Popeye Feature Book (nn) -- my baby finally came home!

[Sardo Numspar]

Check out these before/after shots. Quite an amazing testament to the effectiveness of the leaf casting process.

 

 

 

Awesome!!

[*paull*]

Check out these before/after shots. Quite an amazing testament to the effectiveness of the leaf casting process.

 

 

 

Wow, that is amazing! Can you talk more about how you go about matching the paper consistency and color?

[Ze-man]

Check out these before/after shots. Quite an amazing testament to the effectiveness of the leaf casting process.

 

 

 

Wow, that is amazing! Can you talk more about how you go about matching the paper consistency and color?

 

Hey, sorry to not respond sooner I guess I missed it due to being in Chicago

 

Actually the color matching of the added paper is very problematic. You cannot always use matching vintage paper because it is broken down, but the available archival colors to choose from are limited so trying to match the color and amount needed for each page is part alchemy, part science, part experience, part luck. How many parts is that?

 

While hard to tell in the above photos most all of the original paper was still present, just folded and rumpled to death. Once the page was wet the creased paper was laid back in place.

The only new material you see is on the bottom corner. The opposite side displays more casted paper where it filled in and flowed around the tears sealing them in the process. Compared to old school japan paper and glue this process is light years ahead in terms of how it can reset the paper as it was originally compared to trying to piece and glue it back down once tear at a time.

 

So you guys tired of looking at resto photos? I worked on a Superworld 1 cover recently that was interesting.

[nocutename]

Wow, Kenny, that was cool. Yeah, I can see that most of the paper is present just in a crumbled mess. I would love to see more resto pics. Bring it on.

[*paull*]

I never tire of seeing good resto pics. Thanks for the info about leaf casting!

[nwpassage]

I love good restoration. Can I ask how much?

[cheetah]

That is really amazing work.

[CheezyWhiz]

I love good restoration. Can I ask how much?

 

I won't say how much exactly -- partly because I think I got a bargain considering how much labor went into it -- but I will say that it was over $1k.

 

I originally purchased the book for a paltry $50. That significantly helped offset the cost of restoration.

[Bunky Brian]

Just amazing

 

B

[Silver Surfer]

Great work Kenny.

[rjpb]

I doubt I'll ever part with this book as long as I live. I wanted it well preserved and I wanted it to look great.

 

The best reason for restoration.

[thehumantorch]

Congrats, great looking book. I love restoration that saves a book that is literally falling apart and gives it a new life.

[Ze-man]

It's magazine-sized and there are 100 pages.

 

Hey Cheez, could you take a photo of the book with a SA comic on top for a point of reference, I am not sure if everyone knows exactly just how big these Feature puppies are and it's worth seeing.

 

We had to construct special anti gravity tables just to support the book.

 

 

And thanks for all the kind words, this book really is one of a kind, or at least 1 of 4(wasn't there a new copy for sale in Chicago this year?) Speaking of which, Overstreet needs to adjust their listing now to reflect this copies condition.

[CheezyWhiz]

It's magazine-sized and there are 100 pages.

 

Hey Cheez, could you take a photo of the book with a SA comic on top for a point of reference, I am not sure if everyone knows exactly just how big these Feature puppies are and it's worth seeing.

 

Here you go, sir.

 

 

[Comics-n-ERB]

The job shown here is simply amazing. I would think showing this books before and after pic's will lead to more business for Matt and crew as it shows that it really is worth it to have a book worked on before it completely falls apart as this copy was well on it's way of doing.

 

Good choice on getting the work done and kudos to the folks that did the work!

[cheetah]

It almost makes me want to go out and buy a beater just to see what I could get back.

[FFB]

It almost makes me want to go out and buy a beater just to see what I could get back.

 

I am thrilled to see everyone's positive reaction to this amazing job Kenny did. Kenny and I and several others on these boards have discussed this many times over the years - we've always believed that much of the stigma attached to restored comics comes from the fact that so many collectors don't really understand what restoration can (and can't) do. There are a few of us who have tried to educate people about restoration over the years to help remove the stigma and to have people see it for what it is. But, as Kenny likes to say, there is just no substitute for actual pictures!

[FFB]

P.S. at this point, whenever a discussion crops up about who is the best restoration professional in the comic business, I think Kenny's name needs to be mentioned right up there among the very best. His work is stunning and he is really a perfectionist, which is exactly what you want in someone who is restoring a book for you.

[cheetah]

Pardon me for not knowing everyone, but does Kenny/Ze-Man work for Classics or on his own? I seem to remember one boardie getting hired on in the recent past.

[CheezyWhiz]

Pardon me for not knowing everyone, but does Kenny/Ze-Man work for Classics or on his own? I seem to remember one boardie getting hired on in the recent past.

 

Yes, Kenny does work for Classics Incorporated. Kenny did all the cleaning and structural work on the book, and Matt did the color touch and reassembly.