The Red Hood – Brian Bolland

Great piece.  For what it cost, it seems the associated memories are priceless.

I am grateful you were not there on that Sunday afternoon. Judging by your collection and interests, I am sure you would have recognised straightaway who that character was. Thank you for your comments.
 

i also went to ukcac 87 ,looked on in awe at this in the programme but alas my paper round money would not stretch it .although Brian did sell me a pre lim for beer money,Turns out im still jealous after all these years, well done

If the prelim you got for beer money is the one of the cover of Camelot 300 issue 5 featuring Morgan le Fay you have posted then you chose well. It is a stunnah! If you don’t remember and can bear to be reminded of how much I paid for the drawing then I divulge it further down. Meanwhile, thank you for your comment. You have a superb published Brian Bolland too; Camelot 3000 was terrific.
 

What an amazing and historic piece!  Huge Congratulations!!!

Now, I really don’t know what to say to your comment (other than thank you) as you are one of those shadowy presences on CAF, as I was for the first eight years of my membership, who occasionally “likes” and comments but does not upload images. I have found it a worthwhile practice, so if you have something, anything then I am sure someone would like to see it. As Robert Mitchum said in Build My Gallows High, “Nothing in this world is any good unless you can share it”.
 

Well, a semi informed hunch, turned out to be better than a semi deformed hunch, back then.

I don’t know what to say in answer to your comment. I will say that no Brian Bolland upload is complete without a comment from CAF’s number 1 cat-loving Brian Bolland fan. Thank you.
 

To me, the raindrops falling around the Red Hood are what elevate this piece  above the circumstances of its creation and sale at UKAC. Bolland didn't need to add them but they point forward to the Killing Joke sequence of the Red Hood at the chemical factory and the creation of the Joker. Don't ever sell this! 

Thank you for your close and careful reading of the drawing. It is amazing to me the amount of care and consideration that BB put into a drawing that he knew he would not be profiting from. And thank you for your advice; I hope that I am never put in the position where I have to sell it, and instead can hand it down as a family heirloom.
 

Congratulations, Simon, a superb takedown. Although I'm sure I was bidding on this piece too and I remember being outbid (again). So I'm guessing what seems modest today probably wasn't, back then. Either way, I applaud your taste.

Well, I was thinking of DMing BB on IG before posting the image to let him know that in spite of being black hole-d for over 35 years the drawing had not been accidentally lost or destroyed but was safe, taken care of, and looked at most every day and often with gratitude. But then it occurred to me how I would feel being messaged out of the blue by a complete stranger. Bearing in mind your knowledge of the picture and your association with the artist, your comments mean a lot to me. As far as how “modestly-priced” it was – I can understand why many people on CAF are reluctant to let on exactly how much they paid for something but as you are the second person to mention the cost I feel I should remind you, as your were there also, and allow you to make your own mind up. I hope it does not cause you anguish. It was £120. Once again, thank you for all your friendly advice and assistance in the past.
 

It's probably the most significant piece out of the auction as you don't see multiples of the red hood out there.  The joke's on them for not caring about this one.

They do say that hindsight is always 20/20. I just got lucky that afternoon. Thank you for your expert’s view as to its importance. I can’t help thinking, Charlie Brown-wise, about how my immediate underbidder feels now. I hope that they have no memory of it whatsoever.
 

Congratulations on a great acquisition way back when - this has that Bolland humor too!

I remember that Con well, but not the auction. That's a beautifully drawn piece, and a lovely thing to have in your collection. The lines seem so simple, but in the clean inks there's real solidity and form. Bolland all over.

Thank you for your kind words. It is always nice to communicate with a former attendee of UKCAC. The 13 years during which I went always have a rosy glow about them as I was young and carefree at the time; but everyone has to grow up eventually. You missing the auction back in 1988 does not seem to have put you off your stride in comic art collecting. Your collection of ’70s bangers is jaw-dropping.