Rick2you2

Sorry for the mistake. I just grabbed something in the text box.

Honestly, I was shocked at the price. For Aparo/Phantom Stranger panel pages, it is the highest one yet. When I first read that story, and saw that page, I obviously liked what it contained. But, I was also concerned the book would be cancelled. The Phantom Stranger was supposed to be a "Stranger", right? Well, there was another issue, of course, and quite a few afterward. But when the run hit number 41, the last of the Vol. 2 books, it ended with the Phantom Stranger and Cassandra Craft vanishing together. Just as I was worried about with this one. By the way, no one was going to beat my bid on that one. They can beat me on the next one, and I've lost on other ones, but not that one.

I went to the recent show at this Hotel, and you can get cheaper parking a few blocks away, at least if you reserve and pay in advance. Continental Garage-AKA Tower 111 Garage Address: 107 West 31st St New York, NY 10001 Entrance (use for directions): Enter After: 04/14/2018 at 10:00 AM Exit Before: 04/14/2018 at 5:00 PM Total: $18.00 And, if you like this sort of thing, there was a really good gyro vendor near the Hotel.

Actually, the absence of evidence is evidence, so long as there is a reasonable expectation that there would be a response. As examples, the failure to respond when a response is expected is called an "admission by silence." Likewise, the absence of a business record when a record should have been made in the ordinary course of business is evidence it doe not exist. Now, we are obviously not talking about a courtroom here, but look at it this way: what are the chances of the most valuable OA which could ever have been made still exists--with all the attendant publicity about rare comics--yet no one has stepped forward? Right up there with the discovery of living dodo birds.

I think I could use a bit less of that substance... ...but in truth, I sometimes buy artwork for the dialog, not the art.

Nice job, as always. It’s great you give back to the hobby this way. l do, however, think you are too high on the Phantom Stranger page. The price on all Aparo work has moved up, as you note, but you used one as a reference which was not just better, but I think was high priced for the overall market.

I am regularly surprised how much big money is out there for this stuff, so yes, it may very well hit $50K (although, I think the lower end of the $35-50K range is more likely). I would be surprised if it stops at $25K. They really were considered special--highly controversial due to their violent nature (the Code writers must be rolling over in their graves with some of the new stuff which is out there). Nick may have the best of the bunch on his website. I never really understood why they were considered so violent. For example, the Spectre turns a bad guy into a piece of wood and has a chain saw cut it up. Okay, but isn't the bad guy dead once he becomes wood? He might as well be cutting up one of those chain saw bear sculptures which dot the landscape around here.

I would first double-check to make sure the heat and humidity conditions in a safe are safe for this stuff.

I don't see $150K. Maybe $35-50K. That Aparo run was really special. We really don't know how many people would be in this prospective bidding pool, but any publicity is likely to attract some interest. Heck, it's not even his best one from that run.

If memory serves me, he is in the process of trying to build a new website. Didn't he say he took over that website from someone else? And honestly, I have always found him to be pretty good at replying to my emails. So, I'm not sure it's been incompetence by design so much as limited capabilities due to unfortunate circumstance.

One of the downsides of this strategy is that a high price can attract buyers even while scaring off the lower-end bidders. It sends a message that there is something special about the piece and it ought to be reevaluated. Look how the high price about the Aparo-Spectre cover has spawned interest. I think you have to approach each auction a little differently, and base a strategy upon the innate attractivenss of the piece, timing (early/lateness of the contemplated bid; opening and closing dates times (who is awake at 3 AM EST?), the methodology of the auction house (e.g., fixed deadlines), and comparable items which are or will be available on the market. Budget issues are also a factor, of course, but they ought not effect strategy because no other bidder knows what your budget may be. As a general rule, I stay away from live bidding because it can blow my budget, but even that is not always the case.

There is a big difference between someone who is honestly doing the best they can, and a stinker. I would also be hesitant to call out a stinker by name. One further comment: he has apparently taken the criticisms to heart and his service seems better than some of the comments I have seen about his past dealings. Let me add my support for Spencer, again.

Children can be wonderful. Look at the bright side. As least she presumably did not do with it what one of my kids used to draw on the walls--and I don't mean crayons.

Joe was there, as was Sy Barry and Ramona Fredon. A great guy, as was Sy and Ramona. I had wanted to meet Barry, in particular, since he was the last surviving artist on the Phantom Stranger, First Series. He also had some nice Sunday Phantom sections for sale for $500. Ramona was doing pencil sketches for $30, and had a bunch of them for sale (including some Metamorphos). I bought a weekly Brenda Starr for my GF (who graciously came with me), when I spotted one with Brenda and Basil St. John (her favorite couple). A fun time.

There are actually some interesting questions raised by the OP. I've seen OA for sale before which has been partly colored in by kids or some other amateur. I saw one at the Big Apple Con this weekend. I would estimate it reduced the piece by 2/3rds in value or so (but I'm not too skilled at this sort of thing). So: (1) What do you think should be the impact on value? Is the piece ruined? What about just a little crayon like here? (2) Can Crayola be removed? What about other stuff? Can it be removed by an collector or does it need a restorer?

I'm not sure an apology is in order. I think letting it drop would be more sensible. While we do know the OP's writing isn't too hot, we don't really know if Spence should have known if the OP was not making an offer to buy but just making a general inquiry. Since Spence asserted the claim that it was an offer to buy, he would have the burden of proving he was right. He might be right; he might not. We just don't know (and honestly, I don't want to spend even more time on the question to figure it out, so no more information, please). By the way, I have dealt with Spence, and I like him. He is apparently overworked, but he does what he can. So I am absolutely not being critical of him, either. Just let it die. So much more interesting to waste time thinking about Spielberg doing a movie version of Blackhawk. He's pretty busy these days, however, so it's not likely to be done Chop-Chop.

Why stop there? How about an homage to this cover? I bet Thanos would look lovely with a touch of make-up and a wedding dress.

That certainly sounds right.

I've really looked at this situation pretty closely, and nothing is to be gained by dwelling on what appears to be an accident. If I thought you were being unfairly treated, I would say so. Just move on.

Well, you could always have them playing chess with a bunch of superheroes on the chess board.

I actually liked the sculpture.

Then for Spencer, maybe this was an exercise in "lesson learned." I still don't understand the actual timing of events in the OP. First, he wrote: "I was wondering if anyone had any dealings with Spencer Beck? I didn't really have a good outcome, I e-mailed him in September about a question about George Perez' commissions, ..." Then, it looked like the work was done on 9/23. Then, it looks like the OP had his nasty exchange with Spencer several months later. So, if Spencer didn't have reason to think there was a problem until after September, why would he add this in September? Just wondering.

From CAF, and note the requirement of payment up front, which raises a whole 'nother question of whether the OP has a good reason to be disturbed: Each commission will be limited to one single character per drawing, usually drawn with Copic markers with added pencil tones on 9 x 12 Bristol board. . I prefer using the pencil tones because detailed ink work is a bit eye wearying right now, especially with my vision treatments still ongoing. No backgrounds will be added unless I choose to add something minimal subject to my own judgement on the composition. The price is $700.00 plus shipping, which I know is not cheap, but I will try to make it worth the cost. Payment in full would be required before the commission will be started. However, it will be held in escrow so if at any time you wish a full refund ( and your piece has not yet been started ) the money can be refunded to you within 1 business day. Depending on the number of orders, it may take a substantial amount of time and there is no guarantee that I will be able to draw every request I receive.

Agreed. He should just let this die.

I’m sorry about your financial situation. With all due respect, my suspicion is that your writing lacked clarity that you were making a general inquiry. I draw this from the way you wrote your OP. It wanders. Spencer may be a little at fault, too. He is a pretty busy guy, and maybe he read it too quickly. So, without more information, I would chalk this up to an unfortunate accident. Sh*t happens.