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 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.

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!

Another great sketch from the one day Fan Expo.  Francis was providing free sketches, making a great reason to attend the one day shows.

Attended the one day Fan Expo show in Toronto this past weekend.  Guy Davis was doing free sketches and was kind enough to provide the sketch below.

Attended Fan Expo 2009 in Toronto last month and picked up some wonderful art.  First up is a Galactus piece from Michael Cho: he took pre-orders so you could get what you want without waiting in line: a great idea that allows the artist to take the time they need to get you a great product.  As always Michael pencils and then uses a light box to ink and apply his signature single colour.

Last item from the Comic Expo Fan appreciation event.  Chris Sprouse had no one at his table so I of course asked for a Doctor Strange sketch since I already had a Doctor Fate from him.  I watched him complete the piece and I was shocked at the level of pencil detail he put in, then inked it and erased all the pencil work.  His inks are fairly clean and simple but it’s unbelievable how much you don’t see when the pencils are gone.  If you ever get a sketch from Chris ask him to leave the pencil in!

Another great piece from the Fan appreciation event.  I had circled Alex Maleev’s table a few times during the day but I had a great piece from him already and wanted to see how far my limited budget would take me.  Towards the end of the day I went by again and he chatted me up and we talked about prices and a sketch.  I told him I only had $80 left and didn’t want to insult him by offering it, but he said it was slow at the end of the day and would see what he came up with.  Looking at what I received it was an incredible bargain.  Looks a lot more like Silver Surfer than Daredevil but I appreciate the detail.