PopSeq

A tease at some of the pieces in the Pop Sequentialism booth at #ComicArtLive this weekend, hosted by @comicartfans ¡$! Make offers, propose trades, beg for discounts —nothing is off the table (mostly)! Message if you see something you like. Link in bio. #collectingart #animeart #lowbrowart #artsale

Captain America 26 Page 20 - The Secret Wake By Ed Brubaker (w) & Steve Epting (p) Graphite and ink on comic board 11 x 17 in. James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes watches the funeral of Captain America from a bar, unable to go to the funeral himself. While he sits, he overhears people discuss Steve Rogers and their opinions about his choices in the events of Marvel's Civil War. When someone playing pool says burying him in Arlington is a disgrace, Barnes crushes his glass in his mechanical hand and confronts the man aggressively. A barroom brawl ensues, pitting the Winter Soldier against the entire bar as the bartender calls the police. After all is said and done, when Bucky is the only man standing, he knows that Steve would be ashamed of him. The MCU of course went in a different direction in adapting Civil War and so this scene never played-out on screen. It would have been an exceptional showcase of Sebastian Stan's acting chops, balancing agony and shame after a well-choreographed display of close-quarter combat, lamenting the death of America —both literally and figuratively. Steve Epting is the modern pioneer of widescreen composition in comics, and this five-panel page is as ubiquitous an example of that as any. "The Death of Captain America" story remains one of the all-time greatest arcs in superhero comics. Brubaker's award-winning writing captured the void left by the death of a hero in a unique and powerful way that eclipsed every pivotal comicbook death that preceded. The comics that followed are every bit as powerful as the event that necessitated them. #captainamerica #wintersoldier #comicart #grief #edbrubaker @comicartfans

Thor 8 Cover Pre-lim By Marko Djurdjevic Published in Thor Omnibus Written by J. Michael Straczynski Graphite on comic board 11 x 17 in. This was acquired from Anthony Snyder two Wednesdays ago on #DuelingDealers hosted by #CAF+ which is the official @comicartfans YouTube channel. On the live claim show this was only advertised as a sketch, but it looked very familiar to me, and since Marko was such a central part of the Straczynski run (along with Olivier Coipel), I had always wanted one of his drawings but his Thor work had always eluded me. I had meant to include him in the original Pop Sequentialism exhibition back in 2011 but budget prevented it. Miraculously I was able to include a beautiful Coipel splash of Baldur confronting Thor in the throne room (which I eventually sold to JMS, himself!) As a low-key, high-priority acquisition I made an offer for this exceptional rendering and an all-Bucky Steve Epting page from Ed Brubaket's The Death of Captain America (the other series that got me back into comics in the early oughts). When it arrived, I scanned it and did a Google reverse-image search. I quickly discovered thay this wasn't just a convention sketch, but an actually published prelim, to one of the most iconic Thor covers of the modern era. That's why it had seemed so familiar! Additionally, Djurdjevic discussed this piece with IGN in their Behind-the-Covers feature (see the scroll, which also showcases the final pencils and final cover). I prefer this earlier version of the cover which radiates with raw, pagan savagery. Here's what Marko had to say about it: "Thor 8. This one was a classic. Thor wielding his hammer, lightning everywhere, raindrops and rocks levitating from the electromagnetical discharge... What more do you need to sell the concept of Thor? I did a quick sketch first. Since I didn't have the script for this issue either, I was bound to go with the iconic depiction once more. I then turned it in for review." People throw around the term "grail" a lot, but this really is a personal triumph: one of my favorite sequential art pieces of all-time from an #EisnerAward Winning story. #comicbookart Thor

Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man 304 pg 18 Written by Chip Zdarsky Illustrated by Adam Kubert 1st App: The Resistance Steve Rogers / Captain America (Earth-51838) Dr. Stephen Strange (Earth-51838) Riri Williams / Ironheart (Earth-51838) Teresa Durand Parker / Good Punisher (Earth-616) Peter Parker / Spider-Man (Earth-616) & 1st: Venomized Ben Grimm (Earth-51838) When Anthony Snyder showcased this page on Dueling Dealers last month, I was struck by the likeness of Captain America to MCU Endgame-era Chris Evans (I'm a huge fan and he grew up right less than a mile from my grandmother's summer house). I paused the live feed to get a better look, zoomed-in and quickly realized that this specific page was the first team appearance of THE RESISTANCE, a rag-tag group of multi-dimensional heroes that includes Peter and Teresa Parker from Earth-616 and Earth-51838 variants of Cap, Dr. Strange, and Ironheart. The Top inset panel is a battle between Peter Parker in his Resistance duds (borrowed from Stephen Strange) and a Venomized Ben Grimm in his second-ever panel. It's a very cool TVA story written by one of the best comic scribes in the game, and this is an ubiquitous splash page. This purchase is another spectacular example of how the lack of lettering on modern pages provides great bargain opportunities for readers who know the source material. I was confident that Adam Kubert's work was already priced way out of my range, but I finagled a deal for multiple artworks at a seriously excellent price.Thanks again, Anthony and Sharon! @marvel @marvelcomics @adamkubert #chipzdarsky #avengers #Resistance #peterparker #mcu

Death (Hex Euphoric) By Jason Beam Ink on comic board 11 x 17 in. Jason Beam is the creator of the crowd-funded HEX EUPHORIC comic. I came across his work on @comicartfans and thought his aesthetic lent itself to Death of the Endless, so I inquired about a commission only to be told that he was still racining against the clock to finish the first volume of his self-published comic. So I tabled the idea for several months, until earlier this month when he reached back to advise that he had the found the time and completed this piece on spec if I was interested. I was. The pose seems based upon Jenny Frison's iconic Sandman: Nightmare Country variant cover, but Jason's style, which is at once reminiscent of classic James O'Barr by way of Lee Bermejo, telegraphs a FAR greater sense of dread. There's a cold perturberance that suggests Kristen Stewart in her Love Lies Bleeding form rather than her more recognizably gothic Twilight era. It's also cool that he went edge to edge on this. @thefirstjasonbeam #hexeuphoric #deathoftheendless @dccomics @dc_black_label_ #sandmanuniverse #Drballs ##gothgirls

Earth 2 Annual 2 pg.36 (2014) "ORIGIN" Written by Tom Taylor 1st: Thomas Wayne as Earth 2 Batman Pencils by Robson Rocha Graphite on DC comic board 11 x17 in. This issue tells the Earth 2 version of Batman's origin story (updated to 1979) and then fast forwards to Bruce Wayne identifying Joe Chill at the morgue in 1994 leading the caped crusader to navigate a complex web of lies and omissions that completely upend everything he thought he knew about his existence. The story by award-winning writer Tom Taylor springboards off the Thomas Wayne mythos that Grant Morrison created in his epic, seven-year run on Batman, but Taylor turns it all on its head. The first panel here features Red Tornado and Hawkgirl while the rest of the page is dedicated to Batman suiting-up. He stares into his empty mask, grits his teeth and then Rocha zeroes-in on the Bat logo on the suit as the Dark Knight adjusts the cowl, making the transformation complete. Bruce-to-Bats pages like this are a lot rarer than most collectors realize, but in a jolt of surprise this isn't Bruce; it's Thomas Wayne lamenting the death of Bruce and taking up his mantle. This page is the very first appearance of Thomas Wayne as the Earth 2 Batman. This was only three pages from the end of a 36 page shocker. The composition forms a V from the mask at the bottom through the logo just above it, and the differences in line weights here are spectacular, too. This was a recent Heritage Auctions pick-up. #originalcomicart #batman #absolutebatman @heritageauctions #earth2 @dcofficial @dccomics @tomtaylormade @batman @comicartfans @robsonskywalker

X-Men: The Search for Cyclops no.2 pg 16 by Tom Raney (p) & Scott Hanna (i) Written by Joseph Harris 1st Full Appearance of Anais 11 x 17.25 in. Picked-up from Nick Barrucci on The EXP Live stream to help generate some charity money for the ACLU. After looking up this issue I discovered that this is listed as the 2nd appearance of Anais, a middle-eastern, cat-like mutant dedicated to the return of Apocalypse. But going back and reading this series,she appears in only four panels on two pages in the prior issue. She identifies herself as Anais while disguised, which by most definitions makes it a cameo. This page is her first-ever appearance in costume and where she first reveals her abilities, making this the most consequential piece of her origin story. Bonus that she is featured prominently on three-quarters of the page (including a cool decapitation at the bottom). There are some great notes by penciler Tom Raney on the left margin and the page is signed verso by inker Scott Hanna.The writer, Joe Harris, has also scripted Bishop:The Last X-Man and X-Men: Liberators. This is fine example of the dynamic collaboration between Tom Raney and Scott Hanna. I really like the character design of Anais, who telegraphs elements of Lady Deathstrike and Cheetara from ThunderCats. An underutilized character from an underrepresented culture and ripe for rediscovery. #xmen #apocalypse #anais #originalcomicart #cyclops @marvelcomics @comicartfans @the_exp1 @inkerscott @tomraneyart @dynamitenickyb

Death as Charon By Luke Eidenschink Ink on Bristol, 12 x 18 in. My friend Daryl gifted me a skull piece by Luke last year and I eventually got in touch with him about doing an actual Death of the Endless commission, as seen here. Luke style is a throwback to the old TSR modules from Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, giving this a really different look than might be expected but capturing an overlooked debt between Vertigo comics and classic Role Playing Game art. Luke has been very open about his affinity for 70s and 80s DnD art, which is why I wanted him to render Death as Charon. The influence upon most of the Vertigo artists by the fantasy illustrators that preceded them, like Jeff Dee, Jeff Easley, Larry Elmore, and future comic gods Matt Wagner and Bill Willingham is rarely discussed. In fact, Wagner and Willingham are better known to Vertigo readers as writers than as penciled. Anyhow, I think his piece single-handedly articulates that connection between the two. @luke.ink @comicartfans @comicartninja @vertigocomics #dcvertigo #fantasyart #dungeonsanddragons #comicart ##deathoftheendless

Elektra Pin-up by Verlei Batista Graphite on comic board, 11x17 in. A recent warehouse pick-up from Anthony Snyder ( @anthonyscomicbookart ) during a CAF+ claim sale hosted by Bill Cox ( @comicartfans ) last week. It was an unattributed artwork on the live stream, but a quick bit of research confirmed that this was drawn by Verlei Batista back in 2017 —before he changed his signature. @verleibatista4 really captured the bloodlust of everybody's favorite Greek, female, resurrected, ninja assassin. Her tightened facial features showcase a Conan-level savagery and the body language on the remaining, living target conveys a sense of visceral fear of the inevitable. The slightly angled view almost seems captured by CCTV, and we can imagine her next stop would be the hard drive in the server closet. This is classic, Miller-style Elektra, reminiscent of the more mature direction of the black & white Bizarre Adventures magazine of the Copper Age. This scene is replete with carnage! #elektra #marvelcomics #marvelknights #ninja

Archangel Jophiel By Michael W. Kaluta Graphite, colored pencil and ink on 11 x 17 in. Comic board Not For Sale I picked this up in a Heritage Auction several years ago (pre-covid era) for way less than I expected to pay. This double-signed character study in biblical fantasy art appears to depict one of the few female seraphim, Jophiel. Likely done for a Gaimanverse project and set aside pending publication delay, this is a finished, cover-quality rendering. I especially enjoy the tortured souls of the Damned visible in her celestial and terrifying angel magic. Kaluta is a master draughtsman; a legendary member of the famed quartet of artists known in the 1970s as The Studio, which also included Jeffrey Catherine Jones, Barry Windsor Smith, and Bernie Wrightson. It's hard to imagine getting art of this quality bearing their names for less than ten times what I paid for this gorgeous piece, and so I continue to collect his art when I spot something I like —though I am unsure for how much longer this will be possible. #michaelkaluta @comicartfans #originalcomicart @heritageauctions @illustrade.ig #angels #archangels @vertigocomics #celestialmagic

STRANGE TALES OF HEXANNE Variant Cover | Kickstarter Exclusive By Everette Hartsoe Ink on comicboard 11 x 17 in. Not For Sale This self-published series from Bad Girl Art pioneer and RAZOR creator, Everett Hartsoe, follows the adventures of teenaged exorcist, Hexanne — a witch and Demoncaster who debuted in a three-issue miniseries back in 2017. Think Buffy the Vampire Slayer by way of Carrie or an edgier take on Emily the Strange as an attempt to reach the Hot Topic crowd. Hexanne is central to the Evolutionary Comics universe and a return to Goth inspired comics for Hartsoe. This variant cover channels good girl art with emo vibes while maintaining a tasteful overall presentation. Comparing the original art with the published cover it's interesting to see the title treatment completely reworked. Seeing how Everette's technique has progressed since his Crow/RAZOR crossover book from the late 90s, it's kind of a shame that he didn't opt to illustrate the interiors of this series, himself. That said, this is a pretty great indie comic cover that totally fits with the rest of my collection. It's also a first appearance (tied with the other first issues of Hexanne: Teenage Exorcist, but this was done before the title change AND one of the only published illustrations by the character's writer. @comicartfans #originalcomicart #Hexanne #teenageexorcist #gothgirl

Picked up some nice bargains yesterday on @ComicLink and #DuelingDealers on #CAF+ hosted by @comicartfans First up is a beautiful Tim Seeley splash page featuring Medusa from REALM OF KINGS: INHUMANS (Issue 5, Page 20), a series written by Guardians of the Galaxy scribes Dan Abnett & Danny Lanning. I love how he's modernized the seminal Kirby character and seemingly dressed her in Eiko Ishioka. Then we've got the First Appearance of THE RESISTANCE from the pages of PETER PARKER THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN (Issue 304, page 7); featuring the 616 Peter & Teresa Parker and Earth-51838 variants of Steve Rogers /Captain America (sporting a very Chris Evans look), Dr. Strange, and Riri Williams / Iron heart —all battling a Venomized Ben Grimm / Thing. Peter's wearing one of Stephen Strange's turtleneck tunics. This is from writer Chip Zdarsky and artist Adam Kubert. This is the actual page that represents the team on Marvel.fandom.com. I thought I had long ago been priced out of ever owning any published Marvel art by Adam Kubert, so I got really lucky here, and it's the first appearance of the team together in beautiful mostly splash page, too! Thank you, Anthony Snyder! Next up is some published TCG art by Michael Kaluta for HERESY: KINGDOM COME. This is the origin artwork for the TRUE MESSIAH THE LION card. This 1990s mystical-cyberpunk deck master game is long out of print, but was stunningly gorgeous. And finally, we've got PAPA FISH making an unforgettable entrance in this stunning Sean Gordon Murphy splash page from Issue 5, Page 7 of THE WAKE, written by Scott Snyder. I love the Fin Fang Foom-ness of this Lovecraftian beastie and it's always a privilege to own published art by Mr. Murphy. I've got some spectacular prelims but this is my first published page from Sean. #originalcomicart #marvelcomics #tcgart