I flipped open that Wizard and saw it in the sidebar as a recent sale. I remember thinking, and this would have been at least 15 years ago, "wow, he just made a big mistake!"

That's right, they did! I recal they would have a little sidebar periodically showing sales now and then. I vividly remember the Cockrum UXM 160 cover making an appearance because a childhood friend bought it many, many years before.

I agree with Shemp. I don't know, of course, but my suspicion is that maybe JB started a pass at the 306 cover but never finished it for some reason. But the final 306 cover does have both Namor and the lava men... I guess I'm going to have to finally join the JBF so I can ask! Although... I'm a little afraid of actually interacting with JB...

I know it's a comic book world in this image, here, but the total illogic of the combination is galling. The lava men are clearly radiating heat standing on ground, while Namor is clearly submerged. Comical. I don't have a membership to the JBF, but I'd love to know what Byrne thinks. Edit - I just noticed .... someone added, very badly, about an inch or two to the bottom of the lava men... you can see the line across the bottom. Doesn't even begin to look like Byrne. Could have been a production assistant, but really? Oh well...

This may be totally on the level, but I had never seen this before -- although I had seen the Namor image offered on it's own years ago. Just wanted to know what everyone thought... http://www.comicartfans.com/ForSaleDetails.asp?ArtId=518878

Inking aside, I think Byrne is the biggest offender by far. I loved his work even up though WCA - I still really want a WCA cover - but it was during Namor I lost interest in his art (and earlier I remember being a bit disappointed during the late part of his Superman run, like he just ran out of gas). The funny thing is if you follow him on Byrne Robotics, he really emphasizes how much better he's become, and how much he dislikes his early, most beloved art. And I partially agree - compare his drapery in Iron Fist or UXM, and it's so much better now! Yet his poses, faces, body language seem so stiff, they just lack that early voluptuous quality...

Love the top Finch!

Awesome! I was lucky enough to win one of his Unknown Soldier covers a few years ago when he was selling a bunch on Heritage, but I have always wanted a great Haunted Tank cover! Congrats!

Understood. I keep my Itoyas/art in a safe in a room where the temp is mild, although not under a strict climate control

I actually don't yet have it in my possession, but Bristol board, I believe. It's an Alex Ross piece, so it's typical for his work... he generally does watercolor on bristol, right? I know I should know this.....

My painting is a watercolor - I believe, and not large. Are you saying an Itoya would provide safe storage? Obviously, when closed and laid flat, the plastic of the Itoya sleeve will be in contact with the painting - but maybe this is ok?

Hi all, Wondering about recommendations on storing painted art. I use Itoya binders for my published standard DC/Marvel art, but I don't know if that's necessarily a good idea for painted pieces. One collector mentioned using mylars with backing boards in their Itoyas. I don't do this. Would this step be recommended in general? sorry - I meant to post in the topic on storing art but couldn't find it! I've recently discovered this amazing forum from someone who mentioned it on the yahoo group and I've been having a ball going back and reading all the previous posts! Can't believe I'd not seen it before! sam

Speaking of pages with specific content, I actually was going to make a run at collecting Cassidy "How're Yez" pages - I have a good one that's a 1/3 splash - but I gave up when I lost the full splash on clink (Cassidy bearing down on the mafia guy in the pit) for 2.4k. Great page - congrats to the owner!

I think those prices were about average for his Generations work. I remember seeing a cover from the first series (G1) - I think it was #2, not sure though - on a dealer site (I don't think it was Warden's) for 2k not that long ago

My first Alex Ross! I'm a HUGE Top Ten (and ABC) fan so this was a grail for me! (America's Best Comics Special #1)