2016 November 17 - 18 Comics Signature Auction - Beverely Hills

[John E.]

Nice pick-up, Doc Joe. That Batman v. Predator piece was one of two that I would have gone after in this go-round if I had that kind of money. Seems like you got it for a bargain price; if not, I certainly don't think you overpaid.

[John E.]

I think prices are softening for sub-$1000 art, no matter how much some dealers try to artificially prop it up.

 

That's a pretty sweeping statement; any specifics?

 

Off the top of my head I can think of a bunch of early-'90s Marvel runs (X-titles, SS, ASM, etc) along with WD and Preacher of course, that are noticeably strengthening.

 

That Jim Aparo splash with Bane and a broken Batman went for $3346.00 to my surprise. When someone directed me to the preview, I cracked my knuckles, then said, "I think I can raise $1500 and take this home with me in November." Yeah, right. By day two it was already at $1100.

[comix4fun]

I think prices are softening for sub-$1000 art, no matter how much some dealers try to artificially prop it up.

 

That's a pretty sweeping statement; any specifics?

 

Off the top of my head I can think of a bunch of early-'90s Marvel runs (X-titles, SS, ASM, etc) along with WD and Preacher of course, that are noticeably strengthening.

 

That Jim Aparo splash with Bane and a broken Batman went for $3346.00 to my surprise. When someone directed me to the preview, I cracked my knuckles, then said, "I think I can raise $1500 and take this home with me in November." Yeah, right. By day two it was already at $1100.

 

 

 

Coming so long after the actual Bane/Batman story and being a flashback the result surprised me. A page from Knightfall would make more sense to me than something that came so long afterwards.

[Mephisto]

If my wife goes insane about this...um..when..I'll have to store it on the wall in Genes bedroom

 

Do you store all of your "toys" in Genes bedroom?

 

His wife is more understanding than mine....and his is not that understanding

 

My wife when looking at a Dazzler cover "Thats porn"

 

What does she say about all the half nude muscle men hanging on the wall in your basement gym?

[comix4fun]

If my wife goes insane about this...um..when..I'll have to store it on the wall in Genes bedroom

 

Do you store all of your "toys" in Genes bedroom?

 

His wife is more understanding than mine....and his is not that understanding

 

My wife when looking at a Dazzler cover "Thats porn"

 

What does she say about all the half nude muscle men hanging on the wall in your basement gym?

 

 

 

She takes one look at his GAINZ!!! and says:

 

[John E.]

I think prices are softening for sub-$1000 art, no matter how much some dealers try to artificially prop it up.

 

That's a pretty sweeping statement; any specifics?

 

Off the top of my head I can think of a bunch of early-'90s Marvel runs (X-titles, SS, ASM, etc) along with WD and Preacher of course, that are noticeably strengthening.

 

That Jim Aparo splash with Bane and a broken Batman went for $3346.00 to my surprise. When someone directed me to the preview, I cracked my knuckles, then said, "I think I can raise $1500 and take this home with me in November." Yeah, right. By day two it was already at $1100.

 

 

 

Coming so long after the actual Bane/Batman story and being a flashback the result surprised me. A page from Knightfall would make more sense to me than something that came so long afterwards.

 

My thoughts exactly. I still would've toppled over my chair at $2000. I just saw that the Nolan/Hanna Detective Comics #664, page 2 splash on which Aparo's image is based ended a quarter shy of $6K earlier this year. That's a shocker, too. I would've guessed the value at $2.5K, but I'm likely thinking too small, and cheap. So maybe the page in question was a consolation bargain for the underbidder in February. A Knightfall page is certainly on my checklist and as per a previous thread on knocking/underappreciating '90s art, it just may be that Knightfall stuff is 90s blue chip.

 

Also, that LOTDK Knightfall cover sold for $4K+--that buyer got a good deal IMO.

[vodou]

Did anyone here pick up the Beck Odalisque painting yesterday? Congrats to all the Underground Art winners yesterday.

I dropped out two bids before it closed. And I still regret that. But it's a double elephant (as in folio-speak) and I've already got three monsters taking up three walls so...

 

Also crating and shipping on this will be at least $500, probably more like $800 if you're anywhere east of TX. Maybe more. So factor that in and it's a $3k+ piece that will take up a lot of...space. One needs to really love it. And keep loving it for a long tim. (or have a very big closet!)

[NinjaSealed]

I think prices are softening for sub-$1000 art, no matter how much some dealers try to artificially prop it up.

 

That's a pretty sweeping statement; any specifics?

 

Off the top of my head I can think of a bunch of early-'90s Marvel runs (X-titles, SS, ASM, etc) along with WD and Preacher of course, that are noticeably strengthening.

 

That Jim Aparo splash with Bane and a broken Batman went for $3346.00 to my surprise. When someone directed me to the preview, I cracked my knuckles, then said, "I think I can raise $1500 and take this home with me in November." Yeah, right. By day two it was already at $1100.

 

 

 

Coming so long after the actual Bane/Batman story and being a flashback the result surprised me. A page from Knightfall would make more sense to me than something that came so long afterwards.

 

My thoughts exactly. I still would've toppled over my chair at $2000. I just saw that the Nolan/Hanna Detective Comics #664, page 2 splash on which Aparo's image is based ended a quarter shy of $6K earlier this year. That's a shocker, too. I would've guessed the value at $2.5K, but I'm likely thinking too small, and cheap. So maybe the page in question was a consolation bargain for the underbidder in February. A Knightfall page is certainly on my checklist and as per a previous thread on knocking/underappreciating '90s art, it just may be that Knightfall stuff is 90s blue chip.

 

Also, that LOTDK Knightfall cover sold for $4K+--that buyer got a good deal IMO.

 

The splash ended about right where it should have. There have been solid but not A level Aparo random panel pages that have sold in the $1k range, The bane Batman splash was a pretty good image so I thought FMV was right around $3k-$4k range.

 

As far as any of the key Knightfall art, pretty much all of it is going to be $5k plus. that is going to hit a nostalgic sweet spot for a lot of collectors.

[adamstrange]

If my wife goes insane about this...um..when..I'll have to store it on the wall in Genes bedroom

 

Do you store all of your "toys" in Genes bedroom?

 

His wife is more understanding than mine....and his is not that understanding

 

My wife when looking at a Dazzler cover "Thats porn"

The proper response is "That's a relief. I wasn't sure it was explicit enough to qualify."

[Doc Joe]

They are 97% naked

[Dick O.]

Cosmic Marvel stuff in general is just bananas right now.

 

 

Yup Marvel Cosmic is on faiyah. That Surfer pinup, Lim IG Watcher splash and yesterday's Starlins all blew past estimates. Today's miscellaneous Thanos pages performed solidly, if not gaudy as the aforementioned.

 

Jones Batman and JRJR DD did well.

 

Steal of the auction was that impressive Chadwick Concrete painted cover. Thrilled that a friend managed to snag it!

[comix4fun]

I think prices are softening for sub-$1000 art, no matter how much some dealers try to artificially prop it up.

 

That's a pretty sweeping statement; any specifics?

 

Off the top of my head I can think of a bunch of early-'90s Marvel runs (X-titles, SS, ASM, etc) along with WD and Preacher of course, that are noticeably strengthening.

 

That Jim Aparo splash with Bane and a broken Batman went for $3346.00 to my surprise. When someone directed me to the preview, I cracked my knuckles, then said, "I think I can raise $1500 and take this home with me in November." Yeah, right. By day two it was already at $1100.

 

 

 

Coming so long after the actual Bane/Batman story and being a flashback the result surprised me. A page from Knightfall would make more sense to me than something that came so long afterwards.

 

My thoughts exactly. I still would've toppled over my chair at $2000. I just saw that the Nolan/Hanna Detective Comics #664, page 2 splash on which Aparo's image is based ended a quarter shy of $6K earlier this year. That's a shocker, too. I would've guessed the value at $2.5K, but I'm likely thinking too small, and cheap. So maybe the page in question was a consolation bargain for the underbidder in February. A Knightfall page is certainly on my checklist and as per a previous thread on knocking/underappreciating '90s art, it just may be that Knightfall stuff is 90s blue chip.

 

Also, that LOTDK Knightfall cover sold for $4K+--that buyer got a good deal IMO.

 

The splash ended about right where it should have. There have been solid but not A level Aparo random panel pages that have sold in the $1k range, The bane Batman splash was a pretty good image so I thought FMV was right around $3k-$4k range.

 

As far as any of the key Knightfall art, pretty much all of it is going to be $5k plus. that is going to hit a nostalgic sweet spot for a lot of collectors.

 

 

 

It wasn't a knock on aparo. It's just that this extremely late for aparo. 1999. A splash with batman from this era (1996) inked by Sienk went for $1200 about a year ago. Roach isn't the inker that Sienk is. That was my thinking.

[NinjaSealed]

I think prices are softening for sub-$1000 art, no matter how much some dealers try to artificially prop it up.

 

That's a pretty sweeping statement; any specifics?

 

Off the top of my head I can think of a bunch of early-'90s Marvel runs (X-titles, SS, ASM, etc) along with WD and Preacher of course, that are noticeably strengthening.

 

That Jim Aparo splash with Bane and a broken Batman went for $3346.00 to my surprise. When someone directed me to the preview, I cracked my knuckles, then said, "I think I can raise $1500 and take this home with me in November." Yeah, right. By day two it was already at $1100.

 

Coming so long after the actual Bane/Batman story and being a flashback the result surprised me. A page from Knightfall would make more sense to me than something that came so long afterwards.

 

My thoughts exactly. I still would've toppled over my chair at $2000. I just saw that the Nolan/Hanna Detective Comics #664, page 2 splash on which Aparo's image is based ended a quarter shy of $6K earlier this year. That's a shocker, too. I would've guessed the value at $2.5K, but I'm likely thinking too small, and cheap. So maybe the page in question was a consolation bargain for the underbidder in February. A Knightfall page is certainly on my checklist and as per a previous thread on knocking/underappreciating '90s art, it just may be that Knightfall stuff is 90s blue chip.

 

Also, that LOTDK Knightfall cover sold for $4K+--that buyer got a good deal IMO.

 

The splash ended about right where it should have. There have been solid but not A level Aparo random panel pages that have sold in the $1k range, The bane Batman splash was a pretty good image so I thought FMV was right around $3k-$4k range.

 

As far as any of the key Knightfall art, pretty much all of it is going to be $5k plus. that is going to hit a nostalgic sweet spot for a lot of collectors.

 

 

It wasn't a knock on aparo. It's just that this extremely late for aparo. 1999. A splash with batman from this era (1996) inked by Sienk went for $1200 about a year ago. Roach isn't the inker that Sienk is. That was my thinking.

 

It was a twilight piece, but I thought the quality and subject matter was good enough for it to be in the range it ended in. I wish it was cheaper, if it had went for under $1500 it would be shipping off to me.

[heartened]

Got the page I wanted - the Thanos Origin page I remember fondly, from IM 55. Went cheaper than the other one, oddly, even though the other one has no origin and the Thanos character is technically a robot/imposter on that one. That one had Drax on it, but for me this issue is all about Thanos. And the origin back story is classic Starlin.

 

Been super-busy with work and life, but came out of the woodwork to grab this one. Hope you're all doing well!

 

 

[Dick O.]

Congrats Hari! Was wondering who beat me to it

 

Glad to see this page went to someone who truly understands the subject matter and appreciates its significance

[heartened]

Congrats Hari! Was wondering who beat me to it

 

Glad to see this page went to someone who truly understands the subject matter and appreciates its significance

 

Well, I absolutely do, so thank you! This is where it all starts. Did you get the other one?

 

[Dick O.]

PM sent!

[batman_fan]

I think prices are softening for sub-$1000 art, no matter how much some dealers try to artificially prop it up.

 

That's a pretty sweeping statement; any specifics?

 

Off the top of my head I can think of a bunch of early-'90s Marvel runs (X-titles, SS, ASM, etc) along with WD and Preacher of course, that are noticeably strengthening.

 

That Jim Aparo splash with Bane and a broken Batman went for $3346.00 to my surprise. When someone directed me to the preview, I cracked my knuckles, then said, "I think I can raise $1500 and take this home with me in November." Yeah, right. By day two it was already at $1100.

 

 

 

Coming so long after the actual Bane/Batman story and being a flashback the result surprised me. A page from Knightfall would make more sense to me than something that came so long afterwards.

 

+1, I was a bit surprised by this one too.

[tth2]

I can't say that I'm terribly surprised that this auction has been on the weak side (outside of the underground art and a few select pieces in the regular session). I follow consumer discretionary spending trends closely since I invest actively in the sector, and the reality is that high-end discretionary spending has been falling off a cliff in recent months. You may have read that fine art spending has been in a tailspin since 2014. Blame the election (and now post-election fallout), weak global economy, Brexit, strong dollar or what have you, but, spending is definitely down vs. 6-12 months ago...guess it may finally be affecting our hobby a little bit.

I wish you could go talk to some of the vintage comic strip collectors and tell them that they`re supposed to stop spending so much!

 

I set a record a few auctions ago on a Caniff Terry & the Pirates. Now the record has become the norm (and no, I haven`t been the winner (or even the underbidder) on any of those subsequent auctions).

[tth2]

Hey, I think we should keep on the political front with my pickup from this evening.

 

Congrats! Great pick up!