Michael (OML)

I love Ken's work; great piece

Now there's something you dont see everyday. Bolland does a great Atom. Just curious about the subject matter selection. I would have asked him for a OML for a CAMELOT 3000 or a JUDGE DREDD cover. How did you pick the Atom? I like the One Minute Later theme to be collaborative between me and the artist in terms of the characters we pick. In this case, Brian said that the very second I explained my theme, this cover came immediately to mind. He really wanted to do it and it was a cover he had liked very much way back in the day. I was thrilled that Brian would take the time from his personal life to do this and I wanted the experience to be something he too would like. Michael

New One Minute Later commission from Brian Bolland - http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=965698&GSub=113025

New One Minute Later by Brian Bolland -- the Atom #3 - pencils, inks, letters and logo by Brian Brian Bolland One Minute Later

All of the Squad pieces are great!

Picked up a Barry Windsor Smith splash from 1970.... BWS Splash

New One Minute Later - Avengers #15 - DC penciler Geraldo Borges & Marvel Inker Jeff Huet

Love the Karata Kid and here is a new One Minute Later painting of Captain America v. Red SKull from Tales of Suspense #65 http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=948340&GSub=84159

Two more OML commissions ....the Art Adams is a transformative one in which my kids and wife trolled my commission pieces to see what they could tranform into an OML -- kind of neat ..the other is Ariel Olivetti sketching what happens when the Maestro lands and Dan Prado of CrimeLab Syndicate doing great blue line inks

A ways back Jerry DeCaire penciled and Joe Rubinstein inked a One Minute Later of Captain America #136 with Cap chasing down the Mole Man...Jerry did a part 2 showing the finale and that was inked by Dan Prado of Crimelab Syndicate. Dan is represented by Jerry Livengood over at Serendipity Art Sales and I cannot recommend Jerry Livengood or Dan highly enough. Just a fabulous piece of work. Dan is open for inking commissions and can be contacted here:Serendipity Art The DeCaire/Rubinstein is here: and the brand new DeCaire/Dan Prado is here: OML and below

I am thrilled to present this great bronze age splash

Two new One Minute Laters - Capt #136 by Jerry DeCaire and Joe Rubinstein which I've had for over 2 years but never go around to scanning and Miss America #1 by Ken Bald and Joe Rubinstein. Cap 136 OML and Miss America #1 One Minute Later

Two new One Minute Laters - Capt #136 by Jerry DeCaire and Joe Rubinstein which I've had for over 2 years but never go around to scanning and Miss America #1 by Ken Bald and Joe Rubinstein. Cap 136 OML and Miss America #1 One Minute Later

New One Minute Later -- EC Comics Weird Science #15 by Michael Sta. Maria http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=895357&GSub=26452

I don't understand why you are kicking someone who is way down. Spencer was clear -- he will take on new commissions as he needs to pay bills. By the way, there are MANY people for whom Joe has done commissions and done them quickly. There is a SMALL group of people (SMALL) for whom he has been terribly, terribly, terribly late. There is NO EXCUSE for that but please don't confuse the fact that he has delivered the vast majority of his commission work on time and will continue to do so. Again, that is of little consequence to the few people who have had to wait so very long BUT Joe is going to get to them and Spencer is working hard to make that happen. I would think that this is a good story -- it was brought out in the public that a few fans were way way overdue and Spencer has stepped in to get the ship righted and the pieces done. Many artists simply take your money and are never seen or heard from again -- that is not the case -- the vast majority of folks who have dealt with Joe are HAPPY and received their work on time. There is a small group who have had a horrid experience and Spencer is working with Joe to turn that around. We've already heard that the painting is done so lets see what happens with the next one. Give Joe a break, please. Have you never done anything you are ashamed of or done something wrong -- he is trying to make it right so why persist in piling on again and again. Hear hear! There is no better process for this situation, given the facts. I don't know why people can't just give this new process a chance to work. Because despite the intervention, some people are still pissed about being strung along and screwed over--and rightly so. They have every right to be unhappy and every right to express it over and over publicly. It just seems suboptimal to do that given that Spencer has said Joe is working to fix things and Joe has finished the painting that started the chain. The gracious thing would be to see if Joe follows through and I would believe that with Spencer's help, he will. Michael

I do a lot of work with HERO and am taking care of the discussions. We believe that there are some other things Joe can draw that will bring in more money for the Charity and more money to take care of creators is better than less. The funds will go 100% to the Hero Initiative and there shouldn't be any third party profit taking. Of course, the Charity will send you a letter to let you know they have received $1.2K of value -- since you have volunteered to be last, it may be a bit of a wait but Hero Initiative will provide a letter documenting the donation when it occurs.

Out of curiosity, does the HI give receipts for contributions? I don't know French Tax Code, but there might be some chance Romain could salvage a small deduction for charitable giving with a receipt... Just a thought. Andrew Andrew, they do give receipts BUT they are only good for US law. Some of you know I lived in the UK for 3 years and my accountant in the USA disallowed foreign donations we made as a UK Charity is not a 501©(3) of the IRS Code charity.

I don't understand why you are kicking someone who is way down. Spencer was clear -- he will take on new commissions as he needs to pay bills. By the way, there are MANY people for whom Joe has done commissions and done them quickly. There is a SMALL group of people (SMALL) for whom he has been terribly, terribly, terribly late. There is NO EXCUSE for that but please don't confuse the fact that he has delivered the vast majority of his commission work on time and will continue to do so. Again, that is of little consequence to the few people who have had to wait so very long BUT Joe is going to get to them and Spencer is working hard to make that happen. I would think that this is a good story -- it was brought out in the public that a few fans were way way overdue and Spencer has stepped in to get the ship righted and the pieces done. Many artists simply take your money and are never seen or heard from again -- that is not the case -- the vast majority of folks who have dealt with Joe are HAPPY and received their work on time. There is a small group who have had a horrid experience and Spencer is working with Joe to turn that around. We've already heard that the painting is done so lets see what happens with the next one. Give Joe a break, please. Have you never done anything you are ashamed of or done something wrong -- he is trying to make it right so why persist in piling on again and again.

Romain, I can't say what is going on with you but you have made clear that you do not want your piece. I am reaching out to the Hero Initiative as I think we may have Joe just do a piece directly for them. It will be more valuable to the charity than your simply tossing it up on eBay. It is very kind of you to resolve your disagreement with Joe by allowing the artwork to be donated to the Hero Initiative. It is a wonderful gesture and I believe they are likely to have Joe do a different piece that they feel will do even better. It is very kind of you and much appreciated.

I completely disagree with you -- Spencer is a great guy and has helped out in these situations for many fans of many different artists, clients and non-clients. He does this for the good of the industry and fandom and not for some monetary benefit or client benefit. I think you have this one all wrong. Michael

The covers are in need of some additional dialog. On the published cover, Superboy should be saying, "WTF" . . . . . . . and on the o-m-l cover, Cosmic Boy's welcome speech should start with, "Only kidding!" Superboy then adds, "Hey, you guys had me going for a minute!" Hahahaha

To all of those customers on the Josef Rubinstein Commissions Waiting List: I have spent the last two days in consultation with both Josef Rubinstein and my attorneys at great length about this unfortunate situation and how to resolve it amicably and as painlessly as possible. To be sure ... Josef has never once denied he owes anyone anything. He simply got himself into a bit of a sinkhole and we are trying to dig him out of it so everyone walks away clean and happy. Josef has agreed to let me help sort out the outstanding commissions for him. If you are one of the customers who is currently waiting for a commission from Josef AND can prove that you have already paid for it, please let me know by May 30, 2012 the following information: 1) Date of Payment – when did you actually pay Joe? 2) Proof of payment – either a canceled check, a confirmation email from Joe, a copy of a PayPal statement, etc., Something to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt you have paid the amount you claim. 3) Exact Amount of payment 4) What the commission is – I will need as many details here as possible – I want to know EXACTLY what it was that you wanted Joe to do. Please describe in great detail the size of the piece, whether it was pencils only, pencils and inks, a painting, etc., which character(s) in what pose in which costumes. In other words, I want to have all of the details necessary so that I can have them for Joe so there can be no chance of any misunderstandings. 5) If there is something REASONABLE Josef can do to upgrade your request, let me know. If it can be REASONABLY accommodated it will be. If your request was for Captain America single figure drawing and you ask to be upgraded to the full Avengers lineup ... well that is not reasonable. However, it your piece was a single figure no background and a limited background would work for you fine. Just be realistic in your request. The last time I had to deal with something like this, a customer asked for an upgrade from a one figure pencil only drawing 8 1/2" x 11" to an 11" x 17" -- 12 figure pencil, ink and tonal wash drawing with a full New York City background ... NOT REASONABLE and the request was denied for obvious reasons. 6) Your contact information as follows: FULL NAME STREET ADDRESS CITY STATE / PROVINCE COUNTRY POSTAL CODE DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER EVENING PHONE NUMBER It is very important that I receive this information on or before May 30th, 2012. After that, I will be compiling all of the information into a list. I will then have Joe start working on the commissions, starting with the oldest piece first working towards the newest piece. If I do not have ALL of the requested information from you on or before May 30th, you will not be placed in the proper position on the waiting list (that doesn't mean you won't get one if you are owed one, it just means your piece will come at the end of the list). We reserve the right though to bounce around should Josef have a piece just about finished which only needs a short bit of time to complete or something simple like a blank comic cover or a sketch card which can be completed in an hour or two or three. To answer the inevitable question ... unfortunately, Josef is not financially sound enough to offer full refunds at this point. I am sorry. Both he and I wish he was, but he is not. In this economy, as most people know ... just keeping your head above water is hard enough. That is not to excuse for what has happened ... I just want to be up front about everything. We are going to do our best to get everyone an awesome piece and Josef is going to go to town on all of the pieces to give you your monies worth and a little bit more. Now, once this information is in and the credibility of the request established, as a slight apology from Josef ... you may go to his page on my website http://www.theartistschoice.com/rubinstein.htm'>http://www.theartistschoice.com/rubinstein.htm and choose ANY page equal to 25% of the amount paid and it will be sent to you no charge. I request more than one option as the web page is slightly out of date. ( SORRY ). Due to the costs involved, International requests will either require additional shipping fees OR the piece can be held until the commission is completed and shipped with it ... whenever that might be. I, not Josef is doing the shipping and the method I use for International shipping is quite expensive. SORRY. I know some of you are troubled that Josef might take on a couple of new, smaller commissions during this recovery time ... but the man has to eat while he completes this backlog. I am NOT saying he is going to and I am going to do all I can to discourage him ... BUT, IF his bills get too much AND he needs help AND he does accept them ... he is going to rotate new commissions with his old backlog ( with the focus on the old overdue ones ) in order to keep his head above water. The commissions will also be done in and around his quote "regular" comics work as well. It is our intention / hope that we will see some good, steady progress on a regular basis and that Josef will be able to restore his reputation and / or at least show everyone that he is NOT the thief he has been made out to be and our hope is that your piece was worth the wait and then some. If anyone has any questions, PLEASE do not hesitate to contact me. I am sure there is something I have not covered and it will come up. I believe in full disclosure so there will be nothing held back if correct information is given to me by the customers. From this point on, please do not contact Josef directly about the outstanding commissions. Please contact ME at SpencerBck@... with any issues, questions, concerns or the much needed commissions information. I will be the keeper of the list in order to avoid any potential confusion and any potential email misunderstandings. I look forward to hearing from those of you who are waiting on commissions from Josef. I HOPE that this is enough of a commitment to make those waiting happy. If it is not, I am sorry. Outside of Josef winning the lottery, this is the best that can be done and I hope it is sufficient. Lastly, THANK YOU for your respect and your incredible patience the last few days while I tried to work out the best possible solution to a bad situation. I look forward to getting you something you will be proud to own. Respectfully, Spencer R. Beck The Artist's Choice http://www.theartistschoice.com PS: Once again, feel free to post this on any and all message boards you think pertinent.

Al Plastino doing a ONE MINUTE LATER of the first Legion in Adventure #247, a story he first worked on 58 years ago!! Thanks to Spencer Beck for making this happen. CAF Page

Ahhhhhh... The Legend. AcA It truly is a virue, isn't it.....love that one -- it just gets better and better with age....

Romain, thank you for your note. Most appreciated. Yes, I have always found that patience is a virue. Personally, I get fairly steamed when commissions I have paid for run exceedingly late. It isn't right in any way shape or form so I understand everyone's anger -- I've experienced it and I've done what I needed in such situations so I get it and I understand it. One thing I would say is that there is some difference between someone who took money with no intention of producing and someone who took money, acknowledges that artwork is owed and is slowly taking care it. Joe is largely current with people who have commissioned him in recent times and is slowly working off those several commissions that are so very very late. II agree with those who ask why Joe can't simply stop everything he is doing and finish these super late ones. Unfortunately, life doesn't allow him to do that (and I'll say no more on that subject). I know Joe will get these done as I've worked with him in the past as he finishes one then another of the people on his super-late list. I'm so pleased that Spencer is willing to get involved. I've no doubt that Spencer will try as mightily as possible to handle this situation as he has done time and again for other commission folks who run into trouble with an artist. Spencer is the Saint of Comic Art Fans and the patron saint of those who are waiting too long for commissions. My personal advice is to let Spencer try to sort things out and lets all see what he says in a few days. That is merely advice and nothing more -- feel free to disregard or follow. Michael