Opinion – various cost of sigs and drawings4452
 past performance is no guarantee of future actions.
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KatKomics private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I'm just a mook who bought into the slab fad! I usually do have my son with me but I will also get the 'SS' on higher value books and plain sigs on my fav but not worth much. Can count on one hand the number of books I've sold. Do really like the verified program that CBCS has - got some books signed in the past and now it turns out they may have value to them..maybe..someday..I might sell...but not quite yet..at least not the signed ones Well probably this one - all signatures free BTW - Stans guys were handing out cards that you paid for then one item per card at the front of the line...I had a few cards stuck together...guess this is why I need extra ethics training!  |
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| Post 176 • IP flag post | ||
 I'm a #2.
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BigRedOne1944 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by DocBrown I would say that middle ground is filled mostly by people who: Have a life long admiration for comic books and the childhood memories they invoke beyond just any monetary value they may hold. Obviously we all like to feel our collections hold some kind of monetary value, myself included. I also think that if your in the hobby long enough that one will eventually feel the need to sell off some of his/her books, hopefully at a profit, but the day monetary reasons become more important than the Characters, Stories, Art and the nostalgic feelings Comic Books invoke in me, is the day I will no longer be involved in the hobby. I have to give you credit Doc.... You are certainly animate about your opinion and you are most certainly more than capable of one hell of a Filibuster(I say that with all due respect) Why are some fearing the thread being locked? While a difference of opinions has been openly displayed here, I think the thread and discussion has stayed pretty respectful despite those difference of opinions. I mean who wants to be in some "same ole same ole" boring message board discussion where people are afraid to speak up and offer their honest opinions. That's the main reason I like this Message Board. Because of the experienced and Knowledge hobby people that reside here. Do I always agree with everything they say? Obviously No. But that difference of opinions is what keeps us engaged and interested in an obviously meaningful topic to all who partake in it. Yes at little bit heat here and there, but I think for the most part it been respectful and within the guidelines the moderators recently spoke of. I have nothing but the up most respect for all who have posted their opinions on the topic here. In ending, I just have to say...... (Like the Bounty who just had to go back and face Josey Whales) Im NOT always right.......... But Im NEVER Wrong!  Keep your Families Safe Guys! John |
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| Post 177 • IP flag post | ||
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NilesPaine private msg quote post Address this user | |
IBTL!  |
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| Post 178 • IP flag post | ||
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Logan510 private msg quote post Address this user | |
I have nothing but the up most respect for all who have posted their opinions on the topic here. I wish I could say the same, but some of these opinions expressed by certain "people" are so repulsive I find myself feeling the need to bathe in turpentine. Seriously...just ughh. |
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| Post 179 • IP flag post | ||
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X51 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by DocBrown I'm sure some do. Scott Campbell is probably that way. It's easy to say that, but it's another to be actually wearing their shoes. They see people who are truly overjoyed to meet them followed by people instructing them how they need their comic signed. I'm sure that's a stark contrast. |
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| Post 180 • IP flag post | ||
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Towmater private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by BigRedOne1944 That's funny right there.  You must have been right behind me in the line that I described in my opening post. Well, you forgot the smell of someone who hadn't bathed and dressed in their dirty clothes that was emanating from the two chatting about things not working in the real world. Other than that you were spot on. |
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| Post 181 • IP flag post | ||
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I'm a #2.
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BigRedOne1944 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Towmater Most likely still living in parents basement as well |
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| Post 182 • IP flag post | ||
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Towmater private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by BigRedOne1944  |
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| Post 183 • IP flag post | ||
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BLBcomics private msg quote post Address this user | |
 Has been an illuminating thread for this old school dog peering in to the psyche(s) of some who are into this signage series in slabs game seeking salvation and redemption justification in activity which seems to depend upon just the proper number 9.8 plus proper placement sought within a time zone of perceived "hot" My understanding (correct me if I am wrong) is there are buyers who pre-order from sellers a certain book in a certain grade signed by certain creators. Reasons can vary widely like a buyer who can not get to shows in to what ever runs a wagon. Some people who "create" this stuff want their creative creations read and simply do not want to play in such a sand box as devised by "new school" mercantilers  Me, there have been various fads come and go thru the entire 50+ years been selling comics mail order with the last 47 years 'full time' inside the world of selling comics. What I look upon - as well as many others - is the long term health of the collecting of comics. There are those who look upon this aspect of collecting not seeing what "flippers" see as being wholesome for the image perception of the hobby.  What some feel - very probably many - and this is in the spirit of philosophical discussion only - To each his/her own on how to perceive what constitutes a healthy 'work' environment inside the comics dealing business. The trajectory many of us with school of hard knocks diplomas is the true "business" model is one AmWay did with its customers which were the persons piling up "product" in their garages and basements.  |
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| Post 184 • IP flag post | ||
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by BLBcomics These two ideas are not mutually exclusive. |
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| Post 185 • IP flag post | ||
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X51 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by BLBcomics I think it's worse. The people selling Amway were actually using the product. They were consuming it as intended. |
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| Post 186 • IP flag post | ||
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by X51 But you're judging by the appearance. Who's to say the people instructing them how they need their comic signed...and it IS their comic, after all...aren't overjoyed to meet these creators, and just don't show it in a way that might be apparent to others? Or the people who are "overjoyed" actually overjoyed because they can't wait for the fat stacks of cash the book is going to sell for, signed or not...? They're truly overjoyed...but not for the reasons the creator might think. You don't know, unless those people tell you. You can't judge based on the appearance. It is not only easy to say that, it's a better way to live. Being a cynic, assuming the worst in everyone, all the time...and a few people around here do that...is bitterness, and bitterness leads to health problems and worse. |
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| Post 187 • IP flag post | ||
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BLBcomics private msg quote post Address this user | |
 Perception is Reality for each of us. Knowing as many comics creators as I do I feel I have gotten an understanding of where those who do not wish to play in the sandbox devised to manufacture commodity are coming from. There have been many fads come and go in the comics speculative world. Some of those I was instrumental back in the day in devising as the Next Big Thing. Back in the day being before a once upon a time central warehouse flooded Feb 1986 in the SF Bay Area which contained in excess of a million comic books servicing my own five stores and some 300 other comic book stores up and down the west coast with recent then perceived "hot" back issues. Back then we were not yet counting paper fibers with electron microscopes ascertaining which flavor level on NM/M is "best" copy known to exist. And it worked well. In 1989 picking up from such a set back a year or two later we began riding the Batman movie "stuff" craze which began building in interest in 1987, then riding the perfect wave thru 1988 in to the first half of 1989.  Less than a month after the debut of that 1989 Batman movie which we all went to - or have seen - Batman "stuff" died on the vine. For a while as the chromium enhanced cover craze consumed spec money on insane levels. Crash and burn when Marvel bought Heroes World in 1995. Marvel was seeking Wall Street mentality "monopoly" being clueless as to how and why the then Direct Market was created and how it sustained itself from inception summer 1968 when Print Mint in Berkeley took Zap Comics in to national distribution with initial print runs of 20,000 and quick reprintings thereafter. By Zap #6 first printing in April 1973 was 100,000. Our initial Comics and Comix order with just that one first store on Telegraph Ave was one thousand copies. Phil Seuling cut his deal to being Code Comics out of Sparta the end of summer 1973 in to an already existing system but I digress just a bit...  Then Paul Levitz and Steve Geppi devised a plan which saved a foundation of stores still left in business. They are to be commended as the future comics business history books will demonstrate. Especially considering Marvel filed Ch 11 in 1997 or so. That's when Marvel came hat in hand to the last distributor left standing in the form of Diamond. Strip Mining in the form of mountain top removal destroys the environment so scientists say who study such things. This old school 65 year old semi-disabled seller of comics to readers via internet this past decade due to medical scenarios is still trying to grasp place a handle on where the positive long term benefits lay regarding a shrinking paper reading populace.  |
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| Post 188 • IP flag post | ||
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X51 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by DocBrown I am a realist. I really don't care what the industry does because I don't need it. I don't care if the hobby ceases to exist tomorrow. I bought comics as a hobby. It was a season in my life that ended when I was 20 and it came back around many years later. If it ends again, it just means I won't cash out. Bob was talking about the health of the industry. The industry can plod along healthy or not. Yes. I use sweeping generalization when I converse. The details are irrelevant. I factor statistical probabilities and base what I say on a reasonable margins for error. |
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| Post 189 • IP flag post | ||
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by BLBcomics There are creators who don't understand why people would pay more than cover price for a back issue comic book. Is that valid? Are the laws of supply and demand not in effect for them? If a person wants to do something with their own property that makes them happy, why not? And if that thing that makes them happy is "making money", again...why not? Because making money is bad...? Making money allows us to live. I don't have to like the fact that I have to compete with others to buy the things I want...but dwelling on it and complaining about it is counterproductive. If certain creators don't want to play, they don't have to. No one's forcing them to. They have the right not to participate. Perception is NOT reality, despite it being perceived reality. If I interpret something someone writes in a manner which they did not mean, is that reality...? Yes, it's *my* reality, for the time being, but it's not REALITY. Quote: Originally Posted by blb There have always been people buying comics who picked up the best of the best condition. Always. From Edgar Church on forwards. They just weren't making themselves known. |
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| Post 190 • IP flag post | ||
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by X51 God...or the devil, whichever you prefer...is in the details. They're not only relevant, they're the foundation for all subsequent understanding. |
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| Post 191 • IP flag post | ||
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BLBcomics private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by DocBrown This is my first attempt using the "quote" function on this site and am not yet adept in figuring out snip copy paste here so please bear with me. I in no way shape or form was implying the concept of creators not wishing to see their back issues sell for more than cover price. That is not the issue at all. Rather the sealing up "can I get a witness" aspect which seeks to increase that Perception of Reality being the only way to trust a system of increased middle men. I am not objecting to any one seeking to try to make a living having such a business model re the yellow label SS program. But merely conveying many view such a model as detrimental to the long term health of the hobby of collecting comics. Evidently some creators who charge premium when they feel such a vibe charge more premium (ie dollars) on such activity. There were Signed and Numbered portfolios back in the 70s 80s which were a sig craze fad for a while.  Regarding white paper Near Mint to Mint books being viewed as more delectable collectible one must journey back in such a time machine way back BEFORE the late 70s Edgar Church collection "craze" Chuck Rozanski introduced by selling it all out beginning with "double guide" back thru before the Tom Reilly collection I was a main player in acquisition with seeking double Overstreet like the Detective Comics #27 I sold to Burrel Rowe in Houston for $2200 in May 1973 becoming the very first comic book to break the two thousand dollar "barrier" precisely because it was such a white paper crisp almost NM copy. More like a 8.0 VF type. Burrel was happy to pay such an exorbitant figure at the time. Both he and I were written up in AP/UPI wire stories in upwards of a hundred newspapers picking up the article and pic nationwide. I used to have a collection of the articles but much most of my archives was destroyed in Feb 1986 warehouse flooding. Have been recollecting same as I can whenever possible ever since. The Pioneers of white paper NM/M High Grade comic books were early guru teachers of mine (and many others) Leonard Brown of Collector's Book Store in Hollywood (opened 1965) and their friend Rick Durrell who taught us such virtues. Here is a pic of Collectors Book Store in the late 60s owned by Leonard Brown and Malcolm Willets. It was a former Bank of America location replete with walk in time vault they used to house the prime time best condition comics, pulps, original art, etc. One can make out the entrance to The Vault as a black line area upper right corner above the brown wood shelving with boxes of Golden Age in front. Hopefully I get Comic Book Store Wars finally completed soon which traces a lot of this history as it unfolded.  |
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| Post 192 • IP flag post | ||
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by BLBcomics The concept of creators not understanding the value of back issues was an example to demonstrate that creators not understanding something...whether it's back issue values, or Signature Series...does not invalidate it, nor is it a reasonable excuse to not participate. (Not that creators need ANY excuse; they don't. But some of them will wish to make the distinction between reasonable and unreasonable, and it is to them I speak.) Quote: Originally Posted by blb Why? Sig series is a minority of the comic grading business, which is, itself, a tiny niche within comic collecting in general. Only about ~3 million comics have been graded by CGC; that's less than the print run of Superman #75. People who like signed comics...and I'm one of them...are a tiny, tiny fraction of the comics buying public. Quote: Originally Posted by blb I'd prefer people I interact with to make decisions based on facts as they stand, not vibes. I suspect a great many creators do, too. |
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X51 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by DocBrown I'm saying the details don't matter with regards to comics in this instance. I work on details for a living. I'm an inspector. Optimism makes an inspector say say "Hey, these space shuttle tiles are always good. Let me sign those off real quickly so the space shuttle can launch on time." The result of ignoring the details is a crashed space shuttle... One of the most expensive disasters in American history... Lives lost... 40 indictments again him for falsifying inspection reports... Possible life in prison. I don't work for NASA, but even more lives are at risk if I don't annoy everyone and show every ounce of cynicism necessary to take even a small problem seriously. So yeah, I look at the facts. I weigh the impacts. One collector getting a signature on a comic with the most pure intent might not be as important as keeping the best and brightest creators happy and proud of what they do in the industry. I'd say the sales numbers will speak for themselves. I actually like being wrong when I predict doom and gloom. |
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| Post 194 • IP flag post | ||
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BLBcomics private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Doc Brown, this old war horse dinosaur agrees with you - in theory - that the segment of the collecting community which is into this aspect of manufactured commodity product is indeed a subset minority within a subset minority of the greater pool well of the world wide comics collecting - and reading - community. The Yellow SS series of collectibles is rather vocal in their seeking to create such a market and make it expand. That said, the Perception of what that creates is a Reality those who seek to flip / turnover perceived "hot" books by perceived "hot" artists is fine until the addiction over doses. The tens of thousands (or how ever many collectors exist on the planet) has most of em not seeking to bark up that tree. Evidently there has been hustling and jostling going on in some of the lines of those who are being programmed to obtain sigs on covers whilst also obsessed with 9.8 being maintained at all times. I have no dog in this particular race other than seeing the perception reactions of some of the creators who are losing sight of the reason the comics are created, published and printed in the first place - is all. I have thought this thread particularly illuminating as there are many many sides to this game dice. One shoe size does not fit all. Here is Leonard Brown Feb 1966 who pioneered collectors going after white paper NM/M type comics as the main (only) way to fly.  |
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| Post 195 • IP flag post | ||
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conditionfreak private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I like what I like. Buy what I buy. Ignore what I don't care about. Spend my money as I want. And yes, laugh at some of the things others do with their money. I am an American. Nuff' said |
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| Post 196 • IP flag post | ||
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by BLBcomics I feel it's important for you to understand that what you classify as the "manufactured commodity product" has little to do with the Sig Series program, and is much closer to the "ultra rare, 1:5,000,000, limited edition gold plated holofoiled hot wax stamp variant cover!!" The Sig Series program is not a "manufactured commodity product"...far from it. In fact, it is the opposite of it...it means that, instead of a copy of a copy of a copy (which is what a comic book is...a copy of the original art etched onto a printing plate, printed on a bound pamphlet...the end comic) the creator touched THAT book and signed his or her name to THAT SPECIFIC copy. It is that very personal touch that makes the Signature Series so popular. And the fact that the books are witnessed...shenanigans aside...means that you're almost certain of getting what you wanted: a creator personally handling something of yours, something they had the lion's share in creating. That's why it's not a "manufactured commodity product", because each one is absolutely unique; no two are alike, and every single one personally signed by the creator(s). Quote: Originally Posted by blb Sure, why not...? It was incredibly difficult to get a run of, say, Tomb of Dracula signed by Wolfman, Colan, and Conway...and maybe Adams on issue #1. Why? Because the books weren't worth anything, and it was very expensive, relatively, to get them slabbed. Now, it's quite a bit easier...if a lot more costly...even with folks like Colan being no longer with us, because those books now have value that can be used to fund more of the same. So of course, people are going to want the program to expand. It helps everyone get what they really want. Me? I like to think that a run of Starlin's Batman in Yellow label slabs is POSSIBLE because of my efforts. No one else was getting this run done, and now Starlin won't work with CGC at all (I don't know if he's cut off CBCS.) But those slabs EXIST because I went out there, hussled the sigs, and paid the $$$ to make it happen...and it was NOT CHEAP. Now, someone can put together a run of them because I was so aggressive at getting Starlin over the last four years. Quote: Originally Posted by blb No, that's precisely correct: one shoe size does not fit all. What I collect rocks, and what you collect rocks. Provided it's legal, I'll never sneer at anyone for wanting to collect whatever they want to collect, and I don't think it's unfair of me to expect the same in return. If people aren't into Sig Series...great! I HATED signed comics...still do...because there was no real way for me to be assured that the signature was authentic. So, I avoided them, unless I got them signed myself, in person. Now, however, there's a way to collect these things in a snazzy package (and yes, it does look great), and be nearly assured that the sigs are authentic. But if people run around thinking that everyone slabbing is just looking at these as "manufactured commodity products"...and NO DOUBT, there are SOME who do...then it's just going to sour the whole thing, because everyone's so upset about who's making what at whose expense...and they shouldn't be. |
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| Post 197 • IP flag post | ||
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BLBcomics private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Doc Brown, the only sigs I collect on any paper products are ones ascribed to me personally though I did bid a couple months ago on eBay and won a Will Eisner signed National Comics #9 - on the inside first page in the margin. Cover sigs to me ruins the eye appeal. Personal preference in motion When it comes to sigs from older creators tis best to know (and trust) some older expert types. Not attempting to brag but I consider myself an expert in artist sigs from over 4 decades hands on experience in this part of the field. Re your other defenses of the commodity manufacturing on-going with yellow SS series, Perception is Key - and said Perception is Reality for those who are not gung ho into this aspect of collecting. Most ALL sigs I have ever acquired since meeting my first pros at shows beginning in 1969 onwards have been in the vast main personalized to me with nary an intention of what their after-life may be. Ergo, the thought of slabbing is alien to me as I tend to avoid sigs on covers as inks run over time on the slick paper. I only entered this thread knowing I have no (financial) dog in this race. Simply sharing there are other (to me personally) much more enjoyable ways to inter-act with the creators. All told the comics memory book begun back in 1974 has upwards of a thousand sigs, head shots, full pagers (by many, some full color) by creators who became friends. And all "free" cuz there ain't no mercantile aspect to the art book I posted some of its pages here. Oldest daughter Katy took up the baton and has been going around to guys who drew in it decades ago and asking for backgrounds updating such relationships such as this Mike Kaluta. More than 20 years separate the initial figure from the late 70s and the background.  |
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| Post 198 • IP flag post | ||
 He sounds like a vegan who wants real mayonnaise to be vegan friendly.
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Instant_Subtitles private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Logan510 I know how you feel, while hoping that I am not one of those "people". There are numerous franchises where I put a lot of time and money into enjoying. There were also films that I was looking forward to see the moment they were announced. But both have been ruined for me because of those who blanketed any portion of those things with their preferences. So I can understand how you feel. I also wish it was like the pre-slabbing/pre-eBay days when it comes to topics like this one. |
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| Post 199 • IP flag post | ||
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by BLBcomics I disagree completely...not with your ability; I know creators' sigs, too, having been in comics for nearly 30 years myself, and seen thousands of signed books...but with the concept of trusting the opinions of individuals after the fact, sometimes long after the fact. Forging is a fact of life, it is reality, and many of them are very, very good at it. When it becomes financially viable for forgers to hit comics, they will, and the best of them will get by the best authenticaters. With the Sig Series programs, someone is supposed to have directly witnessed the signature at the time it was signed. That's how the program is designed to work. And the chain of custody is supposed to be unbroken until the book is in the slab, and almost all of the time, that's going to be the case. Nothing is 100% guaranteed in life, but the way the program is designed, one can have a very reasonable expectation that what they're getting is actually authentic. Quote: Originally Posted by blb Yes, I do not disagree with you that perception is reality, for each person, but that does not mean that there isn't THE reality, and that that perception cannot change to match it. If I perceive that 2 + 2 = 5, that's my reality, but that doesn't mean it's correct. Others can adjust my perception to match with reality. People can change their minds with new information, and their perception can change to conform to actual reality. You think that Yellow labels are a "manufactured commodity product"...I explained why it's not, and I think it's a pretty reasonable explanation. You don't accept that explanation, which is fine, but haven't offered a counter-explanation for why you think these ARE as you say. Quote: Originally Posted by blb Again, you're making a distinction that need not be made. I understand that slabbing is alien to you: it's alien to a lot of people. But the ultimate destination for these books is people who want that personal contact with a creator, in a form they can be well assured is authentic. And yes, there are some of us who like to combine that signature with our enjoyment of very high grade books. And yes, there is also a financial motive, even if we, ourselves, never sell these items: because they're authenticated in a manner that is, when it works properly, guaranteed to have been witnessed by someone, our heirs need not trust some expert, many years down the line, to see if those sigs are authentic. Because we all die, and we really can't take it with us when we go. How you have collected signatures isn't wrong...and neither is how these people collect theirs. What you collect rocks, what they collect rocks. As far as inks running over time...I have books that were signed 25-30 years ago that have not run. Not saying that isn't the case with some combinations of ink and paper, but it's certainly not the case with all of them. Quote: Originally Posted by blb You have a serious advantage that most people do not: you were involved in the comics-as-collectibles field almost from its infancy. Back then, creators were just normal people. When you first bought comics, creators were still in the "don't tell anyone what you do, because working in comics is somehow an ignoble career." Now, however, and for about the last 30-35 years or so, creators have increasingly become superstars, with people lining up for hours and hours just to have a 5 second interaction with them. And some of them behave like it *COUGHLIEFELDCOUGHCOUGH*. I know that didn't happen in 1969. It didn't happen all that much in 1991, when I went to my first WonderCon in Oakland. Most people do not have the access that you did, and could never get it. I had a wonderful 30 minute conversation with Larry Marder at SDCC about the foundation of Image. It was wonderful. But there's no way I could get a similar amount of time with Jim Lee, or Todd McFarlane. That's reality, as it exists. Good in some respects, not good in others. It's just reality. |
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| Post 200 • IP flag post | ||
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BLBcomics private msg quote post Address this user | |
 Prior to Beanworld Larry Marder was asking me in 1985 during SDCC if he could draw in my comics memory book. There was an intensity about him I could not say no to. Larry was not yet published. He then came thru during the 40th anniv of SDCC and made another entry in 2009. Heck of a nice guy. The concept of slabbing 3rd party grade certifications on comics is not alien to me. Nor do I reject books have a special cert grade attached to them. In the beginning May 2000 at a special meeting Steve Geppi called in Baltimore area for Overstreet advisors Bruce Hamilton was CGC's original pitch man selling every one on the idea that "restoration" checks on the comics during what was then an epidemic of books being worked on was indeed an idea to warm up to. My views regarding CGC center only on the utter lack of ethics on the part of the owner of CGC regarding in-house damaging of All Star Comics #8 and the ensuing "intent to disrupt" attacks freezing up on my eBay store 2011 thru 2015 which were devastating. I applauded CBCS coming on the set a couple years ago - and continue to do same as it has forced CGC to back off their drive to attain monopoly over the sales of comic books on the net. Yes, am fully aware an accident of birth time line concepts (born 1952) allowed guys of my generation to meet up and matriculate with many who went on to become "super stars" in the field these past decades. Heck, guys like Art Adams, Mike Mignola, Darrick Robertson, others, used to be pre teen kids working sorting comics for trade credit in my stores. Interacting with a creator having some thing signed when you are there with him/her is authentication enough for me. Most all my acquisitions in that realm are personalized to me along with date done, place (like SDCC, NYC, Chicago, etc) so the creator knows it is for "me" and not for resale purposes. I hosted Frank Miller at his very first in-store signing back in Dec 1981 for DD #181 death of elektra issue. Over 4000 Bay Area comics fans came thru all obtaining "free" sigs. He signed non-stop from 9 AM thru 9 PM Saturday, then 10 AM thru 3 PM Sunday. And I mean non-stop - they were lined up thru the store, out the door, down the block. Part of Saturday was raining also. The week end before Xmas that year. Half the Bay Area comic book store owners closed their stores to come in to Berkeley as we were all " real fans" back in the day. My inter-actions with pros of all ages and stripes stem from getting in to the art of the story telling under the covers. That said, if one wants to continue the path of cover sig placement being witnessed then slabbed up, more power to whomever. My observations shared here and else where are merely about there will remain blow back from some creator types who do not see that as long term healthy for the hobby turned "big" business. Placing the comic books inside plastic coffins is indeed manufacturing commodity akin to buying a DVD/BlueRay, never opening it, getting actors & directors to sign all over it, then slabbed - and never playing the movie. Just an opine, mind you. Frank Miller drew The Spirit in my memory book drawing on Will Eisner inspiration as that night we had gotten really stoned and poured thru my then 550+ (near complete run of) Spirit sections.He had never seen so many all at once. Blew his mind at the time.  |
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cbj102 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| UGH! Going to NYCC in a few days and I love to get my books signed (I don't sell) BUT I wonder how many sigs I can afford? Some guys high on my list are.. Art Adams, Bret Blevins, Chris Claremont, David Finch, Ed McGuinness, Erik Larsen, Humberto Ramos, Michael Golden and Walt Simonson. Any body met and got sigs from these guys? How did it go? Do you remember how much? or was it free? |
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by BLBcomics But not a fair one. While there is an aspect of the comic collecting industry that does, indeed, treat these things like stocks, having no attachment to them whatsoever beyond their monetary value, I believe, and choose to believe, that that segment is small and will, when things cycle around as they always do, vanish into the ether once more. There have ALWAYS been people who smell opportunity...whether it was in 1965, or 1977, or 1981, or 1996, or 2017...who follow the money, and care nothing for the vehicle through which it is made. That was true when you had your stores, and it's true now. The vast, vast majority of people getting these books signed...and I know, because I'm one of them, and know the other players well...are doing it because they appreciate the work. I have "reading copies" of just about everything I have slabbed, and the reason I have them slabbed is BECAUSE of those reading copies, books I read and loved...and I'm not, by far, the only one. Thinking that people getting signed books slabbed are doing it solely for money, and have no connection to the books...or, as you put it, "never played the movie"...is a bad assumption, no matter who is making it. There are a few...but only a few. The vast majority appreciate the work, and have that copy they watch over and over again. That's reality, whether it's perceived or not. And people shouldn't have to prove they're fans to be treated with basic respect and courtesy. I've watched the demeanor of some creators completely change when presented with a book they think is going to be slabbed, because of this mostly false assumption - and they were completely wrong. Do they care...? Maybe. Should they care...? Maybe. I know it turns ME off when someone makes assumptions about me that aren't true...do these creators know that...? Many don't. And characterizing slabs as "coffins" doesn't do much to help these false perceptions, Bob. |
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| Post 203 • IP flag post | ||
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by cbj102 Art, Ed, and Walt are generally free, BUT...BUY something from them, or put in a fair amount of money into the donation box for Heroes if they have one...minimum is generally $1/book. If you get 10 books signed, don't put in $5...put in $20. Claremont charges ($10-$20), Humberto charges ($5-$10), and Golden charges ($5-$10.) Walt and Louise are great, so is Art. Art doesn't talk much, but his wife Joyce will. I don't know about Dave , Bret, or Erik, but I imagine Bret is free, too. |
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| Post 204 • IP flag post | ||
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shrewbeer private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by BLBcomics It's a good observation. Contrary to what others have stated, there are plenty of folks who own books (and signed books) in coffins that they have never read, do not have reader copies of, and *maybe read them online just because they have the slab (not vice versa). As an example, look up "comic book investing". How many sites come up with "expert" advice! Even comiclink, a respected auction house, has investment advice. People are buying up plenty of books they never read, or ever intend to read. Hell, I own a few slabs (er, coffins) of the commodity type. I think you are absolutely correct, Bob; in different words, putting comics in slabs has certainly transformed many of them into nothing more than a commodity. Not all, but yes, many. Maybe even most. |
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| Post 205 • IP flag post | ||
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