Ghoulish Autograph hounds make me SICK...

[Blue Meanie]

The guy is not even dead a week and you see sh*t like this on Ebay...Makes me sick:

NYCC~BATMAN GUIDE~SIGNED GENE COLAN+9 ON 10/10/10 | eBay

Ebay should put a hold on junk like this...but I guess CASH is KING.

[jwyblejr]

It's not limited to autographs either. Look how fast they get flooded with wrestling figures of guys who just passed.

[B-Lister]

I agree.

If I had the autograph, or work of a legendary creator, I would treasure it, as it would be a testament that for a brief moment, our life's journeys intersected.

I regret that I never got anything from Mike Wieringo, the one time I met him. But did get a chance to show him my appreciation.

I am wary and skeptical of buying any sketches by him now, because I do not want a forgery.

[enyawd72]

The guy is not even dead a week and you see sh*t like this on Ebay...Makes me sick:

NYCC~BATMAN GUIDE~SIGNED GENE COLAN+9 ON 10/10/10 | eBay

Ebay should put a hold on junk like this...but I guess CASH is KING.

Why? It is neither illegal, nor immoral. In this crappy economy, people are desperate to make money. If the unfortunate passing of a celebrity helps someone pay their rent or put food on the table, how is that a bad thing?
Funeral homes make a living off people dying.

And NO, I'm not the seller. I just don't see a problem with it.

[Brazoo]

Art being worth more after an artist has died is just a fact of art commerce. Maybe it's distasteful, but it's a lot older than ebay.

But, these people who bring elder comic legends stacks of pure junk to sign at conventions are the dregs of humanity and should be flushed down some kind of sewer.

I can just see this animal sitting behind his pile of free crap gleefully planning for Gene Colan's death. Complete scum, and the greats are far to kind to say anything. I've seen it before and it makes me sick.

[Chris DVM]

Hey,
I see both sides, but a true personal story. . .
Anyone who is a veterinarian has read James Herriot, a British veterinarian who wrote about his experiences in the 50's through 80's while being a large and small animal vet in rural upper England. For my birthday many years ago, my wife sent off copies of 6 of his hardback books for him to sign to me. One of the best gifts I have ever gotten.
Flash forward 10 years. On the way home from working an overnight one morning, I hear on the radio that James Herriot had passed away. My first thought was, of course, that is a damn shame, he brought a lot of joy to many people's lives. My next thought was "But man, those books are worth a lot of money now."
I immediately regretted that thought and felt like a complete heel. How could I bring money into something like this at a time like this. Embarrased, I got home and walked in the house. My wife had the day off, and I told her that James had died.
Her exact words: "That's a real shame. I really loved his books. (Pause) But you know, those books I got you are worth a lot of money now."
I guess we all have an opportunistic streak in us. Some of us, however, resist the urge to be trolls about it.
Chris DVM

[Blue Meanie]

But, these people who bring elder comic legends stacks of pure junk to sign at conventions are the dregs of humanity and should be flushed down some kind of sewer.

I can just see this animal sitting behind his pile of free crap gleefully planning for Gene Colan's death. Complete scum, and the greats are far to kind to say anything. I've seen it before and it makes me sick.

BINGO!!! That's what I'm talking about. That's my complaint in a nutshell. And it was well known throughout the industry and among comic book people that Gene had been in failing health for a few years.

That's what makes me sick when I see auctions like that. I see nothing wrong with selling an ITEM that is autographed...but just look at the pic in the auction and it tells it all about the seller. Very distasteful IMHO.

[Brazoo]

I think there's a difference between considering the value of a legitimate signed item after a death - like a signed book, or a piece of art. I have no problem with that. Again, I can see why people might find it distasteful, but I think it's just a reality of art and celebrity.

What I can't stand is some animal, like the character Blue Meanie found, sticking a stack of dumb free convention programs in front of these elderly artists to sign. I've seen this before - In some cases the artists are dealing with physical pain signing these things - but they're too polite to say no.

I was waiting in line to meet Will Eisner once - he was signing stuff to promote donating to The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Most people were bringing him novels or old books to sign - sometimes a few, but at least they were HIS work. This one animal in front of me didn't say a word to the man, just plunked a pile of 30 cheap Spawn books in front of Eisner to sign and a stack of other loosely connected junk from a box he was pushing around on a freakin' dolly.

After signing a few - Eisner asked him something like "You know I never worked on this comic, right?" and without saying a word this creep flipped open one of the pages and pointed to where McFarlane had dedicated the issue to Eisner.

Eisner just shrugged and said "Oh" and continued signing. When Eisner was done he asked him (he had to ASK) to make a donation to the Fund. Eisner pointed to a donation box, and I think the guy tossed a few coins in. To this day I regret not saying anything. I didn't want to cause a scene or bother Mr. Eisner further - but I really regret it.

[Brazoo]

BINGO!!! That's what I'm talking about. That's my complaint in a nutshell. And it was well known throughout the industry and among comic book people that Gene had been in failing health for a few years.

That's what makes me sick when I see auctions like that. I see nothing wrong with selling an ITEM that is autographed...but just look at the pic in the auction and it tells it all about the seller. Very distasteful IMHO.

Sorry, I was typing my other rant as you posted this, but yeah - that's what I thought you were pointing out. I'm totally with you - it's sickening.

[johnnystorm]

I still think of the guys sitting on boxes of Dale Earnhardt memorabilia they paid much dinero for after he was killed. There were lines a block long at the local Nascar shops.