Super-Con 2009 in San Jose

I attended the first day at Super-Con 2009 in San Jose. With warmer weather hitting the area this weekend, I wasn't sure if attendance would be good or bad at the show. Looked pretty full to me.

The doors opened about 5 minutes late but with a long line already cued up out front, eager fanboys (and fangirls) raced into the convention straight for what seemed like the Adam Hughes table! :) The next large group of people seemed to be around the Eduardo Risso table. The artist of 100 Bullets fame had a crowd about 2 rows deep after I did a short loop around the "main" artist alley area. I was a little surprised to see that artists were in the back of the main show section as well as along the sides and front section of the show floor, generally spread out. This makes sense though since it seemed to prevent large clusters of people in only one area (other than those waiting for a particular artist) and maybe it would encourage more foot traffic throughout the show.

After some more slow geeking and looking at everything, I found the table for Whilce Portacio. Whilce wasn't there yet but his friendly and extremely nice wife (Their entire family is really nice!!) was there to manage the table till he got there shortly thereafter. They had some nice pre-done original art pieces as well as a few published pages so I couldn't help myself and picked up some goodies for me. :)

Feet kept moving me around till I slowed down and browsed the original art portfolios of some of the long time comic book artists --Ernie Chan, Pablo Marcos, Danny Bulanadi, Tony Dezuniga, and Alex Nino. Great great stuff there. Their use of pencil tones are incredible. If you haven't yet seen their pieces up-close, I encourage you to check out their work at the next show. Their fine lines and extraordinary backgrouns will really amaze you. I ended up getting a nice full figured and large Baron Karza sketch from Danny --funny and great guy too. I'm tempted to get another sketch from him now that I'm back from the show and finally have a chance to look at it more thoroughly. hahaha :)

Ended up perusing the many booths to see if there are any new or cool toys I need for my office. Amazed to see those "Super Hero Squad" figures still selling so well, but hey they are kinda cool. Lots of Star Wars toys still. Speaking of my Baron Karza sketch, I'm still waiting for a Micronauts movie and renewed interest for this untapped market and potential mega-franchise --just think of all the consumer merchandising here people. Think Transformers but think less tires and fenders. Just get Megan Fox to be Marionette, it will be a hit. ;)

I ended up finding my way back to Whilce's table and saw Whilce in action working on my piece. Woo hoo!! We ended up chatting for more than an hour about stuff, but it was great catching up. I think the last time I was able to chat face-to-face with them may have been 2004 in San Diego. Hope the next time isn't another 5 years.

Many familiar faces at the show including Eddy "I'm not Jim Lee" Choi. And finally was able to attach some faces of other art collectors to their email addresses as well. Overall fewer original art dealers, but still I'm glad I was able to make this show.

Watchmen original art still selling well

Watchmen original art is still selling well.

I guess people never get enough of nice original art, especially the kind that is hard to come by. The latest is this entire Watchmen team shot from Gibbons, co-creator and original artist on the series. Penciled and inked.

Ended @ $4850.00

Ditko Spidey & Dr Strange art

Another cool piece available is this Steve Ditko Spiderman and Dr Strange sketch! How often do you see Ditko original art for sale?!? And a Spidey and Doctor Strange piece, to boot.

Here is the original description from the auction itself. Currently @ $5200.00 and rising...

DESCRIPTION:

We have for you Comic Art Collectors and Fans alike a very special piece of artwork by the legendary artist Steve Ditko! For all of you who have not lived under a rock for the past 40 years know Steve Ditko is the artist who first gave live to two of Marvel Comics most iconic heroes SPIDER-MAN and Dr. Strange! We offer here now for you to own the PIN-Up art Steve Ditko drew for an early 1960’s Comic Book Fanzine.

This Marvelous Masterpiece Pin-Up features not one but both of Steve Ditko’s most monumental heroes: Spidey and Doc Strange master of the mystic arts, both together on one page! Drawn in pencil, pen and brush with black magic ink on 8 ½ by 11 typing paper. If you look close enough you can see the pencil work around Dr. Strange’s waste, where the lines were erased for the mystical fog.

Artwork is on 8 ½ by 11 typing paper; shows some age; little nick out of lower right edge corner (Dr. Strange side) with a piece or two of tape on the back from many years ago when it hung on the wall. This is a pulse-pounding piece of art from the Marvel Age of comics that any true believer worth their no prize would proudly love to own!!

Steve Ditko - Early career. Ditko studied at the Cartoonists and Illustrators School in New York City under Jerry Robinson and began professionally illustrating comic books in 1953. Much of his early work, beginning in the early 1950s, was for Charlton Comics (for whom he continued to work intermittently until the company's demise in 1986), producing science fiction, horror and mystery stories. Later in the decade, he would also begin drawing for Atlas Comics, the 1950s precursor of Marvel Comics. He is well known for designing superheroes that wear masks that show absolutely no facial features. Such examples are Spider-Man and the DC Comics character the Question.

Is notoriously reclusive and very rarely, if ever, appears in public. He never gives interviews and the closest most people have ever been to seeing his face is in an early issue of Spider-Man in which a self-portrait of him sleeping at his desk appears.

He is the creator of such comic book characters as Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, the Question, Shade and The Changing Man. In addition, he has worked as an artist on many other comics. Although Ditko had returned to work for Marvel Comics several times after his mid-60s departure, he has steadfastly refused to again draw his two most famous characters, Spider-Man and Doctor Strange.

Schulz Peanuts Sunday artwork auction passes $16k and keeps rising

For those of you that haven't seen this yet, there's a nice Charles Schulz Peanuts Snoopy "Sunday" original artwork up for sale on eBay and it is currently at $16,050.00 but has not yet met the reserve. Looks very clean and in great condition, and nicely framed. From Sunday January 21, 1996.

Will this exceed $20k?

WonderCon 2009 SF Trip Report

Yes it's that time again. It was WonderCon 2009 this weekend in San Francisco. I walked through the floor on Saturday and partial day on Sunday.

First off, I would have to say that the show looked very healthy, very large crowds as it was packed even till 5pm when I left. Talking to the folks working and selling original art, toys, comics, etc from the booths, everyone said that sales were very good and people were definitely buying! The line to get in on Saturday could have wrapped around the large Moscone Center block if they hadn't started to let us in. I was in line watching the end of my line wrap around my line and block the sidewalks completely. The lack of rain on Saturday also helped. If this is any sign, I think Comic-Con in San Diego later this year will be big as well.

I started the show by hitting the booths that were related to original comic book art --Albert Moy, 100 Auctions (Bechara Maalouf), Anthony Snyder Collectibles, The Donnelly's, Heroes Comics Book (Alan Bahr), Schanes Animation Art (awesome stuff!!), Scott Eder Gallery, etc. I didn't find Romitaman but I heard he was there as well. As always, there were plenty of original comic book artwork gems lining their booth walls. Impressive pieces I saw included a Giant Size X-Men 1 page, various Neal Adams' Green Lantern covers, some Dave Gibbons Watchmen pieces, Kirby splashes, Jim Lee covers, early Amazing Spiderman covers, etc etc really just too many beautiful pieces to list here. There were also some bargains to be had as well, and I couldn't resist. :)

Cutting through Artist Alley on Saturday, the commission lists were full for the top artists it seemed. If Jeff Scott Campbell wasn't sketching commissions, he would be selling those great looking prints from his table. Same for the Jim Lee table manned by Eddy Choi with a sign that read "I'm not Jim Lee". Lots of great looking high quality color prints for sale there and it was tempting to buy. I wandered to Travis Charest's table to find Travis there sketching (no fans surrounding him) and selling a couple stacks of Space Girl Vol 1 books still available at $20.00/each. I bought another! Great book if you haven't bought it yet!! I also spent some time at Mike Royer's table --the long time Jack Kirby inker, and had a chance to talk to him and show him some of the pieces I picked up that day. He also signed my Kirby page (Thanks again Mike!). I appreciated his insight and great stories about how it used to be when he first started. If you don't know who Mike Royer is, I recommend you stop and talk to him, and buy something from him at the next show you see him at which will be San Diego Comic Con. He's done some great work on Winnie The Pooh, various work at Disney, etc.

Best costume prob goes to either the Batman and Catwoman duo, or the woman in the Planet of the Apes with FX makeup, hair and costume. I did a double-take when I saw her. She looked so unassuming walking the show. If I didn't know better I'd say she walked off a tv/movie set.

I guess with the New York Comic Con couple weeks ago and WonderCon this weekend, it is officially the opening of comic book convention season in 2009. Get your pocketbooks out and enjoy the shows. :)

cheers.

More Dave Gibbons Watchmen Original Comic Book Artwork

Before I run out the door, wanted to share another hot auction for those keeping track of what is selling and what isn't, trends, etc.

This is the original comic book art for Watchmen 5 page 20 by Dave Gibbons.

With the Watchmen movie finally ready to come out in a few short months after some studio wrangling, and the lack of Dave Gibbons Watchmen original art for sale on the open market (ie. eBay), this is another big auction. Big spenders are still coming out to drop coin as the bid count increases. Currently at $2035 but with a few days remaining.

Also, just wanted to thank all of you that are reading and following this blog. This is our 100th post already. Hope there is another 100+ in store for us. ;) Send us more email if you want to see more or less of particular subject matters.

Visit us on the web @ 11by17.com -- We buy sell trade collect original comic book artwork from the late 70s, 80s and early 90s. If you have any original artwork from Uncanny X-Men 267 for sale or trade, please contact us. Would love to work out a deal with you. cheers.

James Jean Fables original artwork

This has got to be one of the best, if not the best Fables cover to hit eBay. Original painted cover artwork to the Fables TPB "Arabian Nights (and Days)" by James Jean.

Currently at $5.5k, this one may skyrocket before it's over in a few more days. James Jean artwork has been on the rise, esp with his transition to Fine Artwork from Illustration. His work has been very well received so far, and many speculate his work will only get better with time. Maybe that means you should buy some of his artwork now, before he really hits it big and you only see his stuff in museums around the world.