STERANKO oddities STERANKO rarities STERANKO - FOOM 1 and 2! ALL ITEMS NOW REDUCED! 1 1

[*paull*]

I have a few scarce Steranko items to list.  Please let me know if you have any questions!

 

 takes it.  No probies, listers or hobos

 

 

__________________

UNSEEN SHADOWS - Jim Steranko (Supergraphics, 1978)

This scarce book details Steranko's multi-year odyssey to illustrate the 27 different painted covers that he created for the Shadow paperback series between 1975 and 1978. Completely written, designed, illustrated and published by Steranko in 1978. This is a seldom seen gem. Unseen Shadows contains 50 pages of pencilled prelims for each cover, some paintings have multiple prelims. Not reprinted in any other volume! A beautiful book for a fan of Steranko's amazing Shadow paintings. Full color covers with b&w interiors.   Includes text by Jim about the Shadow paperback paintings... didn't include photos of the text pages here.

Cardstock cover with tanning on inside of cover (typical of this book due to paper quality). Pages are in excellent condition and are not tanned at all. Only the slightest edge wear. Cover colors are beautiful. VFNM condition. Killer book!

$125 shipped to US address

SOLD!


 

 

 

\

 

 

 

Edited September 13, 2023 by *paull*

[*paull*]

In 1970, Jim served as the model for a lurid magazine titled TRUE MYSTERY DETECTIVE.  Staying somewhat within character here, Jim sports a .38 in one hand and a lady in the other.  Very scarce magazine.  This copy has a spine separation and a price in ink on the cover, but otherwise in VG condition.

$75 shipped to US address

NOW $65 shipped in the US

 

Edited August 2, 2023 by *paull*

[*paull*]

STERANKO NOIR, published in 2002, is still the most comprehensive book on Steranko to date. There are no books with Jim's participation on the horizon. As his fans know, he wants to design his own work, and nothing has been mentioned. We aren't doing to see anything like this anytime soon.

The book was a limited edition of 3,000 copies. A subset of those were signed by Steranko.  This copy is signed.  In VFNM condition with original slipcase.  This book includes a ton of images including some published for the first time:  AT THE EDGE OF ETERNITY from Superman 400 in glorious B&W, the entire CHANDLER: RED TIDE in black & white, portion of Dante's Inferno (story intended for Marvel following his AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT, but never published), his DRACULA concept paintings, and portions of his Outland adaption in black & white. This book is beyond awesome.

From the publisher:

The massive book incorporates eleven detailed chapters of behind-the-scenes stories, historic documentation, personal anecdotes, and analytical insights about the controversial artist-writer-performer, and is annotated by J. David Spurlock and Angel de la Calle, with additional essays scribed especially for the book by a host of internationally-renowned authors, critics, and pop-culture writers, including Michael Chabon, the Pulitzer-Prize winning novelist of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay.

STERANKO: ARTE NOIR is the largest and most comprehensive collection of the controversial creator's work ever published, packed with classic, new, and rare art, including hundreds of color and black & white images spanning the full range of his career-from comics to book covers, trading cards to limited-edition prints, film production illustrations to movie posters-many never before compiled in book form.

The hefty 8" x 10" volume features 200 pages of Steranko visual magic in a high-quality, perfect-bound deluxe format, printed on 80-pound coated matte stock with a heavy, full-color, laminated card stock cover with flaps, and housed in a hard-surfaced leatherette, crimson-foil embossed slipcase. Each copy has been personally autographed by Steranko.

In July, 2001, Steranko was Guest of Honor at Spain's gala Semana Negra festival of the arts, a multi-cultural event, which ran for ten days and showcased the largest exhibition of his work ever shown in Europe, with well over 1,000,000 in attendance. In addition to functioning as a career retrospective, STERANKO: ARTE NOIR, sponsored by the Gijon Museum of Modern Art, also served as the show's exhibition catalog and was produced with bilingual text throughout.

All text in both English and Spanish.

$200 shipped to US address

SOLD!

 

 

 

Edited July 26, 2023 by *paull*

[Vegabomb]

Cool stuff. Such a great artist.

Quick story…

I owned a magic store in the mid 80s. One of the books we sold was called “Steranko on Cards”. A quite advanced card magic book. The author’s name was Jim Steranko. I asked around with folks that I thought would know and all said it wasn’t the same guy.

Some years later Steranko is at the comic con in Michigan. I approach him and tell the story of the book. He shakes his head and say no that’s not me. I said “Yea Milt Kort said he didn’t think it was you”. I barely got out the word “said” and Jim interrupted me with “How’s old Milt doin? I haven’t seen him in years…” He now had a big smile on his face and confirmed what I always hoped was true.

[*paull*]

On 7/23/2023 at 3:33 PM, Vegabomb said:

Cool stuff. Such a great artist.

Quick story…

I owned a magic store in the mid 80s. One of the books we sold was called “Steranko on Cards”. A quite advanced card magic book. The author’s name was Jim Steranko. I asked around with folks that I thought would know and all said it wasn’t the same guy.

Some years later Steranko is at the comic con in Michigan. I approach him and tell the story of the book. He shakes his head and say no that’s not me. I said “Yea Milt Kort said he didn’t think it was you”. I barely got out the word “said” and Jim interrupted me with “How’s old Milt doin? I haven’t seen him in years…” He now had a big smile on his face and confirmed what I always hoped was true.

Hahaha... Don't know why Jim denied it, he's happy to claim credit for his work.  Milt used a Jim Steranko illustration for the cover of his book!

[*paull*]

On 7/23/2023 at 3:33 PM, Vegabomb said:

Cool stuff. Such a great artist.

Quick story…

I owned a magic store in the mid 80s. One of the books we sold was called “Steranko on Cards”. A quite advanced card magic book. The author’s name was Jim Steranko. I asked around with folks that I thought would know and all said it wasn’t the same guy.

Some years later Steranko is at the comic con in Michigan. I approach him and tell the story of the book. He shakes his head and say no that’s not me. I said “Yea Milt Kort said he didn’t think it was you”. I barely got out the word “said” and Jim interrupted me with “How’s old Milt doin? I haven’t seen him in years…” He now had a big smile on his face and confirmed what I always hoped was true.

Do you have the other two volumes that he wrote on magic:  his 1962 STACKED DECK and 1964 STERANKO ON ESCAPES ?  Both were published as the majority of two issues of Genii Magazine.  I have both and can list them here.

Edited July 24, 2023 by *paull*

[MedicAR]

Great stuff!  Unfortunately, I have most of it....  You wouldn't happen to have a copy of his Indiana Jones print signed would you?

[*paull*]

On 7/23/2023 at 4:22 PM, MedicAR said:

Great stuff!  Unfortunately, I have most of it....  You wouldn't happen to have a copy of his Indiana Jones print signed would you?

No, sorry, I don’t.  In my opinion, the thing to seek out with regards to Jim’s Indy paintings is the foldout that was included in one of the issues of Mediascene (I believe that’s where it was).

[*paull*]

In 1962, Steranko published STACKED DECK (as part of Genii magazine), a 20 page book of revolutionary card magic that was written, designed, illustrated and photographed by him.

In 1964, he upped the ante with STERANKO'S WORLD OF ESCAPES (part of Genii Magazine). 47 pages written, designed, photographed and illustrated by Steranko. Yes, it's true that Steranko influenced Kirby to create Mister Miracle.

These books are super rare, needless to say. Highly sought after by hardcore Steranko collectors. If you need to see interior pics, I have photos of long-ago sold copies from an old thread:

These books are in very high grade.  Crisp, fresh and impossible to find like this. Let's call them NM-. I have been collecting Jim's work for thirty years and have had a few of these before, but nothing anywhere near this condition. These are the best I've ever seen. 

This is a link to a listing I did many years ago with copies in lesser condition, but it shows the interiors of the books.

$700 for the pair

NOW $575 for the pair
 

Edited September 13, 2023 by *paull*

[KCOComics]

This is a really fun thread, about one of the most colorful people in the comics. 

[*paull*]

On 7/23/2023 at 10:11 PM, KCOComics said:

This is a really fun thread, about one of the most colorful people in the comics. 

Thanks... I highly recommend that every fan meet him in person.  He's doing a bunch of shows this year, too.

[mrlatko]

On 7/23/2023 at 9:15 PM, *paull* said:

Thanks... I highly recommend that every fan meet him in person.  He's doing a bunch of shows this year, too.

Met Steranko at a con in the Midwest a couple months ago.  Had him sign a couple classic Nick Fury and Cap books, and he told me a great story about the Nick Fury.  He said that when he turned it in, Stan Lee hated the cover. "Jim, why is it so white?  You know we pay the printer a lot of money to add vibrant colors?". Steranko explained that kids would be drawn to it because of the lack of color.  It would stand out on the shelves, and that was half the battle, just getting someone to pick it up and look at it.  Then they began a quick negotiation.  Stan said he wanted some red/white and blue to be patriotic, so Jim agreed to add the red if he could also add the bullet holes in the SHIELD logo.  Stan agreed, and a classic was approved!

Then Jim proceeded to flirt with my wife.  What an interesting personality, and so cool in person.

 

Edited July 24, 2023 by mrlatko

[KCOComics]

On 7/23/2023 at 10:15 PM, *paull* said:

Thanks... I highly recommend that every fan meet him in person.  He's doing a bunch of shows this year, too.

I was fortunate enough to meet Jim in NH last year with my ten year old son.  I'm not big on meeting celebrities, but after our hobby lost a number of artist that meant allot to me, I decided I wanted to meet Jim and tell him how much I appreciated his work. 

He was extremely warm and full of energy.  There were a million things I would have loved to ask him, but in the limited time I had I just thanked him and moved on. 

 

He signed the below for my ten year old and signed a paper back book he had done the cover for, for my six year old. 

[*paull*]

On 7/23/2023 at 10:30 PM, mrlatko said:

Met Steranko at a con in the Midwest a couple months ago.  Had him sign a couple classic Nick Fury and Cap books, and he told me a great story about the Nick Fury.  He said that when he turned it in, Stan Lee hated the cover. "Jim, why is it so white?  You know we pay the printer a lot of money to add vibrant colors?". Steranko explained that kids would be drawn to it because of the lack of color.  It would stand out on the shelves, and that was half the battle, just getting someone to pick it up and look at it.  Then they began a quick negotiation.  Stan said he wanted some red/white and blue to be patriotic, so Jim agreed to add the red if he could also add the bullets in the SHIELD logo.  Stan agreed, and a classic was approved!

Then Jim proceeded to flirt with my wife.  What an interesting personality, and so cool in person.

 

 

I wasn't aware of the red being a compromise with Stan.  Interesting...

Jim fought constant battles with Marvel. Stan forced ridiculous dialog in Cap 110 ("green hands smashing through!" for instance), had his work censored/edited multiple times (SHIELD 2, for instance), and text was edited in AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT, after Jim told them not to touch one word.  That last one sealed the deal on Jim leaving Marvel.

[Randall Dowling]

On 7/23/2023 at 9:15 PM, *paull* said:

Thanks... I highly recommend that every fan meet him in person.  He's doing a bunch of shows this year, too.

My pal, Steve, and I met him at Windy City a couple years ago.  He joked around with us and shared stories for almost an hour and finished with a special parting word for Steve.  I've met many creators over the years, none were as vivacious, friendly, conversationally enjoyable, and entertaining as Jim Steranko.

Also, he's always the best dressed man in the room.  10/10.

[Randall Dowling]

This is a great thread with really premium material.  Hope all of this finds a good home!  Paul is really great to purchase from, highly recommended.

[*paull*]

On 7/24/2023 at 2:44 AM, Randall Dowling said:

This is a great thread with really premium material.  Hope all of this finds a good home!  Paul is really great to purchase from, highly recommended.

Thanks, Randall! 

I may have more stuff. I have to check my boxes.

[PDGray]

I got to meet Jim in 2019 and he signed a few books for me.  Genuinely one of the most fascinating people I have ever had a conversation with - and I have met a LOT of celebrities over my time.

I wasn't able to go to Planet Comicon this year, but sent a number of books to get signed and I am QUITE happy with all of them.  Got my XMen 49 & 50 both signed along with some Captain America and my Hulk Special 1.  That reminds me, I need to get those added to my comic wall.

 

PDG

[plady69]

Great thread and of course GLWTS!

[TupennyConan]

On 7/24/2023 at 12:24 PM, *paull* said:

I may have more stuff. I have to check my boxes.