Wow, this was a big one for me.  I saw this last year on Cho’s website and really wanted to buy it.  The first opportunity I had was at Fan Expo 2010 and when I arrived at his table he said it was sold; someone was buying it as a gift for Gaiman.  Some months passed and I was shocked to see it in Cho’s portfolio for sale at Toronto ComiCON 2011: apparently the deal had fell through and he had it available again.  I had already committed to the Green Lantern cover so I couldn’t get this piece but then TCAF 2011 rolled around, I had the cash and Cho still had it!

I was able to get two Paul Pope sketches at TCAF 2011.  They were quick free sketches and were greatly appreciated.

I’ve saved the best for last for my art acquisitions from the 2011 ComiCON.  This was completed in 2010 by Michael Cho and I saw it at Fan Expo and immediately committed to owning it, even though it was a little out of my budget.  Cho didn’t want to sell it until it was published: it was supposed to be the cover to DC’s Green Lantern Omnibus Volume 1 but they went instead with an old Gil Kane image.  Hopefully it will make it onto a future volume.  This piece is stunning in person and has instantly become a favourite.

Chris Sprouse was at Hobbystar’s Toronto ComiCON 2011; I wasn’t sure about getting something from him but couldn’t pass up the opportunity so I ended up as the last sketch on his list.  Always the gentleman and professional he stayed after the show closed Sunday to finish up my sketch of Pneuman and Solomon from Tom Strong.

I didn’t get much at the Toronto ComiCON Fan Appreciation Event.  I had the opportunity to sit behind Khoi Pham and saw the quality of sketches he was producing so I put my name in for a head sketch of Galactus but asked for the “Kirby hand” to be included: you can’t have Galactus without the outstretched hand.  He was very gracious, good-humoured and wonderfully talented.  I commented on the frown and menacing expression and Pham said “never miss an opportunity to tell a story”.

My last item from Wizard World Toronto 2011.  I had seen Breitweiser in Chicago and admired his work.  I’m disappointed in this piece and I’ll explain.  He was charging $25 for headshots and $100 for full figures.  It just doesn’t seem like much detail was put into the full figure: waist down is flat fill in with no details.  No real background which is fine if the character had more definition.  I chose a figure that has a rotating costume and should have specified Red Skull’s Nazi uniform or went with a headshot.

My second acquisition from Jesus Merino at the Wizard World Toronto show.  We discussed at length the input an inker has with a finished piece and afterwards he gave me a fantastic price for this cover.  Merino told me he filled in the details below Superman; Pacheco had put in a few lines.  Bob McLeod recently said in a Q & A at Toronto ComiCON that in his day the penciller handled the page layout, composition and character positioning while the inker fleshed those out.

Another great item from Wizard World Toronto.  Leonard Kirk had a crazy stack of pages for sale at a deep discount and I spotted this one.  The style seems softer and not his usual superhero work: I really like this piece.  Kirk said it wasn’t published: he was trying out new paper and a new blue pencil.  It doesn’t come out in his published work but he has a naugthy sense of humour.

My first piece from Wizard World Toronto 2011 came from Jesus Merino.  This was his first trip to Canada and wasn’t sure about sketch and page pricing, convention set up and such.  We had a great chat and I was able to post the main points.  As a thank you he gave me this sketch!

Jeff Lemire visited my local comic shop Big B Comics for their anniversary sale.  He was doing signings and free sketches.  I requested Dr. Fate and offered reference material but he said he didn’t need it; very nice indeed.