MRF #12 Original Art Cover (auction)

[DirtbagSailor]

FYI....


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Magnus-Robot-Fi ... 1e87a42daf

[mkb28]

One of my favorite Pre-Unity covers!

Mkb28

[Aram]

psshhh.. why bother bidding..

You know Ed is gonna snipe it.

This is pretty awesome. Even given the downsides.. you know.. it being a preunity cover and first Valiant appearance and all. I'm surprised it's as high as it is.. Shouldn't go much higher at all... /s

[sonicdan]

Great cover! The same seller listed an alternative version of it and a bunch of other nice pages as well.
DAN

[nycjadie]

Man! There's some amazing art there. I'm totally in on these. Fair warning!

[paradise]

psshhh.. why bother bidding..
You know Ed is gonna snipe it.

That's an awesome cover, and the first Valiant book I ever bought (at a used book store for $1, when it was like $50 guide), but I only collect X-O Manowar and Solar original art. So, go on, bid away...

[DirtbagSailor]

I may be in on this action as well...

Stay classy VF!

DBS

[paradise]

Why are people bidding on this item NOW????? Who is bidding? I really hope it's nobody here because you are driving the price up for yourself and everyone else.

BTW, I am not involved, i am just amazed people bid on an auction with DAYS to go.

[dholden007]

Is this definitely the original published cover or a recreation that Gonzalo did afterwards? I E-mailed SparkleCityComics and asked, and their response was
"Thanks for contacting us. I'm not sure so please bid accordingly. Thanks ROSS" I also E-mailed Gonzalo through his website but he hasn't responded yet. The description seems to be purposely vague. Otherwise a very iconic cover, I'll sit this one out as well, but do like some of the other pages they have. Hopefully someone here gets it.

[nonplayer]

My god Id love to have that but well out of my price range good luck all send me a scan if you win please

[solarmanofawesome]

Why are people bidding on this item NOW????? Who is bidding? I really hope it's nobody here because you are driving the price up for yourself and everyone else.

BTW, I am not involved, i am just amazed people bid on an auction with DAYS to go.

I 100% agree, I think the absolute worst thing you can do when trying to win an auction is to bid your top price early. Not only does it drive prices up but it makes you susceptible to shill bidding. I only bid in the last 10 seconds of an auction. If you can't be there for the end use a sniper service. I was floored when I saw this over $1000

Is this definitely the original cover or a recreation that Gonzalo did afterwards? I E-mailed SparkleCityComics and asked, and their response was
"Thanks for contacting us. I'm not sure so please bid accordingly. Thanks ROSS" I also E-mailed Gonzalo through his website but he hast responded yet. The description seems to be purposely vague. Otherwise a very iconic cover, I'll sit this one out as well, but do like some of the other pages they have. Hopefully someone here gets it.

This is also concerning, I hate when sellers are vague when selling stuff like this. How can you say "original art" then say you are not sure if it a cover recreation or the original? I hope it is original because it's awesome

[DirtbagSailor]

I would like to thank whoever put this up from $300 to $1,200 with 3 days to go!

As much as I would like this piece, and might even consider $1,200, I suspect that this will go beyond that price if today was any indicatior.

As stated above, ALWAYS bid in the last 10-30 seconds! Don't give money away early, wait and save a bit for use elsewhere.

DBS

[DirtbagSailor]

Is this definitely the original cover or a recreation that Gonzalo did afterwards? I E-mailed SparkleCityComics and asked, and their response was
"Thanks for contacting us. I'm not sure so please bid accordingly. Thanks ROSS" I also E-mailed Gonzalo through his website but he hast responded yet. The description seems to be purposely vague. Otherwise a very iconic cover, I'll sit this one out as well, but do like some of the other pages they have. Hopefully someone here gets it.

This is also concerning, I hate when sellers are vague when selling stuff like this. How can you say "original art" then say you are not sure if it a cover recreation or the original? I hope it is original because it's awesome

Seems odd to me that ANY seller who stumbles upon a piece such as this would somehow be vague and/or unaware of what he/she was actually selling. Let's be honest here, Valiant collectors are QUITE SPECIFIC AND PICKY about these things, and very few people would have their hands on this cover if they didn't know it's significance. This leads me to question as well, though hopefully someone will get an answer from the seller and/or artist.

I love reading a good mystery, just NOT bidding on one!

DBS

[dholden007]

I sent Gonzalo the link yesterday, hopefully he responds soon.

gmayo1@hotmail.com
http://www.gonzalomayo.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[solarmanofawesome]

Seems odd to me that ANY seller who stumbles upon a piece such as this would somehow be vague and/or unaware of what he/she was actually selling. Let's be honest here, Valiant collectors are QUITE SPECIFIC AND PICKY about these things, and very few people would have their hands on this cover if they didn't know it's significance. This leads me to question as well, though hopefully someone will get an answer from the seller and/or artist.

I love reading a good mystery, just NOT bidding on one!

DBS

Exactly, comparing it to the actual cover there are some slight differences but that could just be attributed to pencil vs inked version. One thing that stuck out immediately was the shiney spots on the 01X robot. There are "shiney" accents on the head and arms on the final cover but the cover in the auction only has one on the robots head. Again this could have been stuff added during inking but it's something to factor in. At this point I am just curious and don't want to see someone pay too much for a recreation. I have no intention of bidding since I am in no position to buy anything like this now.

I sent Gonzalo the link yesterday, hopefully he responds soon.

It would be awesome if he did verify this as real, it's such an amazing cover. I remember as a kid my friend bought MRF 12 at a local Comic store and used all of his allowance to pay the $100 it was going for at the time. We would both stare at the cover and drool. A few month's later when the price started to drop he decided to try and sell it. When he brought it to another store the owner took it out of the bag and we all realized that the back cover was totally water damaged. After he bought it he never took it out of the bag and board it was sold in. If I remember correctly, the guy gave him $10 for it.....

[ckb]

I believe sincerely it is a very well done recreation. It may have been done with a lightbox of the cover. Assuming the piece is just pencils, the inker would have had to have made a number of changes to the finished cover. The change in detailing on the body of the dead Dino is pretty significant. O1-X's right hand position is off. Magnus' hair is slightly different. The bottoms of the dinos feet have been detailed and colored. Now it's certainly possible the inker made all those changes and this is the original but....

The thing that gives it away is that it is missing the artists signature in the correct place above the dead dino's snout. Did the inker sign it for him too?

[GGSAE]

I believe sincerely it is a very well done recreation. It may have been done with a lightbox of the cover. Assuming the piece is just pencils, the inker would have had to have made a number of changes to the finished cover. The change in detailing on the body of the dead Dino is pretty significant. O1-X's right hand position is off. Magnus' hair is slightly different. The bottoms of the dinos feet have been detailed and colored. Now it's certainly possible the inker made all those changes and this is the original but....

The thing that gives it away is that it is missing the artists signature in the correct place above the dead dino's snout. Did the inker sign it for him too?

It seems crazy that some buyers would be willing to pay so much for something that might not even be real.

[nycjadie]

Maybe it's the card art? I dunno. Looks pretty spot on to me.

[dholden007]

I believe sincerely it is a very well done recreation. It may have been done with a lightbox of the cover. Assuming the piece is just pencils, the inker would have had to have made a number of changes to the finished cover. The change in detailing on the body of the dead Dino is pretty significant. O1-X's right hand position is off. Magnus' hair is slightly different. The bottoms of the dinos feet have been detailed and colored. Now it's certainly possible the inker made all those changes and this is the original but....

The thing that gives it away is that it is missing the artists signature in the correct place above the dead dino's snout. Did the inker sign it for him too?

Didn't Gonzalo also ink this cover?? Why wouldn't he have inked it over his own pencils?

[Brett]

Two things -

Looks like there's an X in the dark area on the dino's neck. This is usually used by a penciller to tell the inker to black that area in. Not something that would be necessary on a lightbox reproduction.

There's a painted version of this cover on CAF if you search for Magnus 12. The scan makes it look hideous and I'm not sure if it's the real deal either, but it's there. Could be a color guide...or Gonzalo could have transferred the pencils to a board and painted them, making both pieces originals?

Or maybe this is just a commission...

[DirtbagSailor]

Or maybe this is just a commission...

I would run screeming into the seller's home with a samurai sword if he sold me a commissioned (see also: FAKE!) cover for >$1,200.00 while telling me it was real!

DBS

[turok7]

Two things -

Looks like there's an X in the dark area on the dino's neck. This is usually used by a penciller to tell the inker to black that area in. Not something that would be necessary on a lightbox reproduction.

There's a painted version of this cover on CAF if you search for Magnus 12. The scan makes it look hideous and I'm not sure if it's the real deal either, but it's there. Could be a color guide...or Gonzalo could have transferred the pencils to a board and painted them, making both pieces originals?

Or maybe this is just a commission...

Gonzalo told me some time ago that the painted one on CAF is a painted colored "sketch" or study. I'm wondering about this piece too..have to wait and see for Gonzalo's reply..

[pixierosa]

I'm curious as to what the verdict will be. Some think it's a recreation?

[AnthonyF]

With that cover (Prelim?) already on CAF, I doubt this is more than a tight study at best, and not the published cover.

My first thought was, recreation too.

That's a lot of cash for a recreation... Seems like the pages being sold were purchased (or signed at least) in 2006 - so it's possibly not even a vintage recreation. 1K plus for a recreation from 2006...

[dholden007]

Buyer beware! Now its confirmed, its not the actual published cover.
Here is what Gonzalo said:

Dear David
Regards. I certainly inform you that the Ebay Magnus#12 cover is the original pencil cover only. I did another pencil and final ink cover that is the Original Magnus # 12 Cover publishing.
I inform you that the price for original Magnus #12 Cover Recreation( 13"x 19''size. pencil, ink and color), is : 500 Dollars.
Very Truly Yours
Gonzalo Mayo