Having now finished Cold Mountain for the sixth time, I've made a vow to achieve a goal I've set repeatedly but never met: I will read one Shakespeare play over the course of each of the next thirty-eight days.
I will begin at the beginning. Or as near the beginning as scholars can but guess. In the case of the chronology of Shakespeare's plays, much seems to be determined by luck and guess. Selecting one proposed chronology is as good as selecting any other.
It is hot.
I have, in the short term, surrendered hope of succumbing to Warcraft III's charms. To be blunt: it lacks them. I've enjoyed the limited multiplayer exposure I've had, but find the single-player game dull. What's more, it's unplayable on any of my machines, so what's the use?
Kris, in a moment of true benevolence, agreed that I might obtain some samples of original comic book art to display in the newly remodeled study (in particular, down the "geek aisle").
Quite obviously, all of the good stuff is taken. Or is very expensive. Byrne's X-Men, Miller's Daredevil, Sim's Cerebus, Infantino's Star Wars, Sienkiewicz's Moon Knight. These are all scarce and expensive. Infantino's cover to Star Wars #18 recently sold for $950. (This is a particularly nice cover, though, with the prescienct title "The Empire Strikes" -- I suspect other covers would go for less. As if $500 is any more affordable.)
Here is a wish list that I've composed (each link opens a new window); I really can't afford many of these pieces:
Fantastic Four #292, page 8 (Byrne, $150)
Tom Sawyer, Chapter 31 (not comic art, $200)
Fantastic Four #223, page 20 (Sienkiewicz though not representative, $175)
X-Men Annual #6, page 7 (Sienkiewicz, not representative, $150) -- this is a book I remember buying and disliking; dumb story
some Justice League tie-in two-page spread (Starlin, $250)
Fantastic Four #215, page 6 (Byrne, $325)
X-Men #194, page 14 (Romita Jr., $125)
A couple of John Byrne Alpha Flight pages ($195 each, no scans)
X-Men #182, page 9 (Romita Jr. $175)
New Mutants #41, pg 4-5 (Nowlan two-page splash, awesome, $550) -- I love this piece, though I never read the issue in question
Thor #212, page 5 (John Buscema, $100)
Marvel Team-Up #39, page 30 (Sal Buscema, $100)
Daredevil #70, page 4 (Gene Dolan, $350)
Justice League of America #128, page 14 (Dick Dillin, $100)
Justice League of America #141, page 23 (Dick Dillin, $75)
Justice League of America #141, page 25 (Dick Dillin, $85)
More Tom Sawyer stuff by Luis Dominguez ($50 each):
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter30
Chapter 35
Micronauts #41, page 1 (Kane, $500)
New Mutants #10, page 27 (Mandrake, $75)
What If? #32, page 25 (Ramos, $65) -- I liked this ish
Moon Knight #11, page 1 (Sienkiewicz, $375)
Top 10 #3, page 16 (Cannon/Ha, $ 200)
Tom Strong #12, page 10 (Sprouse, $200) Actually, all of the Tom Strong pages from issue #12 are cool.
The single piece of original comic book art that I would most like to own is Michael Golden's cover to Star Wars #38. I'd pay good money for that.
Some useful resources I've encountered while researching original comic book art:
- Comic art frequently asked questions: a truly useful FAQ detailing not only the process for obtaining art, but also describing how a comic book is created. A useful starting point.
- Links to original art for sale: an outstanding list (though somewhat outdated) of compiled links. The compiler has rated each link by its usefulness.
- eBay's origninal comic art category: often expensive, but there's a world of goodies to be had here.
On this day at foldedspace.org
2005 — Checklist It's time to revisit the swimming hole. I'm much better prepared this year than last year. I've even made a list.
2004 — Bio-Feedback Sometimes I think I'm perfectly sane; other times I know that I'm a psychological mess, just like everyone else in this world.
2003 — Two Months It has been two months since my knee surgery. How well is my recovery progressing?
I was wondering if you or someone you know have that original artwork for Justice League 128 page 14 for sale. If so, please let me know.Thanks!