Autographing Books...Love 'em or don't care for them??

[Blue Meanie]

I'be been going to comic conventions since I was about 14. Now at the ripe old age of 42 I've been going through the collection and seeing stuff that I had autographed over the years. I would say I have about 200 or so items autographed. I was never a fan of standing on lines toting a giant comic box behind me and getting an artist or writer to sign everything in the box. BTW, one of my pet peeves about some so called fans....BIG TIME PET PEEVE. I think the first thing I ever got autographed is X-Men/Teen Titans by Walt Simonson. Walt, to this day, is my favorite person to get an autograph from or just talk to at shows. It's only been the last 2 years that I've gotten the urge to get sketches done at a show. I know that it cuts down on the time the artist has to sign...but these days the artists put aside time to do sketches at shows...so it doesn't bother me as much to ask for a sketch. What are your thoughts on autographs at comic conventions?

[VintageMike]

Not my thing, because I like to to be able to see what I have signed, not flip through it. That said as a collector if someone gets enjoyment out of it, so be it. As long as they don't hold up a line. That my one pet peeve at any show, any genre. If there are a ton of people waiting you have the right to get what you paid for, but not keep everyone else waiting who also paid. Especially since whomever is responsible for that person/table will likely start rushing people to where they don't get what the paid for.

[madmarva]

I've never really seen the value of autographs with comics. It's not something I would pay a premium for. It's certainly in the eye of the beholder, though.

I do have some autographed Sports Illustrateds related to my favorite college team from my youth, and I did buy a autographed copy of Hotel California off ebay about 10 years ago in a weak moment.

Now, sketches or commissions, those I like, a lot. While I know original art is much more valuable, I love all the sketches I've gotten at shows more so than the pages of original art I've owned because of the personal connection of talking to the artist and the fact that it was something created just for me. People who seek autographs probably feel the same kind of connection. Over the years I've gotten sketches of most of my favorite JLA and JSA characters as well as a few Marvel characters like Spidey, Hulk, Cap and the Fantastic Four. I haven't been to as many cons in recent years and prices on sketches have escalated to a point that it has to be something special for me to pay for it. i'd love to have Thor sketch and an Iron Man one, but i'd want the Thor to be by Simonson and the Iron Man to be by Layton.

But, that's what is cool about collectibles. They mean different things to different people, and the value isn't always what you can turn it over for.

[madmarva]

I've never really seen the value of autographs with comics. It's not something I would pay a premium for. It's certainly in the eye of the beholder, though.

I do have some autographed Sports Illustrateds related to my favorite college team from my youth, and I did buy a autographed copy of Hotel California off ebay about 10 years ago in a weak moment.

Now, sketches or commissions, those I like, a lot. While I know original art is much more valuable, I love all the sketches I've gotten at shows more so than the pages of original art I've owned because of the personal connection of talking to the artist and the fact that is was something created just for me. People who seek autographs probably feel the same kind of connection. Over the years I've gotten sketches of most of my favorite JLA and JSA characters as well as a few Marvel characters like Spidey, Hulk, Cap and the Fantastic Four. I haven't been to as many cons in recent years and prices on sketches have escalated to a point that it has to be something special for me to pay for it. i'd love to have Thor sketch and an Iron Man one, but i'd want the Thor to be by Simonson and the Iron Man to be by Layton.

But, that's what is cool about collectibles. They mean different things to different people, and the value isn't always what you can turn it over for.

Where I live, you have to travel a pretty good way to get to any con worth going to. Most of the ones I've been to have been large enough to have good panels to attend. I'd much rather spend time going to the panels and looking at comics, toys and books than standing in like for a autograph. The great thing about a sketch is that you can get on an artists list, pay for it and pick it up later.

[The Toyroom]

I've never had interest in autographed comics either...

[Blue Meanie]

I've never really seen the value of autographs with comics. It's not something I would pay a premium for. It's certainly in the eye of the beholder, though.

I do have some autographed Sports Illustrateds related to my favorite college team from my youth, and I did buy a autographed copy of Hotel California off ebay about 10 years ago in a weak moment.

Now, sketches or commissions, those I like, a lot. While I know original art is much more valuable, I love all the sketches I've gotten at shows more so than the pages of original art I've owned because of the personal connection of talking to the artist and the fact that is was something created just for me. People who seek autographs probably feel the same kind of connection. Over the years I've gotten sketches of most of my favorite JLA and JSA characters as well as a few Marvel characters like Spidey, Hulk, Cap and the Fantastic Four. I haven't been to as many cons in recent years and prices on sketches have escalated to a point that it has to be something special for me to pay for it. i'd love to have Thor sketch and an Iron Man one, but i'd want the Thor to be by Simonson and the Iron Man to be by Layton.

But, that's what is cool about collectibles. They mean different things to different people, and the value isn't always what you can turn it over for.

Where I live, you have to travel a pretty good way to get to any con worth going to. Most of the ones I've been to have been large enough to have good panels to attend. I'd much rather spend time going to the panels and looking at comics, toys and books than standing in like for a autograph. The great thing about a sketch is that you can get on an artists list, pay for it and pick it up later.

A Thor sketch would be easier to get. Walt Simonson is probably one of the fastest/quality sketch artist in the industry. He's also the coolest of all the artists I've ever met in almost 30 years of going to shows.

As for autographs...I've never paid for any autograph I've ever gotten. Funny thing is the majority of the guys that are charging for autographs DON'T need the money. The last show I was at in NYC Steranko and Adams were charging for autographs. The friend I was with got Steranko's autograph and asked me if I was going to get his autograph. He told me he was only charging $10 for the autograph. I told him that he was nuts for paying that. Same thing goes for the so called ICONS of the industry like Stan Lee. There is NO WAY IN HELL I would ever pay $50 for his autograph.

I have a few guys that I regret not getting their autographs...one being Joe Simon. When I get autographs I go to the artists or writers that I have respect for and like.

I think their are a few more guys I'd like to meet and get their autographs. Brian Bolland is one. I'd like to meet Jerry Ordway in person. I've gotten his autograph on pre-lim pages I have bought off of him on ebay...but I'd like to meet and thank him for All-Star Squadron and Infinity Inc. Two of my all-time favorite books. I know that there are some on here that would love to meet Ditko...to see if he really does exist. I don't think he's ever done a con and I don't think there is a recent picture of him anywhere on the net. I think the last pic is of a Marvel Bullpen shot in the 60's.

I think what got me started in this thread has a little to do with a story my friend told me of meet Jack Kirby a few years before he passed. Just the way that the organizers of the show treated him was abysmal. They had him at a table near one of the bathrooms for pete's sake. My friend got his FF number 1 signed by Jack and he got to talk with Jack for about a half hour. If you get a chance to talk to your comic heroes...do it. And thank them for what they did for the industry.

[cjefferys]

The only autographed books I would really care about are ones that I got signed in person (and I've never paid for an autograph either). Just because it's nice having something to keep after meeting a favourite artist, especially if they have since passed away. For example, I have a couple EC comics I had signed by Al Williamson, who is no longer with us, that I treasure. Don't care about value, those are books I wouldn't sell anyway.

[samurainoir]

My preference for autographs is books if possible. Preferably an Art Book for artists, or a collected story for writers.

It feels more substantial than a floppy comic.

Also, an Art Book has room for a doodle sketch, which you often get from artists rather than just a signature on a comic.

[Blue Meanie]

The only autographed books I would really care about are ones that I got signed in person (and I've never paid for an autograph either). Just because it's nice having something to keep after meeting a favourite artist, especially if they have since passed away. For example, I have a couple EC comics I had signed by Al Williamson, who is no longer with us, that I treasure. Don't care about value, those are books I wouldn't sell anyway.

That's what I am talking about. All of my autographed comics are personalized to me. Also, 98% of them are on the inside of the comic and NOT on the cover of the book.

[Adam West]

I have mixed feelings about autographs. I personally have never stood in line and paid for an autograph, but do have some items that have been autographed for no fee or just items I picked up that happened to be autographed. I do like the fact that some items I own have been touched and autographed by someone I admire. The only items that I have autographed that I did pay a premium for are some books signed by ex-presidents of the U.S. I know I would never meet them in person, but kind of neat to own something that they personally signed.