Rick2you2

Sorry, but that which goes in does not come out. But thank you for your appreciative comment. By the way, my count was off. I missed a dps with the two of them on it.

I have now added a Stuart Immonen page to my pile of Phantom Stranger art. While the page isn't spectacular, Immonen's artwork really shines through a relatively uninteresting page of dialog. The flat image of the Spectre coming out of the mirror is definitely cool, as is his use of differently shaped borders to add variety. By my count, this is also the 10th page or cover I own having images of both the Phantom Stranger and the Spectre on them. I'm also beginning to think I am out of my f*cking mind (no confirmation needed). If I'm ever reincarnated, maybe I'll have the good sense next time to collect the Phantom Lady instead.

I’m always touchy about personal attacks. They do nothing but produce hard feelings while veering away from the subject at hand. But pricing? Too often treated as a third rail, except to act in wonder about the next highest bid for some piece. I’ve been staring at some pieces Kirby has listed for what must be 8 months at what is probably about 40% over market—where the market is soft. That’s too much of a spread to make a counteroffer, so they will sit there for years unsold. All very annoying.

Come on, you’re one of the most polite contributors here. Why pour gasoline on a fire? Race has written some unpleasant comments, but he has also written good ones. Rather than raise the ante, why not just call him on it and address the substance? His comment on what I gather was a DD page didn’t belong in the marketplace, but we regularly skewer prices in the flipping thread, as well as Los Bros. Frankly, I would like to see a lot more of that here so people can get a better understanding (where possible) of pricing. There are a few pages which came up recently for $1500 each, and which I think are worth less than half that. If someone doesn’t mind risk losing them to a different buyer, why not post and attack? Or what of dealers who are apparently trying to push the price point of their clients (or at least serving their client’s whims)?

👍👏

Now that makes sense. A long time ago, I started a thread, long dead, about overoptimistic pricing. To my eyes, a price for a page might seem absurd, but maybe, I missed something. The general reaction appeared to be that someone should be able to price art any way they want. True, but that wasn’t the point. Who knows? Maybe I missed the fact that a particular page was the first appearance “Fudgie the Whale”. So, maybe the concept should be revived.

I don’t collect for prestige, or value. Hell, if I did, I would not have picked the Phantom Stranger as a focus. At the very least, maybe Zatanna, so I could justify commissions which appeal to my prurient interests. Let me add that I don’t particularly like most of that highly coveted Marvel art from the Silver Age, so its sale prices are meaningless, if not downright ridiculous to me. So, buy what you like and the hell with what anyone thinks (unless you are married and the cost comes out of the family budget, but you can always retort about the cost of a pedicure in defense).

The unpublished one is definitely better, but you have got to admit, its pretty graphic is pretty graphic. I can see it being pulled because of that.

Like those Neal Adams sketch cards for $400.

I think you are confusing a variant of two things which come up here on occasion: quality and authorship. You’re just adding repetition to the mix. The buyer can point to the artist’s name on the piece and claim his aesthetics prize, without demonstrating discernment in purchasing. I think those Hellboy drawings are still decent sketches, by the way, even if not unique. I get my MM fix from his earlier work on the Phantom Stranger mini-series, by the way, when his style was still evolving and a bit more cluttered.

The ones I like the best are the Electra page and Sandman pages, even though the Cap page is likely the most valuable.

The moral of the story is….

On a related note, I won a piece on Clink 11 days ago, and immediately paid for it. I didn’t hear anything about it being shipped, so I sent an email today. The response was they are taking 2 weeks to ship due to volume, but almost immediately afterward, was notified it was shipped. ⛑

I suggest you make an inventory and get insurance for it, separately. Companies will insure collections. Take lots of photo's. too.

It’s a nice page, but whatever you paid, I am not likely to be shocked. I have seen the Brothers sell or offer to sell pages at reasonable prices for things which were of moderate or low demand. Brother Voodoo, not in costume, would qualify. Good catch.

Photocopy?

Managing demand is tricky. Instead of stimulating sales, charging too little can create the impression that something isn’t worth it, thereby reducing demand. Charging a lot sometimes boosts sales, like with certain high end consumer goods (Birkin bags may be an example). Demand for Bruce Timm pieces seems to have, if anything, gone up with his prices. There are also some wonderful artists who simply aren’t doing a high profile book and can’t command high prices. And, there are scribbles by well know artists which sell for a lot. If what is being done now is working, then I’d let it ride until it stops. Why risk a good thing?

Some possibilities: your test page may be slightly too large (it happens), board goes in more easily than paper, the sides have slightly bonded together. Try spreading the sides and inserting something relatively thick for, say, 1/2 hour. Then a board.

Ever thought about becoming the straight man on a comedy duo team? I think you've got the talent for it.

The leg is a nice touch, and I like the first panel, but how did Spider-man’s eye socket in panel 3 scrunch up like that?

Do you like it? Then it was a bargain. Taste is very personalized. The two things I look at first are how well the page tells part of the story, and do I like the artist’s style for the story. Those are almost intuitive. Then, I look at details, like characters present, action sequencing, emotional impact, and detailing, including panel layout. Without knowing the dialog, I can’t address the first one, but the panel breakdown suggests the artist had something specific in mind. That’s good. As for the artistic style, it isn’t my favorite for a character like this, but that doesn’t make it bad. Knowing nothing about the market, but given the characters on it and my above thoughts, I think you did nicely. But since you presumably didn’t buy it to flip, price doesn’t matter anyway. Good job.

Thank you, the art is good, just wish it had a little more activity. The Spectre looks best.

Have you considered medication? 👀

What does it matter? You like it, you bid on if you can afford. If there are a lot of good things, budget or pick accordingly. It’s just stuff. The only thing I think that is ever likely to suck the air out of a room, is living, breathing, and not shaped like Mike Burkey (no offense intended).

Thank you. It is almost the only thing I buy (Phantom Stranger art). It is also the only PS piece I have seen of his for sale. I am always looking for more artists to add (although, I do have quite a few of them by now).