Autographs on comics

[nighthawk]

I've heard varying opinions on this, and thought I would throw this out there. I have quite a few autographs on comics, and about four on one of my Good Guys issues. I personally think they can make a book more valuable, but I guess it all depends on who buys it.

[depluto]

It always depends on the autograph, and depends on the book. It always makes the comic more valuable to me when I get one autographed.

I'd be happy if all my comics were signed, But if you're going to sell a signed comic it might bump the price up a little for a cheapie recent book, and knock the price down a lot for a really nice older book.

[knightt]

I think more autographs enhance a comics value. I have a Origin of the Defiant Universe 93 ComicCon book autographed by about 4-5 people (Lapham, Weisse etc) and this book happens to be one of the highlights of my collection and I value it a lot.

But if I own an autographed book I do try and get the same book without the autograph but do not go out of my way.

[Defiant1]

For me, they are less desirable as comics, but more desireable if the celebrity was hard to meet or if the signature is tough to get. If you actually know the artist.... big whoop. If it's a brief brush with fate or destiny... it's kind of cool.

I didn't expect to ever meet Olivia AND her model in the same day and get my watercolor sketch signed. I walked by the model several times and had no interest in her autograph until a 1 in a billion opportunity arose and I picked up the art piece.

Defiant1

[nighthawk]

I love to get autographs (on books that I like a lot), but then I view it as a major collectors item in that I would be hard pressed to actually read that copy. I would also get another copy, then read it, taking care not to damage that copy either, like most comic collectors would probably do. I agree also that it is particularly nice to get an autograph from someone in a more unexpected way. A similar thing happened to me about ten years ago in Chicago, I was standing next to John Romita Jr. at the ChicagoCon (now WizardWorld-Chicago) and I had an issue of the Uncanny X-MEN that I really wanted him to autograph, and he did. It was the first time I met him, and he is one of the nicest guys I've ever met. A year or so later, I asked Chris Claremont to autograph (this was a poor choice on my part) a fanzine with an interview with him in it, along with another Uncanny X-MEN issue. He didn't seem too happy about it because he didn't care for the interview (I had no idea), but he wasn't really nasty with me about it. He just made a couple of remarks, and he seemed more content with the actual comic I asked him to sign.

[Defiant1]

Bob Layton signed an X-0 #1 for me in ball point pen. You have to look hard to see blue on gray. I feel as though I devalued the book. He used the same pen on my Captain N #1. I think that is cool. it was his first work at Valiant and I have his story to go along with it.

Budd Root signed all his Cavewoman pages that he sold me. He was eager to sign his name. I kept thinking "Dude, everything on that page is from your hand and it's a creative investment of time." How is the afterthought of a signature going to make it one ounce more personal?
For me it didn't. I have signed comic by him and I wish they weren't.

Linsner has signed so much stuff that his signature means nothing to me. I have a sharpie sketch by him .... still common for him... but that's cool.

Defiant1

[nighthawk]

He signed it in ball point? I would have been afraid it might tear the cover (or pages, depending on where he signed). As long as it didn't... I've never had someone sign any of my books in ball point. Some ball point pens wouldn't be too forgiving to a comic cover I would think. I guess as long as it doesn't tear the cover/page it would be okay. I've never had a piece of artwork (just the art) signed. I suppose if I had the opportunity I probably would, but just having an original piece of art would be enough for me.

One of these days I'm going to have a sketch done of one of my favorite characters. I keep intending to do that when I go to the WizardWorld in the windy city, but I still haven't done it.

[knightt]

Most artists or writers that show up at a Con will bring a silver or gold pen with them for the signings. That is if they PLAN on signing stuff. I guess it doesnt hurt to bring a pen of your own (silver/gold/blue/black).

I recently was at a signing with Joe Quesada (MAN did he get tubby) and Michael Finch was there and I asked him to do a sketch for me... he was MORE than happy to do that and he did, of Superman and Batman and you really have to step back and view what he drew to really grasp that it is Bats and Supes.

Now I have a Bob Layton of Solar that is simply outstanding for a SKETCH. The guy is a really good artist. Don Perlin asked if I would like a sketch of Bloodshot (as we always seem to end up talking about Bloodshot) and I said SURE... talk about a near perfect recreation of Bloodshot from issue #13 !!!!

If anyone really knows me, they know my history behind getting into Valiant comics. Well, Kevin Vanhook had asked me just how I got into Valiant (this is before they were getting hot on Ebay) and I told him... well, the guy sends me some painted Valiant pages as well as the issue of Bloodshot #1 that got me into that line of books. I was really shocked and pleased to get it and to bring this back on topic... THAT signed comic book is one of the biggies in my collection (along with that five signature copy of the Origin of the Defiant Universe book).

And yes Defiant1... any book signed by that Shoop guy is a MUST for any collection !!!

[Defiant1]

For me, the Daring Comic Press Pack I had (grrrr!) meant 100 times more than a Shoop signature. I'm sure I have comics signed by Shoop, but the signature is very common and when I see it I don't go "wow". A script or a new comic would make me say "wow", but not a signature. If I'd met him and he was telling me some story as he was signing something then the moment would be connected to the signature and it would be something a little more interesting.

There are very few comic creators that I would be excited about getting their autograph. I'm not even too excited about getting autographs from rock stars. I had back stage passes and a chance to meet Metallica once.... I didn't even use them. I did use the snake pit passes because I cared about the music.

My connection with an artist is their work. I prefer to keep it that way. There are some talented creators that I have no desire to get to know at all. My friends used to host parties and you never knew what celebrities woulld be there. I know Steranko was at one of their parties. I flat out told them I didn't care and wasn't interested in attending. I have nothing in common with him. Why do I want to force a meeting or conversation. I know Bob Burden, a friend of Jim's. I wouldn't call us close friends or anything, but I've been to his house and tagged along as another good friend of his dropped him off at a rapid transit station to get him to the airport. We've run into each other and had dinner together, but again.... he's got his own serious social circles that have nothing to do with me and I'm not going to stick my face in the middle of it other than to nod and say hello. Bob gave me a stack of Flaming Carrot comics once. That meant something. Since I know him, an autograph means little.

When I worked retail, there was a customer that always wore a Lightning bolt on a chain around his neck. It had been a gift from Elvis Presley. That was cool. A signature would mean nothing if I'd been given the gift... absolutely nothing.

I do have Cheryl Tiegs signature. She wrote "To David, Love Cheryl". I have fun with that. I tell everyone that Cheryl loves me but it just couldn't be.

Iv've passed on so many rock star autographs in person that I feel silly even considering a comic creator's autograph to be something noteworthy