Hiya! I’m James Hampton, professional actor. You may may recognize me from my role as “The Dad” in the hit movie, Teen Wolf, written by comics writer and man about town Jeph Loeb.
Friday means many things to many people. For some, Friday means you start preparing for your upcoming appearance at C2E2 in Chicago by buying lots of Sharpies, because you know your line is going to be SUPER long because Chicago is known for its rabid Teen Wolf fan base. For others, it means trying to figure out this darn “smartphone” you got from Sprint, because for the life of you, you can’t get in touch with Michael J. Fox. I mean, you’re pretty sure you have the right number. And for others, it means having to go to that laser hair removal place because in reality, you got the role of a werewolf Dad because… well, I’ve said too much…
For my buddies at iFanboy though, Friday is letter column time.
You write. They answer. Very simple.
As always, if you want to have your e-mail read on the any of iFanboy’s shows or answered here, in the letter’s column keep them coming to contact@ifanboy.com
Ron, it was a pleasure meeting you at Image Expo. I just bought some of my first comic book page art at the expo. Besides buying what you like, do you have any tips on buying pages? What should I know about buying them? Is there a typical price range? Should you have the artist sign the page? Any information on this would be appreciated.
Landon
Hey Landon! It was great to meet you at Image Expo too. As we tell everyone, when and if you see us at a con, please come say hello! It’s always so great to meet the active members of the iFanbase and get the opportunity to thank you in person for enjoying what we do. So everyone else, take a lesson from Landon and stop and say hi!
Now, onto Landon’s question, which gives me ANY excuse to talk about original art. For me, the past few years, my real “collecting” has moved from the actual comic books to collecting original art. I love the idea of owning a page of art that was printed in a comic. There’s a real “one of a kind” feeling that goes with owning a page of original art. We’ve talked about buying original art here in the Letter Column before, but you’ve got some good, pointed, general questions that I’d be happy to help with.
Spider-Man Annual #22 Original Art – by Steve Ditko
For tips on buying pages and what you should know about buying them, there’s some basic things to go off of. First, have a frame of reference in looking for art. For me, I find making it a personal decision is best. I look for artists and/or comics (titles or characters) that I personally like. Sure, I’d love to buy a Jack Kirby piece of art, but I’d rather get a page from his run on X-Men then say, Devil Dinosaur. (Who am I kidding, you should buy any Kirby art if you can ever find any and afford it, but you get what I’m saying…)
As far as price range, it depends on the artist and the character. Generally, I’ve seen original pages for as low as $50 and has high as thousands. I usually keep myself within a budget between $100 and $300. If a page costs more than $300, it has to be really special (to date, I’ve only paid more than $300 on 3 pages of art). The factors that define price as usually who the artist is, a popular artist will command a higher price. For most mainstream comic artists working now on recognizable comics and characters, you can expect to find pages in the $150 to $300 range.
Another factor is what the subject of the page of art is. For example, if you were to buy a page of The Amazing Spider-Man art, if the page features Spider-Man, in costume, facing front and in full view, well that page would be more expensive then a page that features Spider-Man with his back turned, or like just his foot or something. Also, splash pages are the most expensive type of pages out there, as well as pages that show a ton of action in full view. Now, this could be places where you can find savings. If you’ve always wanted a Spider-Man page, you could probably find a cheaper page that features characters talking, commonly known as an “Aunt May” page. These pages usually run drastically cheaper due to the lack of action and recognizable characters on the page. Nothing against “Aunt May” pages, in fact I own several that can be described this way. But just be warned that if you really want that page of Wolverine slashing the Hulk, it’s gonna cost you.
Personally, I try to get every page I buy to be signed by the artist, and personalized to me. This is because I have no plans to sell the pages, so I want to make that personal connection. At minimum I think you should get the page signed by the artist to at least validate the work. If you’re buying from the artist directly, this is super easy. But if you’re buying from a dealer, most pages will be signed, but you won’t be able to get the page personalized, unless you can buy the page and then go hunt down the artist at a con (which I’ve done).
Hopefully these tips will help you out. Buying original art can be a blast, but take warning, it can be highly addictive and cause pain to your wallet though. Good luck finding great art!
Ron Richards
I was reading your article about the best single issues of 2011 and it got me wondering. What are your favorite single issues of all time? I have 2 that immediately come to mind: Hellblazer #27, it’s probably the best single comic I’ve ever read still to this day, and The Amazing Spider-Man #121.
Andy from Cincinnati, Ohio
I had to think about this really hard. I find that I don’t really remember what my favorite issues are. My favorite stories tend to be longer. I can tell you my favorite series (Preacher, Scalped, Starman), but I have a hard time remembering specific issues from those. I’ll give it a shot.
• Batman and Robin #2 – Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely at their best.
• Action Comics #775 – The best Superman issue I ever read.
• Starman #51 – Jack Knight travels to Jor-El’s childhood on Krypton
• Rocketeer Adventures #2 – A talent explosion. Darwyn Cooke, Mark Waid, Gene Ha, Geoff Darrow and more.
• Daredevil #1 – The best single issue Marvel has put out in recent memory.
• Y: The Last Man #1 – That’s how to start a series.
• Hellboy in Mexico – Vampire turkeys are only one great thing about this.
You’ll have no doubt noticed that I don’t have a lot of Marvel issues I can think of. This is curious to me as well. The issues are also all from the modern era. I wish I was well read enough to tell you about a single issue of a book from the 50s, but we’ve all got blank spots.
Everyone’s different though. What are yours?
Josh Flanagan
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One of my favorite single issues is still The Unwritten #8. The way the story with those two kids played out was absolutely heartbreaking, and I can’t think of that series without thinking of that issue.
In line with Y, Ex Machina #1 has what I consider to be the most moving last page reveal I’ve ever seen.
Absolutely.
Definitely. I have never been moved like that in movies, books or comics
Uh, Josh. You did have a Marvel issue.
It was a number 1. So it’s a bit of a cheat.
All’s fair in love of comic books.
Also, adjusted.
Perfect.
I have no idea what issue number it was, but the issue of Hellboy where he eats the pancakes will be with me forever.
The silent issue of the original Marvel G.I. Joe series is another single issue I’ll never forget (I think it was issue #21.)
The pancakes story was a short story in dark horse presents annual 1999 (i think that is the right year- possibly 98)
Thank you, sir.
@Josh – you did list Daredevil, so there’s some hope for you… 😉
My favourite issue would change depending on the day you asked me – at the moment it’s Daredevil #38 from 1968 (Daredevil & Doc Doom swap bodies). Blew my young mind then & still blows my (somewhat older) mind now. That Colan art…..
Action Comics 775 is prob my favorite issue of Superman, ever.
Jonah Hex #50 is Darwyn Cooke at his absolute best. Possibly the best issue of that whole run, which is saying something
The last issue of Y: The Last Man (#60?) was my all time favorite end to a series
Easily, hands down Watchmen issue #4.The Dr. Manhattan solo issue, is comic book perfection.It’s a flashback issue done superbly.Jumping forwards & backwards in a characters life was expertly done by Mr. Moore
I can’t really think of a handful of *favorite* single issues, but a couple that stuck out in my fledgeling years of readership were Uncanny X-Men 297, and Spectacular Spider-Man 200. I’ve forgotten thousands of comics over the years, but those two still stick with me.
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=683
http://www.spiderfan.org/comics/reviews/spiderman_spectacular/200.html
Iron man 150 (vs dr. Doom in Camelot)!
The recent fables christmas special was also just amazing for a single issue story (114 I think)
There’s some single issues of Alan Moore’s run on Swamp Thing that have to rank up there for me, although I, too, am more attracted to whole stories, but Anatomy Lesson was the first Moore story I read, the first Swamp Thing I read, and still a great read. That is definitely up there. Used to really like My Blue Heaven, but I’m not sure it retained it’s charm on its last reread.
Also, I think The Tick #3, Night of a Million Zillion Ninjas. Also my first introduction to the character and the writer.
I love hearing questions about original art. I’ve been bitten by the bug too, but try not to spend too much money on it. Usually when my wife asks me what I want for my birthday I ask how much she’s willing to spend and let her know which page I want (I know it’s not very romantic, but she’d be lost trying to find a page for me).
If I might add a few words of advice: Look for inkers, they usually get art too and are often overlooked when people are looking for original art.
Don’t be afraid to start on Ebay, you’re usually able to find pages fairly inexpensively and it’s a good way to get an idea of pricing, etc from the get go.
Lastly, it’s easy to look at websites that sell art and get lost in all the stuff you want to get. I found that it was helpful to put together a list of artists who I wanted a page from and series I wanted a page from, just so I could focus in a little more. You can sometimes find nice overlaps (perfect example, I haven’t done it yet, but I want a page from Uncanny X-Men and a page from Sean Phillips, so I’m hoping to get a page from his run on that series). Knowing what series you’d like to have a page from, and understanding that you might not be able to afford the “best” pages from that series, can help you narrow your search and focus on something. I wanted a page from Preacher but I don’t have the money for most of the pages that come up for sale. I was recently able to get a page with no major characters on it and I’m so stoked to have it.
Someday I’ll own an Eisner page and a Kirby page. It’ll take a long time (and the Kirby page might be from Destroyer Duck rather than Fantastic Four), but I will do it.
Brave and Bold #33 (Ladies Night) and Daredevil #1 are my two favorite single issues of recent memory. FF #600 was also pretty sweet.
I’ve always wanted to get into collecting original art, but i’ve never taken that plunge yet save for a few sketches here and there. Its tough to find that perfect page. Do you frame things immediately or do you just keep the pages in large portfolio books? How do you store and protect your art? Framing becomes a real expensive part of the equation doesn’t it?…..especially because you’d have to go into the archival/ acid free worlds of fine art stuff.
I have some protective sleeves that I got through a dealer at a con and keep the art in a cool, dry, place that doesn’t get a lot of sun (the top of my bookshelf). I’ll probably get a portfolio soon, but none of my art is super valuable.
I only have two pages framed, a page from Y The Last Man and a cover from New X-Men: Academy X. I sometimes wish I could go back and get something else framed or find an easy way to swap pieces out, but can’t think of anything off hand. Now I usually just take the art out from time to time and show it to visitors if I think they might be interested.
I’m really lucky in that my family owns a picture framing business, so my brother usually hooks me up with a good deal (although I complain to him that dad used to do the framing for free).
Detective Comics 871 comes to mind. I remember reading that and being blown away by it. I really liked Supergirl #1 from the relaunch. I don’t remember the number, but that issue of Scalped with the old couple that live far from town is excellent. Any single issue of Daytripper. And ofcourse, Saga #1.
I think my favorite single issue, maybe of all time, was Brave and the Bold #33, which featured Wonder Woman, Batgirl, and Zatanna on a girls’ night out. Fun, funny, but poignant as hell. The art was lovely too.
That was one of my first thoughts too. Loved that issue.
How did no one bring up All Star Superman #10? I’d also say that the first issue of Geoff John’s and Gary Frank’s Braniac arc was a pretty spectacular single issue as well. Dare I say Wolverine and the X men #1?
/
I’m with you on All Star Superman #10-Perfect.
Another favourite was Superman vs.Predator #2 and #3
Iron Man Vol 3 #7 and #30
Captain America Vol 3 # 11 and #12 not a Cap fan but those are the best of the few books I have.
Action Comics #779
JLA #25
and the list goes on…..
That’s JLA #25 by Grant Morrison.
Some of my favourite singles that come to mind are Kitty Pryde vs a N’Garai demon in X-Men #143; Legion of Super-Heroes volume 4, #5 (the Mordruverse); LSH Annual volume 4, #1 (Glorith vs Ultra Boy), any Brave and Bold issue written by Alan Brennert, any issue of ‘Mazing Man and lots, lots more!
Can’t go wrong with ‘Mazing Man!
Ahhh Speedball! I really liked that series. I really wish Marvel did a Ditko’s Speedball HC.
My favorite single issue would definitely be Ex Machina #40.
Good one.
Check out the 11 O’clock Comics forum thread
http://bullpenbulletinspodcast.com/forum/index.php?topic=10381.0
for one of the best resources online about sites to buy OA.
Bean
Awesome list. Thanks.
I loved JLA #11, “Burried Alive.”
Uncanny Xmen 141 springs to mind. Game changer.
I thought Miracleman #1 by Alan Moore was an amazing start to the series. It seemed very original and yet had a modern slant to super heroes.
Concrete #1–another good origin story, and an atypical comic that’s not so much super hero, but every man stories.
Hellblazer #27–(Hold Me) by Gaiman & McKean
Swamp Thing Annual #2? I believe that’s the issue(Alan Moore era)–where Swamp Thing goes to hell to rescue Abby
Superman Annual #11 (Alan Moore again)–For The Man Who Has Everything
Xenozoic Tales #1–a great beginning to a new series
Fantastic Four #120–The Horror That Walks On Air–the coming of Galactus
the “coyote gospel” issue of grant morrison’s animal man run is probably the best single issue i’ve ever read
I’m also more of a long form story guy but All-Star Superman #10, Daytripper #8, Detective Comics #875, Pete Milligan’s Shade The Changing Man #1, Unwritten #5 or 6 (How The Whale Became), DC: New Frontier #1 (or whole series), Unknown Soldier #23, Battlefields: Dear Billy #3 come to mind.
Batman 251 — “The Joker’s Five-Way Revenge.”
Everything else is pretty much part of a longer arc, multi-parter, etc.