Michalski, Jared :: Batman: Dark Victory

Batman: Dark Victory #1 pg 3

Artists: Tim Sale (Penciller) , Tim Sale (Inker) , Richard Starkings (Letterer) , Jeph Loeb (Writer)

6 Comments - 271 Views - 9 Likes

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Batman: Dark Victory #9 pg 1

Artwork Details

Title:	Batman: Dark Victory #1 pg 3
Artist:	Tim Sale (Penciller)
Artist:	Tim Sale (Inker)
Artist:	Richard Starkings (Letterer)
Artist:	Jeph Loeb (Writer)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	271
Likes on CAF:	9 10
Comments:	6
Added to Site:	5/24/2022
Comic Art Archive:

Description

In all my years of collecting art, I've never made a trade. Usually because I buy things I intend to keep. And on the rare occasion I've proposed a trade, the conversations simply didn't pan out.

Often that's because the collector was simply not interested in parting with a particular page. I completely understand that perspective, as I've turned down trade offers from folks for the same reason. Other times I've found collectors willing to trade the pieces I'm looking for, but not for the pieces I'm willing to offer.

So I've developed this, admittedly biased, feeling that trading isn't worth the effort. For me, it's been hard to make the right deal because there's very few pieces I want to let go of.

Enter Sonu Kumar.

Over the years I've had a number of collectors reach out to me about selling or trading my Tim Sale pages. I've only ever sold two, and one was a situation where a great offer came in at a time I needed money. I regret that sale to this day.

So when Sonu contacted me about one page in particular, it wasn't a notion I genuinely entertained. However, he clearly had a gameplan put together to pry this gem from my collection. And that gameplan started with Superman For All Seasons.

Enticed as I was by his offer of SFAS pages, I couldn't pull the trigger. As much as Superman For All Seasons is my favorite comic of all time, Tim's market has been in overdrive for the last year or two - especially his Batman related work. And with a far smaller sample of his Long Halloween and Dark Victory pages in my collection, I doubt I'll be able to add any more to my collection unless the market takes a drastic swing in the other direction. Let alone such a key moment from the story.

But then Sonu made me the proverbial offer I couldn't refuse by throwing this page into the ring.

It's one I've always had a soft spot for. Not only does it feature Tim's lush ink wash from a time before he unleashed it fully in Daredevil: Yellow, but there's something about the surreal vibes of the clouds and the curvature of the opening panels that speaks to me. And that's not even counting the dialogue. "Even then, I knew. This was evil." That line has sat with me for over twenty years, and now the actual dialogue balloon sits in my collection. Surreal, indeed.

I'll admit, I like to think of myself as a fair person, and I definitely felt unfair about this trade. However, Sonu really had everything in the right perspective when he said that it wasn't about money or value. We both ended up in a situation we're happy with and, as Sonu pointed out in his writeup, the best part of this trade was getting to meet a fellow Tim Sale fan and talking art for a long evening.

And not just art. I got to learn about Sonu's background, his culture, job, and many other things that broadens my perspective as a human being. I'm certain it won't be the last time the two of us get together, and hopefully there's much more Tim Sale art in both our futures.

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About the Owner

	Jared Michalski ( 6 )
Joined:	September 2004
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Jared's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Michael 07
Member Since 2011

1 - Posted on 5/24/2022

Great page in a great collection

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 5/24/2022

Young Bruce innately picks up on good and evil. The line made it to The Batman (2022) so that is an amazing feat in itself.

Harry M
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 5/24/2022

Great use of composition, silhouettes and tones. Congrats.

Steve . M
Member Since 2017

1 - Posted on 5/24/2022

Beautiful page and beautiful description. So happy you both were able to walk away happy and making a meaningful connection

Mark Levy
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 5/25/2022

Great paeg and great story - great to hear a trade success story!

Sonu Kumar
Member Since 2018

1 - Posted on 5/25/2022

Jared, I knew I needed a very strong offer to pry that one from your hands, and based on your collection, an action DPS alone probably wouldn't do it. I am glad that the "moment" pages were to your liking. I would feel guilty taking a Dark Victory page from you without replacing it! Can't wait to ge together again!

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