Crawling From the Wreckage. -or-HEY KIDS! COMICS!

Just a quick hit-n-run post.

After a long dry spell, I'm in the process of reading 2+ months' worth of comics (stuff that came out since my job downsizing) and I have a TON of things that I need to blog about here.

Thanks to a very good friend (and former co-worker) who loaned me his laptop, I'll be able to do just that.

However, I just need to install some kind of image optimizing software first (photoshop preferably) and then we're off to the races.
(Only problem is the CD/DVD drive isn't operational, so I need to do a workaround.)

Anyway, LOTS of good stuff.
More Doctor Strange appearances than I've seen in recent YEARS!
That whole Doctor Voodoo thing.
Man-Thing!
More 6-Dimensions goodness!

RANTS! RAVES! REVIEWS!
And much much more!

See you guys soon.

~P~
PTOR

A NEW Kind of Magic? -or- He do that VOODOO that He do!

Hey there visitors to the Sanctum,

It's BEEN a while since I blogged about anything comics related.
So... here's some new news!

I took a few minutes to read an article or two today (while I am gutting my old computers of all their contents, in preparation of the complete retooling that they are to receive this weekend), and read an interesting interview with Brian Michael Bendis - on the future of...
DOCTOR STRANGE & Brother Voodoo.

Now, I won't give away anything that anyone out there might NOT know yet (especially since even I haven't had a chance to actually read the comics), but it seems the new name for Brother Voodoo is to be...

DOCTOR VOODOO.
(I guess that does kinda let the cat out of the bag though, right? sorry.)

The interesting part of it all is, that while handing the Eye of Agamotto to Voodoo
in recent issues of New Avengers is an interesting turn of events (although still a completely UNNECESSARY one) - and I have to admit that I have always had an interest in the character - the REAL mind-blowing bit of news is that DOCTOR VOODOO is to
get his own BOOK!
(not sure yet if it's to be an ongoing or a mini)

I can see WHY they're going with Voodoo.
It really DOES make a kind of sense (Voodoo has rules and rituals that traditional comic book "magic" doesn't - and THAT has been perplexing Marvel editors for years).

Not saying that I AGREE at all... but since Quesada and co. have been up in arms about magic = no rules, then Voodoo might be a way to fake out the system. (Although, one HAS to wonder how much "actual VOODOO" is going to be in the pages of a comic book before parental groups start burning comic shoppes to the ground).

Still, have to wonder how long it'll last.

A few years at least.

Check out this article (HERE) for the full 411.
Explanations are given as to WHY Voodoo is thought to be a good selection, a possible new story-set for Stephen Strange and more.

As to that, the future of Strange, and other newsworthy tidbits...
with luck, I'll have a laptop with which to blog about all this (and all the other old stuff I had intended) before the weekend is through.

If so, look for more (up to date) stuff here as well in the next week.
If NOT... well... then it'll be "catch-as-catch-can" for awhile.

~P~
PTOR

Behold: The WORKS of the MASTERS!

Hello again visitors to the Sanctum!

I don't mean to keep blogging ONLY when there are new items up for auction/ sale on eBay... but until I can get my hands on a laptop for blogging... (which should be within two weeks, I hope)... I'm stuck with the old tower machines in the catacombs beneath the Sanctum.
(and I don't have access to them as much as I would a laptop)

Ah well...
This was to have been the start of a BIG week of items.
Unfortunately, fate intervened and the only new items to be listed are the first 10 Hardcover editions of the MARVEL MASTERWORKS series!



(all listed separately)

From the late 1980's, nearly ALL of these are 1st Editions.
These are the original printings, not the recent re-releases.

Featuring:

- Vol 01 : Amazing Spider-Man # 01 - 10 & Amazing Fantasy # 15
- Vol 02 : Fantastic Four # 01 - 10
- Vol 03 : X-Men # 01 - 10
- Vol 04 : Avengers # 01 - 10
- Vol 05 : Amazing Spider-Man # 11 - 20
- Vol 06 : Fantastic Four # 11 - 20
- Vol 07 : X-Men # 11 - 21
- Vol 08 : Incredible Hulk # 01 - 06
- Vol 09 : Avengers # 11 - 20
- Vol 10: Amazing Spider-Man # 21 - 30 & Annual # 1

I bought all of these when they were first released, starting back in 1987.
I'm pretty sure that the comic shoppe I obtained them from was a cool little store called;
THE REALM
based in East Meadow, New York on Long Island.

I was a little hesitant to buy them because they were a bit on the pricey side (about $30 or so per book), and that there would be MANY of them.
I was an under-employed artist at the time (hmmm... that sounds familiar), so I wasn't sure if I'd be able to plunk down the price on a long-term basis.

Still... I was really getting heavy into my ever expanding collector's mindset at that time, and I have always tried to support a new printing venue - in hopes that, if enough sales might warrant - a Doctor Strange edition of same would emerge.

And so, I started buying them.

I didn't really crack them open to read.
These seemed too much like long-term archive editions to be for everyday use.
So, I kept them on a shelf and would lightly flip through them on very rare occasions.
Just peeking in between the pages - afraid to crack open the spines.

As such, these books are in fabulous condition.
Pure white, crisp clean pages.
Sadly, some of the dust jackets may have some minor signs of wear.
(But without having them sealed in plastic and in a box away from sight, such a thing is to be expected.)

I continued buying them, and enjoying the beautiful archival nature of these hardcover editions, until I reached the 10th volume.
I do recall feeling like Marvel was trying for a cash-grab with the 11th volume, because they jumped over the rest of the old-school X-MEN issues to go to the "All New, All Different 'Uncanny' X-Men" issues instead.

"That's all for me - for now. I showed my support for this new print style." I remember thinking.
"...at least until a Dr. Strange volume is released."

I do have several of the Dr. Strange volume that was eventually released.
One of the original printings, and each of the newer re-released numbers (regular and variant editions).

I'm holding off on selling those just yet.

Anyway, as for these first 10 editions, my helpers had some technical difficulties in the photography aspects of this week's auctions, so this is all that will be available.

If only the unemployment regulations did not forbid my helping out.
I have faith in my team however.

Soon enough, a steady stream of stuff will surge from the Sanctum.

Please bear with us.

And as for ME... I am DYING to get to actual BLOGGING here.
As soon as I get a laptop (a great friend is loaning me his unused one), I'll be tossing MANY a great tidbit and article here for those faithful few who are still hanging around the periphery of this blog.

I owe you guys that much, at least.

Have a great day.
Feel free to bid on the books.
Low starting prices.
No reserves.
Just use the handy-dandy eBay link-button on the sidebar
(somewhere just under the pic of yours truly).

*UPDATE*
These Masterworks are sold.
Auction ended - quite successfully.
Thanks to all who participated!

Don't fret though, more auctions are always being listed, so check that link often.
*End Update*

Take care - for now.
~P~

STATUES 4-SALE! An IDOL PURSUITS - 6-Dimensions of Dr. Strange entry

Hey folks...
Long time, no blog!

Truthfully, I've had many the urge to type on about some recent Dr. Strange related stuff (not that I've had any time to actually READ any comics, mind you - but I do have a "to read" list piling up on loan by a friend).
Problem is... I've really no MEANS to blog unless I'm on these clunky tower machines deep in the recesses of the basement.

I'm working on getting them upgraded, but I surely miss the ease of my laptop.
Being able to blog at 2 am on a whim was a wonderful thing. I miss that.

Anyhoo... I just thought I'd toss a little "Progress Report" on some of the awesome eBay stuff that my helping Elf is putting up for sale / auction tonight on the eBay.

There WERE to be a huge wave of items:

- the first 10 Marvel Masterworks hardcovers - almost ALL 1st Editions from the late 1980's
as well as
- The ENTIRE set of the original Marvel Index series of trade magazine paperbacks
(some of those are rarer than a hen's tooth)

But as far as I have heard, those are still being processed (lots of pics and intricate desciptions are slowing down the works).

I'll give pics of those items at the very END of this post, since it doesn't seem like they'll be ready to go up for sale / auction this week.

What IS ready to go are statues of..

DOCTOR DOOM
(click to make LATVERIAN in size)



and

THE WATCHER
(click images to play intersteller voyeur)



These are two of my favorite pieces of "non-Doctor Strange" 6-Dimensions statuary.

My reasoning for having them in the first place is...
well, in the case of DOCTOR DOOM, I'm a big fan of the character and have nearly as much DR DOOM stuff as anything else in my collection.

I mean it. DOOM is freakin' AWESOME.

He's always been a favorite character (not even just as a villain), because he has the most multifaceted abilities, and beneath it all is a fragile man-child who would do anything to save his mother's soul from hell.
His entire history can be traced back to that one defining pursuit.
And as a by-product, he's always had the occult as a backdrop in his story and list of abilities.

To that end, he had battled Mephisto for decades, each All Hallow's Eve - to see if he could best the lord of hell for the freedom of his mother's soul. Always losing. Yet still striving forth.

He then managed to get Doctor Strange to help him win her freedom (in the most awesome DR. STRANGE / DR. DOOM - TRIUMPH and TORMENT graphic novel).

Doom is so fabulous, yet so defective.
How can you not love that?
He's sort of a darker side of the same coin as DR. STRANGE...
arrogant, superior, smug, at the zenith of his field - THEN... due to his own failings, he is cast down to the lowest ebbs of his very self and must climb back up to reach a higher plateau of greatness.

Strange achieved this through sacrifice, self-effacement and REDEMPTION.
Doom achieved this through domination, self-aggrandizement and REVENGE.

The fact that Doom and Strange have had only a few close interactions (team-up/ battles) over the years is astonishing. These two cats should always be going at it.
(Although, sadly, due to the fact that Strange usually is perceived as being waaaaay out of Doom's league magically, writers have usually had Doom trick Strange or catch him unawares in some blind-attack, in order to get Strange out of the way. I call bullshit on that, but hey... whatcha gonna do?)

I had purchased this Dr. Doom statue because of my overall fondness for the character, and frankly, will hate to see it go.
But go it must.

A few words on the item:
First off... It's freakin' HUGE.
A giant statue. Standing over 14 inches tall (yet it seems to tower far above that)!
Sculpted by Randy Bowen, it would make the perfect centerpiece to any comic fans collection!

It's in PERFECT condition, with a box that is also EXCELLENT!
From a smoke-free home, and only kept on display (for a short time) in a sealed glass display case.

-----

The WATCHER is a bust by BOWEN Studios and is so obviously based on the artwork of John Byrne (from his run on the Fantastic Four in the mid 1980's).

The Watcher is another VERY COOL character.
SURE, he makes no sense because of all the times he has broken the "Prime Directive" of the Watcher's code or whatever.
The dude just likes humans, and doesn't want us to get eaten by space critters.
Can't fault him for that.

My reason for having this bust is one of those things that just points out how nuts I am/was about this collection of mine.

For any of you out there who are familiar with the Marvel "alternative universe" take titled; "1602", in it, the DR. STRANGE analog has a very poignant meeting with UATU, the Watcher.
So, when I bought my 1602 Dr. Strange statues (both versions; regular and limited edition, natch) I felt that having a WATCHER statue to look over them would make sense.
So... that's how and why this big, bald beautiful bust came into my Sanctum Sanctorum Collection.

---------

As for those Index' and Masterworks volumes... these will have to lead off the NEXT wave (and I do hope that it's a veritable tsunami of stuff - LOTS of TPB's and whatnot) for NEXT week.
But, here are the pics:

- the first 10 Marvel Masterworks hardcovers - almost ALL 1st Editions from the late 1980's
These are the original printings, not the recent reprints.


- The ENTIRE set of the original Marvel Index series of trade magazine paperbacks.
These things are awesome.

Chock full of every tidbit of information about every single issue and character to appear
(up to the publishing date).
Some of the information in these is fascinating and they are VERY thorough.

Well... I'd better run now.
Much to do.

I'd imagine that the statues should be listed by some time tonight (Sunday May 31st, 2009).

Thanks for stopping by.
I'm looking to get an actual Doctor Strange related BLOG-POST in the works soon.
It's a bit difficult, however, what with the job searching and financial wrangling going on.

Wish me luck.

~P~

By the Hoary Hosts of the High-Speed Modem!

Hello once again, my friends.

This is just an update to let you know that while my helpers are working on getting my stuff up on the eBay, it's taking a bit longer than we had expected.

I used to blog (rather quickly, I might add, and mostly late at night) via the Macbook Pro laptop computer than I was given by my ex-employer.
It was a thing of beauty.

However, now that the machine has been lost to me (taken back by the job), I am left with a few very outdated tower machines (and a horrid Dell laptop that needs to be taken out into the field and given the "Office Space" copy machine treatment).

So, long story short... it's taking a little longer than expected to get things up and running.

However, I'd imagine that the first wave of items will be ready to go soon, and then it should be a constant stream of stuff.

I'm having them release to the masses some NON-Sanctum swag in the first few waves.
(y'know... just in case a miracle happens)

This is still primo stuff.
Lots of vintage swag, old out-of-print TPB's, hardcovers, games, toys, posters, statues, action figures, apparel, pinbacks and buttons, entire runs of comics (anything from SANDMAN, HELLBLAZER, STARMAN, MAGE, An unbroken run of X-MEN from # 95 all the way to the mid-late 1990's. And every other title known to geeks worldwide). Marvels, DC's, independents, oddities and rarities.
Silver age goodies. Bronze Age too. Modern titles and variants as well.

And it's not just comic stuff either.
I've got the original VERTIGO TAROT - in VG/NM condition, old TSR game modules and hardcover guides.

All stuff that I was supposed to have used as starter stock for a comic shoppe that we had wanted to open many years ago (hence the name; "Sanctum Sanctorum Comix").

THEN, when (and if I need to put) the Doctor Strange and my personal Sanctum Sanctorum Comix collection up for grabs... well... look out!

I have things in there that I had so fervently wished to share with the world via this blog.
Rarities, one-of-a-kinds, impossible-to-find stuff and some fairly common but still super-cool goodies - I get excited just thinking about it all.
I might be able to still blog about the stuff as it's going up for sale, but the orderly manner in which I was carefully crafting here (prior to all of this) may have to be sacrificed.

That's bothering me almost as much as the thought of having to unload it all.

As for me... I need to update my resume and continue looking for gainful employment.
If anyone out there knows of a place where a very creative, dedicated and detail oriented artist/ illustrator/ designer/ storyboard artist (and sometimes writer & voice-over guy) with extensive Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator (as well as other software and traditional hand-drawing) experience (as well as being web-savvy and a heck of a nice guy) can get a telecommuting gig (I'll be picking up the new laptop soon enough) - OR a good in-house position anywhere from Eastern PA to NYC... just send a note via the email addy on the sidebar.

Sadly, I have found it to be all too true:
It's sometimes not WHAT you know... but WHO you know.
And I know you people are some of the greatest I've "met" in years.

Thanks everyone.
Watch this space for more updates.

And EVENTUALLY, I'd like to get back to actual BLOGGING here.
(wouldn't THAT be nice?)

If ever I needed a hero... NOW would be the time.

Hello again, dear visitors to the Sanctum.

My most humble apologies for the long delay between posts, but, as you may have found by reading my most "recent" post [HERE], I have been downsized by my employer and there is a serious possibility that my wife and I (and our feline "children") could lose our house and potentially be homeless before long... unless I can get a good position (not too likely these days- especially since A) I'm primarily an illustrator - and those gigs are few and far between - and - B) I was telecommuting from my home studio/office for the past 3 and a half years) or can manage to sell off the (near)-entirety of my collection and other swag that we've got around here.

Since unemployment laws state that I could lose my benefits (which haven't even kicked in yet) if I even lift a finger to perform anything even remotely resembling "work" (whether it pays or not), I will have to let my wife (and possibly my brother) take care of all the sales aspects to this endeavor.

As for me, I need to search for actual work (most likely in a non-art-related field) and will be attempting to blog about the items that are going up on the eBay auction block.

Don't look for reviews of comics or any of my usual nifty history-lessons and such here for awhile.
It's been hard enough just trying to sleep without having Nightmare shocking me awake at 2am every night - in a cold sweat and paralyzed in the grip of fear - due to the reality of the situation.
I haven't read (nor can I really afford) any comics since the layoff happened.

It may be a few more days until anything goes up for auction.
This unemployment situation caught me completely flatfooted and we need some time to organize.

However, I will TRY to give blog-posts, giving details about the stuff that will be available.
And yes... there's a chance my Sanctum Sanctorum Comix collection - in it's entirety - may become a part of the sales parade.

Perhaps that is why I have it all --- so that my heroes may save us and our home from destruction.

All the best to you.

~P~

DOWN... but not OUT

Things may be a bit slow here at the SANCTUM for awhile.
As of April 30th, 2009, I have become the latest casualty in the "economic downturn" of America.

Having been "downsized" from my position as "the" Illustrator for a New York company, which I enjoyed for the past 6 years and 8 months, I will be spending a little time getting my particulars in order, and as such, will not be blogging as frequently as I once had.
At least not for a little while.

I have to contact the various agencies about unemployment compensation, credit counseling (or at least asking what our options are to be) and find out what I am to do about the mortgage (a modest one, since my wife and I were very realistic and reserved when we determined our price range for our home over 4 years ago - no McMansion here - unlike those who got in way over their heads and thus STARTED this whole economic shit-storm).

All heady stuff, which does not leave too much room for flights of fancy of fictional characters.
At least not any who are not of my own creation.

To make matters worse... the human resource bastards insisted that I return the laptop that they gave me a few years ago.
I REALLY grew attached to that thing.
I had hoped to have that as a part of my compensation (what little I was offered).

Sadly, even though it is now outdated a bit, it was a lot more powerful, faster and more up-to-date than my old tower computers.
I'm actually using it one last time to post this notice, because I TRIED to do so from one of my old towers, but the dinosaur was too s-l-o-w... so as soon as the UPS guy arrives to collect this from me, I'll be stuck with those ancient behemoths.
I'll have to address that situation as well.

Fret not, however.

I WILL RETURN, and will be posting stuff here before too long.
Just give me a few days to iron out the big wrinkles of my life.

Then, I'll be back.
Don't be surprised if you see Ads here though.

I don't want to do that, but might have to.

And... for anyone who might feel inclined, I'll toss a little pity tip jar on the sidebar for PayPal donations to the cause.
Consider it a "Good Karma Generator".

As for me, I also need to get back to some old personal creative projects that I had let go by the wayside for lo' the past decade or two while "workin' for 'the man' ".
Time to show the world MY creations.

Perhaps, one day, a fan will devote a blog to my work.
How cool would that be?