Byrne Iron Fist #12, page 6

After 20 years of being safely tucked away, one of my oldest pieces of art..........is gone.

I purchased this piece from Metropolis Comics way back in 1985. I hadn't been collecting for very long and I thought it was quite a bit of money to spend (even back then) but I knew I loved this piece the second I saw it.

Since that time, it had been mostly tucked away in an art cabinet. It's never been framed, never been displayed, and was only ever shown to a small group of friends.

When I first posted it in my gallery, I got a lot of emails from people who couldn't imagine my ever selling it. At the time, I couldn't imagine it either. But the reality, as most of you collectors know, is that it usually comes down to a NEED more than a WANT.

All I can hope for is that the new owner will give it a good loving home. I don't know if he will keep it for 20 years, but as long as I know he truly loves it, I guess that will have to be good enough. In the first email I got from him, he called this piece "John Byrne's BEST Iron Fist page!" I guess you could call that love.

Anyway, it was definitely with a heavy heart that I shipped this piece out to its new owner.

Now if you'll all excuse me, I think I need a drink..........................