Martian Manhunter Annual #2 cover

Well, another birthday has come and gone (about a month ago anyway). For me, I think it's gotten to that point where I'm really starting to notice how they're piling up, and that there are probably more behind me than there are ahead of me. Sigh! On the positive side, it's also the kind of thing that makes you really appreciate what you have and to make every day count. But enough philosophizing. I'm finallly getting a chance to post my official birthday present to myself. As in previous years, this is the last piece I paid for before my actual birthday date. It would've been the Furlong commission, but Wade would not take payment until AFTER I received the piece and approved it. What a guy. Anyway, here's the story of my "official" birthday present.

Karma? Fate? Serendipity? Call it what you will, but I am continually surprised by the almost bizarre way things have of coming back around for me.

In the summer of 1999, Arthur did a set of 8 covers known as the JLApe Annual covers for DC. It featured the JLA characters all portrayed as apes. It began with the JLA Annual #3 cover that featured a now classic team shot which subsequently became the promotional image for the entire series, then continued through the annuals for each title of the individual team members.

Of course the first thing I thought of was how cool it would be to try and collect the entire set of covers. Unfortunately, another collector with vastly more wealth than I (which is not saying much, since I’m always broke) had the same idea and secured the entire set.

When I was told this by Arthur’s friend and agent John Fannuchi, I took a chance and asked if he would be kind enough to bring all the artwork to my home so that I could at least see them in person before they were shipped off to the buyer. He very graciously agreed, and kindly did so. In hindsight, I probably should’ve made photocopies of them, but I was so enthralled by seeing the entire set of covers in person, that I just didn’t think of it.

Anyway, the set has subsequently been broken up by the owner, although one or more still resides in his collection. Fast forward some 8 years later and what do I see for sale on Mike Burkey’s website, but this cover for Martian Manhunter Annual #2. It wasn’t cheap, and at any other time I probably would’ve just walked away, but since it was a week before my birthday, I figured WHAT THE HECK, I deserve a little treat. It’s been a rough year for me personally, as some of you may know, and I just decided to do something special for myself. So I immediately contacted Mike and the rest, as they say, is history!

I guess my favorite thing about this cover is that it is the ONLY cover, other than that first historic JLA Annual cover (and that’s probably not going anywhere), that features ALL the JLApe members. Very cool man!

So my thanks of course to Mike Burkey for the smooth deal. And to my three mistresses, Karma, Fate, and Serendipity? What can I say, other than I hope you never leave me! LOL