A photographic journey through the largest original art collection in the world.

[mister-s]

So my friend Dan has probably the largest collection of original comic book art in the world. I'm not sure that this has ever been confirmed, officially, but I think we're pretty safe in the assumption. Last night my great friend and his little bitch and I went over to begin our tour of Dan's collection. Here's the thing: we were there for almost 2 hours, looked at about 100-125 pieces of art, took 70 or so pictures and Dan estimates we are only about 1/5 of our way through his stuff. Some of the highlights of his collection are currently being gathered into a book for the Hero Initiative - a foundation to aid comics professionals who are in need.

All pictures that I took can be viewed at my Virb page: http://www.virb.com/m1sters/photos in the album "Dan's Art Collection."

Here are some of the highlights (unfortunately, due to the sheer volume of art viewed and photographed, I have forgotten some of the artists):

Spiderman and MJ by Romita Sr.
http://g.virbcdn.com/cdnImages/resize_510x1500/Image-89986-1072250-IMG_1209.jpg

Ghost Rider and Doctor Strange

http://g.virbcdn.com/cdnImages/resize_510x1500/Image-89986-1072249-IMG_1220.jpg

Ghost Rider in watercolors:

http://g.virbcdn.com/cdnImages/resize_510x1500/Image-89986-1072230-IMG_1201.jpg

Daredevil and Elektra by Alex Maleev (my personal favorite):

http://g.virbcdn.com/cdnImages/resize_510x1500/Image-89986-1072273-IMG_1228.jpg

[mister-s]

Hal Jordan as Parallax:

http://g.virbcdn.com/cdnImages/resize_510x1500/Image-89986-1072271-IMG_1188.jpg

Loki by David Mack in oils:

http://g.virbcdn.com/cdnImages/resize_510x1500/Image-89986-1072267-IMG_1199.jpg

Green Arrow by matt Wagner:

http://g.virbcdn.com/cdnImages/resize_510x1500/Image-89986-1072257-IMG_1211.jpg

Wonder Woman by Jim Lee:

http://g.virbcdn.com/cdnImages/resize_510x1500/Image-89986-1072216-IMG_1232.jpg

[mister-s]

Captain Marvel, Thanos, Ronan, and Apocolypse:

http://g.virbcdn.com/cdnImages/resize_510x1500/Image-89986-1072217-IMG_1217.jpg

*Note the Infinity Gauntlet.

Hopefully, this is but the first of several posts cataloging this wonderful and vast addiction.

[r0blaw]

I would like to point out that I am the great friend and not the little bitch. It was fantastic and mindblowing to see all of these works of art. I had to use my shirt to wipe away drool several times. It's going to take several trips to see everything. But well worth the time

[six-gun]

that's some really awesome stuff

[luthor]

Beautiful stuff.

[labor_days]

David Mack's Loki. Damn.

Must have spent a fortune on this stuff.

[six-gun]

That Maleev stuff is a bit funny looking, not up to his other stuff. But my gosh that Romita is fantastic

[r0blaw]

I was impressed by the Perez stuff a lot. Always full ink and color. He's even had Perez to his place to check out the collection. And he has some two page spreads of JLA/Avengers stuff from before the book came out.

[esophagus]

I would give Luthor's labia to own that Loki painting. That's amazing.

Really cool stuff there.

[luthor]

I would give Luthor's labia to own that Loki painting. That's amazing.

Is this a thing now? I mean really.

[esophagus]

Is this a thing now? I mean really.Well, I have nothing of value myself. I can stop promising it to people if you'd like though. :rolleyes:

[mister-s]

Seriously, the Loki is impressive. Photos don't do the painted pieces justice. There is way more depth to them.

And Six Gun, I completely disagree with you about the Maleev. Look at Daredevil's expression!

[luthor]

When is this book coming out? I'd really like to see it.

Well, I have nothing of value myself. I can stop promising it to people if you'd like though. :rolleyes:

*sigh* Damn you twitter...damn you.

[esophagus]

*sigh* Damn you twitter...damn you.
Speaking of which, I signed up for a twitter account last night. It just doesn't make sense to me. Not sure I'll ever really use it.

To keep on topic, I really love the Jim Lee. The gold painting helps it out a ton, but the art really holds its own.

[cam-]

Argh I can't get the Matt Wagner to load.

Any chance you could repost that one? or something?

[esophagus]

Argh I can't get the Matt Wagner to load.

Any chance you could repost that one? or something?Did you try loading it from his virb page?

[cam-]

Did you try loading it from his virb page?

GOod Idea!

But it's working now anyways. FOrget I said anything.

mmmmm Matt Wagner...

[mister-s]

All the links are fixed on this end.

I believe the book is coming out late 08 /early 09, and from what I understand this first one will be only Marvel art. Dan doesn't have a lot of details at this time. It has been in the works for years, however.

[xyzzy]

Those look great. But I have to say that I would be surprised if that was the largest collection in the world. I suspect that comic art dealers would have more than that.

[mister-s]

Like I said, we're not sure if it is the largest in the world. Probably the largest private collection though. The thing is, is that he has no rhyme or reason or organizational system for any of this art. The really valuable old issues are in secured storage, but 99% of his collection looks like this:

http://g.virbcdn.com/cdnImages/resize_510x1500/Image-89986-1072275-IMG_1198.jpg

[superfriend82]

Thats some amazing stuff! And what in the hell dones your friend do for a living?

[neb]

Those are some pretty awesome pieces. It blows me away that your friend doesn't have these in like frames or something. Some of them are too beautiful to just be sitting in some stack.

I with you mister s, that Maleev piece is badass.

[r0blaw]

We did ask him why some of them weren't in frames. But he said if he wanted to frame all of the best ones it would still cost a small fortune for him to do it. And they would probably be in frames stacked up. He really doesn't have nearly enough wall space for a tenth of them

[mister-s]

Honestly, I think he just collects comics and art for a living. Don't ask me how...

[acomicbookgirl]

I love that Jim Lee Wonder Woman and that Romita piece.. :)

[mister-s]

Which one, Jr. or Sr?

I knew you'd love the WW. Did you see the all girls piece?

http://g.virbcdn.com/cdnImages/resize_510x1500/Image-89986-1072269-IMG_1239.jpg

[mister-s]

http://g.virbcdn.com/cdnImages/resize_510x1500/Image-89986-1072208-IMG_1194.jpg

http://g.virbcdn.com/cdnImages/resize_510x1500/Image-89986-1072212-IMG_1197.jpg

[conorkilpatrick]

Nice. Love the Hal picture.

[labor_days]

How much is a Perez comission, generally? He seems to put a lot of work into them. Impressive.

[acomicbookgirl]

Which one, Jr. or Sr?

I knew you'd love the WW. Did you see the all girls piece?




Sr. Love the all girls piece. Those are awesome photos..

[mister-s]

How much is a Perez comission, generally? He seems to put a lot of work into them. Impressive.

I'm pretty sure that Perez does not charge for these. He and Dan are personal friends, and he has even been out to Dan's house to see the collection.

Dan has several one of a kind JLA/Avengers pieces that Perez did for him, based on ideas that Dan had. Perez turned one of these into the cover for JLA/Avengers issue 2. You can guarantee that when we get to those there will be lots of pics...

[mister-s]

http://g.virbcdn.com/cdnImages/resize_510x1500/Image-89986-1072263-IMG_1187.jpg

http://g.virbcdn.com/cdnImages/resize_510x1500/Image-89986-1072265-IMG_1200.jpg

[acomicbookgirl]

Barry Ween! :o That Phoenix piece is beautiful.

[mister-s]

Ah, Roblaw... The Vanna White of comic art.

The watercolor phoenix is one of the worst pictures I took - it doesn't capture the color at all.

[moneytime]

I would like to point out that I am the great friend and not the little bitch. It was fantastic and mindblowing to see all of these works of art. I had to use my shirt to wipe away drool several times. It's going to take several trips to see everything. But well worth the time

Well wouldn't that make the little bitch your girlfriend?! :eek: That's how it sounded anyway.

The art is amazing. I can't believe dan has so much of it. I hope he's got it secured under lock and key!
:D

[muady]

(Actually, that would make me the little bitch. While I'm am not his girlfriend, they often give me a hard time about looking like a girl.)

oh, and, no; "lock and key" is kind of an antonymous expression to use when describing how Danny stores his collection. :)

[mister-s]

Well, look who it is! Welcome Maudy - nice to see you around here.

[r0blaw]

Little Bitch is a term of affection. And I am the Vanna White of comic art. Except I'm hotter than her sixty year old arse. And my hands are sexy

[mister-s]

Little Bitch is totally a term of affection.

Next time, I'll just say Rob and Potter and I.

[esophagus]

Little Bitch is totally a term of affection.

Next time, I'll just say Rob and Potter (the little bitch) and I.Quote editted. Just call it compromise.


... Sorry. I just thougt maybe someone other than the three of you should say something here. Have I mentioned how much I love taht Loki painting?

[mister-s]

Thanks for the pity post.