Rick2you2

Try a different character or group. I don’t know if anyone specializes in Metamorpho.

If the terms of service are disclosed prior to use, then it is a rare instance when they are not upheld in law (although it can happen). Don’t forget PayPal did provide the service; it did not do anything wrong. This isn’t like sales taxes, where the return of the sold item necessarily requires a return of the tax paid. Let me add that PayPal does provide Friends and Family for free. PayPal bears the cost of doing so as an expense. If it is used a lot, the business choice it has to make is to raise rates elsewhere or discontinue the service (as well as make ever larger profits to satisfy its shareholders). I generally like to pay by cash or credit card, but it isn’t a big deal to get a bank check and send it by certified mail. If I had to do it a lot, I may think differently, but for occasional use, why waste the fees?

I go every year; I like it. I also went to Wintercon in Queens last year, but was disappointed.

Not that close. Hasbrouck Heights, NJ is more convenient actually. But I would rather go to Rockland than Manhattan. Frankly, when it comes to commuting, I would rather go to Hell than Manhattan.

My biggest complaints with NYC are the parking costs, traffic, and incidentals. Why doesn't someone do a good show in Rockland County, NY which is still relatively empty?

Tony DeZuniga--Phantom Stranger Carmine Infantino--Same Have a lot of other holes filled.

If memory serves me, January is unoccupied.

Well, I have bought stuff for quite a few years, and I would not and have not spent 5 figures on any one piece (although I could). Since I just keep things, I only buy out of extra cash flow. There is plenty of excellent art produced in the last 25+ years which is just not expensive. But, if I were the kind of collector who absolutely positively wants a Byrne piece, it would be nice to know what’s available “on the cheap”. So while I would skip the male Frazetta nude, sketches can be had for under $5,000. An ebbing tide lowers all boats. With the high dollar value on some of these things, and as aging baby boomers, etc. get out or die, big spenders are playing musical chairs with their investments. Gene (as well as myself and others) have commented about it. I’m not even sure Jerry Lewis’s kids would want the Adams art. But maybe his work on some early strips or a basic 6 panel will do.

What ever happened to Cashiers checks and certified mail?

To me, this is a pure hobby; l have no interest in making money off it. But if I ever did want to sell something to trade up, I would consider the maxim: a rising tide lifts all ships. I may not get the highest ROI, but I will have gotten the benefit of looking at it and owning it—which is another form of compensation. High fives don’t matter to me in terms of collecting. Why does someone earn praise if they spend over a million dollars on a Frank Frazetta painting? That just means they have money to freely spend and want to spend it on this. Now if they drew like Frazetta, I consider that praiseworthy. If someone admires Byrne’s work, and can not afford his Namor, knowing that there is a cheaper way to get it seems like a good idea. They can then figure out if, to get something like an Adams piece, they are willing to tolerate a page from his Jerry Lewis.

What motivated the subject is to see where people can get great art at a "bargain" price by a particular artist by focusing on the factor of the main character as key. It doesn't matter if it is by percentages or dollars, really. So yes, as to Jack Kirby, but Destroyer Duck was done later in his career, and I am not sure he was as sharp then (like Neil Adams new stuff vs. his older stuff). Closer in time to FF or Captain America would be a better source of comparison. Now obviously, most artists don't bounce around to different books every few months, so you have a lot of leeway. Likewise, some artists have multiple styles, like Byrne (WW vs. Legends), or Colleen Doran, so for them, it is best to stay with the same style they are using. There aren't really any rules. But, if could offer examples of different pricing for Lee's Batman vs. Grifter which were similar in type (panel pages, splashes, etc.), you deserve a gold star as you've proven your point.

I don't think so. The Comic Con has an excellent Artist's Alley. I spent 2 days at the show, and maybe, 90 minutes upstairs looking at the exhibitors's wares (which were chock full of toys, memorabilia and other collectable junk, besides comics and art). The art shows have a specialized focus, but they aren't really as much fun. But, I would definitely go to both.

What you are saying is, sadly, likely true. One would think that instead of pirating potential visitors with tight scheduling, they would cooperate to maintain a consistent level of interest throughout the year. Seems like a better business practice, don't you think?

Let me add my name to the list of people who wish they were spaced out better. If there are 2 in NJ every year, 1 large NY Comicon typically in early October, and 1 art con in NY, can’t they be spaced roughly 3 months apart?

That is nuts. When stores charge extra for credit card use, it’s less than that (like only 2%). And there, getting a charge reversed is easy.

As I recall, it used to be for sale at $1,200, then $1,400. I guess they figure it's like fine wine--it gets better with age.

Probably correct, but the gap in pricing for the same basic work can be really high.

I would agree. So, where do you think the pricing reflects the greatest gap based on the character for the same artist? This is just playing around; trying to make some order out of the market.

Please clarify.

For those of you who study pricing closely, what would you consider as the largest gaps in price attributable to the character drawn by an artist (recognizing there will be some other factors). For example, Aparo’s Spectre pages are sold at a premium over, say, his Green Arrow pages. I think it is not just due to the popularity of that run, but his style is so well suited to supernatural art. Or Byrne’s X-Men, as compared to his Wonder Woman pages, where he used a different style (which I didn’t like) and also was the artist on a highly popular series. As someone who favors a not to popular character, the difference has served me well, by the way. This is just playtime. What triggered the thought was the response to the OP who responded to “make me an offer” and got a snotty response.

I think it was better than that. Sorry.

Why not save it to get something better, later? Or, try Facebook’s boards involving comic art and commissions. Tons of stuff of mixed good/bad quality. Maybe you can get another Venom.

Is there a dealer list? We just had one back East, and I was wondering if it the same dealers.

I don’t particularly mind most of the price part because I simply won’t spend the kinds of dollars some of it demands. In my view, a lot of the newer art is very, very good, and can often be had at a low price. So why bother with 5 and 6 figure craziness? Spending serious money on anything is never fun. Making money is nice, but it really isn’t fun.

That really wasn't an uneducated assumption, but I don't know or don't remember the details. By early 1973, he had clout.