From: rhr9081@hertz.njit.edu (Ray Rich)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.marketplace
Subject: Re: Convention in New York City
Date: 25 Jan 93 21:55:09 GMT
Organization: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, N.J.

In article <1993Jan25.024837.9881@news.columbia.edu> ejs16@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Eric Jaron Stieglitz) writes:
>I just came back from the huge convention in New York City today, so I thought
>that I'd post some observations.
>While most back issue material was available for 25-60% off guide, most of the
>current hot issues were going for a rather large range of high prices, 
>especially early Valiants.
>
>Bloodshot #1: $5.00-$10.00
>Rai #4: $22.00-$65.00 (The guy with the $65 price tag claimed that he'd
>                       actually sold some!)
>Rai #0: $8.00-$15.00
>Eternal Warrior #5: $5.00-$12.00
>Shadowhawk #1: $20.00 (price from one dealer)
>Alpha Flight #106: $10.00-$20.00
>Harbinger #0: $95.00 (price from one dealer)
>Archer and Armstrong #4: $2.50-$5.00
>Archer and Armstrong #5: $2.50-$5.00
>Next Men #1: $9.00 (a rather steady price for the whole show)
>X-Factor #74: $0.50-$4.00
>Uncanny X-Men #295: $0.75-$2.50
>Rai #1: $36 (from one dealer)
>X-O Manowar #1: $25.00
>Pitt #1: $10.00 (hahahahahahaha)
	  
	Actually, I saw MANY of these at cover.

>Magnus #3: $16.00
>Issues of Uncanny X-Men from the 1960s in F-NM condition: $10.00-$20.00
>                  (mainly issues 40-65)
>
>For some reason, I didn't see many "collector's" edition Supe #75s at the
>show.
>
	I saw some priced at around $20, but they didn't seem to be
selling.

>Among the creators at the show:
>Peter David
>Scott Lobdell
>Barry Windsor-Smith
>Denys Cowan
>Dwayne McDuffie
>Mike Manley
>Richard Pini
>Lee Weeks
>Tom Morgan
>Rick Parker
>Mark Gruenwald
>Howard Simpson
>and many others
>
>For the most part, I found the accesability of the creators to be inverse
>to their popularity. For example, Tom Morgan was polite enough to answer
>a number of questions I had about how comics are drawn. On the other hand,
>people who had vast popularity were harder to talk to. In particular, Barry
>Windsor-Smith would only sign one book, and said very little (probably because
>the line to see him was ten minutes long). Two notable exceptions to this 
>rule were Mark Gruenwald and Peter David. Despite a rather long line, PAD was
>polite enough to chat briefly with those who approached his table. Also, Mark
>Gruenwald spent a couple minutes speaking with my group about various projects.
>
>Some rumors heard from the creators:
>
>Dwayne McDuffie will be leaving Deathlok after issue #25. Both he and Denys
>Cowan pushed their new Milestone line. The art from a preview of Hardware 
>(sp?) that I saw looked quite good.
>
>One of the marketting people at Valiant hinted at the possiblility that BWS
>might be leaving Archer & Armstrong soon. 
>
>For those who had been following the Mark's Remarks column in Marvel Age: 
>I asked Mark Gruenwald why he had never concluded his series of columns about
>how comics were produced (he did this through the critique of some amuteur's
>work). He stated that he could not complete the series because the creators
>had never turned in the completed story. 
>
>Mike Manley will be working on a mini-series for Marvel in the upcoming 
>months (I believe that it had something to do with Deathlok and Spider-Man).
>
>Fire Marshall's award for the day: 
>
>   Image creator Rob Liefeld decided to offer free copies of a particular
>comic. Result: An instant mob scene resulting in a large group of people 
>creating a fire hazard in the convention center. The commotion that this
>caused made hordes of people rush at the Image Comics table. 
>---
>Eric Jaron Stieglitz   ejs16@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu
>School: (212) 853-6883 
>Home:   (401) 421-7479
	
	Liefeld quote of the Day: "Y'know, if Liefeld ever drew the 
Peanuts gang, they'd be proportionate."

	Also, at the raffle for original art created on the spot, Jae
Lee came of as almost as big an ass as Robbie.  Examples:

Q: "Have you ever had any formal art training?"
A: "No, I just read a lot of comics. (big surprise)"

Q: "What do you think about gimmick covers?"
A: "I don't have a problem with them if they sell."

"I have a problem with drawing feet, so I just don't do it."

	In addition, it took him the whole 2 hour event to draw two
pictures, one of an unrecognizable character that could have been Mr.
Sinister or some lame-o he invented and a "grim-n-gritty" tm Superman.
Larry Stroman came in late, and in two minutes banged out a remarkable
Guido picture that now hangs proudly on my wall.  All the other artists,
with the exception of Stroman, made none-too-subtle remarks about Jae's
talent, or lack thereof.

					Just my experiences there,
							Ray

Also, Mark Gruenwald ran a Marvel Overboard game that was amusing, but he
seemed a little fatigued after repeatedly having to ask little kids if 
they knew who specific characters were. ("Ever hear of Modok?  Captain
Britain?  Galactus?  Rogue?  Oh, you know her.  Good."  {Slight frown} )
Overall, tho, he seemed like a really nice, down to earth guy.  Not nearly
the ego monger that most of the Image crew acted like.
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