comiconxion

Well, if you're interested in the Gobbledygook prototype, the good news is that I think ComicLink accepts credit cards! Interest charges can be cheaper than surgery!

Another question I've had is why Marvel decided to launch G.I. Joe #1 on a special Baxter paper with no ads while future issues were regular format. At $1.50, it was 2.5x the cost of a normal comic at the time and I remember having to think twice before investing in a copy. I wonder how the more expensive format impacted the print run size and sales?

Not sure if people on this list noticed, but those that like the rarest of the rare of Turtles collectibles, I decided to let the following piece go from my collection. I purchased it from Kevin a few years back and comes with a COA from him. http://www.comiclink.com/auctions/item.asp?back=%2Fauctions%2Fpreview%2Easp%3Fcode%3D2015feb%26pg%3D10%26x%3D0%26y%3D0%23Item_1044524&id=1044524 I hope the piece finds a good home with someone here. Best of luck to those who bid!

I was going to guess between 150,000 and 300,000. Remember, there was a full ad campaign on TV to push the book so I assume Marvel may have printed more than a typical #1 at the time. I've also seen Direct Edition copies of #1 with extra large staples - wondering if this is because they went back to press and printed up additional copies of the book. The Parkes Run Treasury edition of #1 was printed around the same time as the original issue as well, but I'd imaging the print run on that was relatively small (10-20k?) The rumor was that the print run for #2 was less because they had not yet been able to gauge the sales for issue #1 before finalizing the print run number.

The original B&W Punisher #1 cover can be found in the gallery of mega collector David Mandel. He leant it to the Cartoon Art Museum earlier this year so it could be displayed as part of the Raw Fury exhibit. There is one other B&W version that Mike Zeck did in the early 2000's. I'm proud to say that I own this one: . There are some slight changes in this version.

Just for clarity... they are two different "original" versions of each Limited Series cover. In the creative process to create the Punisher covers, Zeck first drew a pencil version of each cover. He would then blow up the piece (using a projector - similar to Norman Rockwell) and then re-pencil the piece on a larger (20" x 30" board) for Phil Zimelman to paint. He used a similar process in most of his collaborations with Zimelman. The B&W covers to Punisher #2, #4, and #5 still remain in their original penciled format. Zeck however decided to ink the covers to #1 and #3 a few years later (circa 1989 or 1990) before he sold them. Zeck started changing the way he drew the Punisher's costume after the Big Nothing graphic novel which is why you'll notice some differences in the B&W version of the #1 cover vs. the painted cover. But, all are great pieces! Is that really the same cover? WOW! What difference color makes on a piece of work.

Mike didn't do cons for almost 15 years, but started doing select shows as of last year. Mike's last full comic book story was G.I. Joe #21 published by Devil's Due/Image over 10 years ago. For many years after that, he worked behind the scenes doing work for DC Licensing and Mattel. As far as "new" art, Mike most recently created a new Punisher print for this year's Big Wow show. Outside of that, he's been doing sketch cover opportunities through these boards for a number of years and will bring sketches to his appearances. Last year, a retrospective art show was done on Mike at the Cartoon Art Museum titled "Raw Fury" - no new art featured in that show, but there was an exhibit book created for the occasion that can be purchased at Mike's appearances or through his website (www.mikezeck.com). I don't follow Zeck, Is he still in the comic biz?

So, with this information, are there people out there that wish they hadn't passed on the DD #181 page that was recently in ComicLink because of the rumor that it was not full pencils?

It's interesting that you mention the size factor. As great as the Cap Annual #8 cover is, the way it was displayed at the Cartoon Art Museum, it did seemed to get dwarfed next to the Captain America poster that it was displayed next to. That Cap poster is the same size as the Punisher Limited Series paintings. What people may not know is that there is actually a second "original" of the Cap Annual #8 that we put in display at the Big Wow show that is actually larger than the Punisher paintings. It was the blueline version that Zimelman painted when they created the Cap vs. Wolverine poster. So, you decide, does size matter when it comes to the making of a classic piece of art. Sorry, my goal wasn't to change the subject here on this thread. So, those that have Punisher #1's - post away!

Yes, I've been lucky enough to own it for almost 15 years now and counting. It truly is a grail piece. I'm glad I was able to share it with fans at the exhibit.

Yes, the original #1 painting (along with the other 4 LS covers) was on display at the recent Raw Fury exhibit at the Cartoon Art Museum. If you pick up a copy of the museum exhibit book, you can see them all! They are all that size. The first poster was even bigger, but Zeck realized after doing that, it was just too big so he shrunk the next ones down to 20" x 30".

The version I have is missing the logo and is very large (20" x 30")... Seriously though, when you compare the published comic to the original art, you notice just how much of the detail was lost because of the poor quality printing at the time. It happened with all the mini-series covers. At least they later (somewhat) made up for it when they reprinted it as a poster.

Yes, the Yearbook #3 cover is one of his best! The original art for the front and back covers is currently in its last days on display at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco. If you can't make the exhibit, you can find it in the Raw Fury book that can be purchased through Mike Zeck's website (www.mikezeck.com). You can also see all the cool Joe covers he created featured on the site... in many cases he also features the pencil and/or B&W art so you can see the evolution of the covers.

Yes, Mike was the cover artist for many of the covers between issues #24-#65 as well as the first 8 issues of Special Missions. He did draw one interior story (as well as the covers and some pin-ups) in Yearbook #3. In part, Mike was drawing other interiors at the time (little series called Secret Wars and the Punisher that you may have heard of). The best use of Mike's time was to focus on the covers and that's what drew people into read the books. Larry Hama actually did layouts for many of the covers that he would hand over to Zeck to build out. Ironically, Mike didn't think a lot of people really were paying attention to his G.I. Joe covers when he was drawing them - that is why you don't see all of them signed by Zeck. But, yes, he drew some classic covers during that run - as did Golden and Byrne!

No idea on the print run as it wasn't printed in the book. But, I believe it was technically a fanzine so I'd expect no more than 500 if that. Potentially only 100-500 copies, but no real idea. This is only the second copy I've ever seen. The book was a lot thicker than I thought it would be - and a lot more Gallacci stories in it as well as other artists.

For those that are Albedo die hards... you'll know what this is... For those that don't... this may give you a hint... Huzzah #1,published with a June 1979 cover date was the actual first appearance of Erma Felna by Steve Gallacci. So, in reality, this was the book that started it all! I've been looking for this book for 30 years now. Proved harder to find than the infamous Albedo #0 Yellow edition, but now my early Albedo collection is complete!

In light of the recent increase in sales prices - a 6.0 for $2850 and now this, I've decided to re-open the sale of my 8.0 which should press out to be higher. See the For Sale section - now asking the same price as the one that just sold on eBay ($3700), but this has a solid potential of coming out re-graded much higher. Check out the thread: http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=7654609&fpart=1

No, the back cover is the Triceraton pin-up that was shown - another character from the Turtles universe. So, it's a pseudo Turtles back cover!

I thought this might be the appropriate place to make this announcement. A "formal" introduction of this book will be made in a book dedicated to the history of the Turtles due out later this year to commemorate the Turtle's 30th Anniversary. In the meantime, here it is... Make way Turtlemania Gold... Announcing the rarest Turtles-related book in existence... The Gobbledygook #1 Prototype Ashcan. Before Kevin and Peter printed the smaller sized Gobbledygooks #1 & #2 that Turtles fans have come to love and covet, they experimented with printing a larger sized 8.5" x 11" issue that included all four chapters of the Fugitoid story all in one 40 page issue. You will note that the front and back covers of the book are different; additionally there are some pin-ups in this prototype ashcan that did not appear in the final versions of Gobbledygook #1 & #2. This book came directly from Kevin's personal collection a couple years back before he moved from Los Angeles. Prior to that, I had no idea that this book even existed (as I'm sure many of you didn't either). For those that are interested in more details... feel free to send me a PM. Just wanted folks in the Turtles community to know about the existence of this very cool piece of Turtles history.

This one was by Golden - you'll see his symbol signature in the graffiti on the train. Haven't ever seen this one, but many of Golden's painted covers from G.I. Joe have surfaced over the years - #29, #36, Yearbook #1 (front and back covers) as well as the complete story to Yearbook #2. So, there's a good chance that it survived!

Probably because Gallacci was publishing the book and he was drawing the Erma Felna stories. Remember Usagi didn't start out as the major character in the book.

I'll comment on the Mike Zeck art since I know it pretty well - Zeck Spidey Kraven Last Hunt - $5-10k I'd probably add Zeck Punisher to this range as well, but admittedly there aren't many "A" Punisher pages floating out there. The 1st page to #4 has changed hands a few times in this realm which is technically a panel page and not a splash. I'd call that the best "A" panel page example out there. Mike Zeck Captain America - $3-5k I haven't seen any Cap panel pages sell in this range. I'd bump this down to the $1-3k range. "A" Secret Wars pages have been getting harder to find and have started selling in this range however. B/B+ examples are selling in the $1-3k range.

Mark - I believe it depends on the era of page that you're referencing. Everett's 1960's/70's work would fall into the realm you discuss. I think the 1950's Atlas stuff would run over $15k for a nice panel page. Same for a Romita Cap page from that era, but that's more of a function of the scarcity of Golden Age/Atom Age Timely/Atlas superhero art on the market. I did see the Everett Subby GA page in Heritage sell for $86k a while back but hesitated to include it in the list as I don't really know that market. Where would he and his various popular runs fall in the list Mark? Thanks. MTL>> That is an outlier Everett Subby 'A' panel page should be in the $5 - 10K section (multiple dealer sales in that range - I'd put both 2X and 70s together for this run) Mark

Add me to the list of people that would pay for the Realm #1 cover. I was always blown away by the colors on that cover. I remember talking to the woman who colored it back when the book came out - thought she was genious. Anyone want to trade Realm for Fish Police? I have nice examples of that art!

I noticed that difference year ago as well. I think it does hold true in many cases, although maybe not all cases. Keep in mind that the size of the books is also slightly different. I think it has to do with additional artwork being exposed because of the size difference in the books.