Q&A with Kirk Dilbeck (3-Wishes and Patron-of-art)

Which piece in your gallery is your favorite and why?

Defenders 16 cover by Gil Kane - One of the first comics I bought and cemented my love of Kane's art. Ironically it was published on my 11th birthday. October 10, 1974

Please tell us a little about yourself.

Born and raised in Southern California. My 'day job' is I own an Escrow Company. It is the only career I have had since college and I still love it to this day. I have a wonderfully patience wife and four kids. I monetized my hobby in 2007 and became and art rep for a bunch of great and talented people and still enjoy going to conventions with them and discovering new cities. The vast majority of comic book and comic art collectors are GREAT people. I mean how could they not be with such heroes as roll models.

How long have you been collecting comic art and what prompted you to start?

I received a comic or two in 1972 which started a fire and began buying and reading comics regularly since 1974. I started collecting original art in 1978. I just stopped buying comics January 2017 as I don't care for how the big corporations are leading the industry but I still love the comics and art from the 70's thru the 90's. The 2000's have had some great moments, especially with art, but the magic seems to be fading. I do love what Hollywood is doing though so I get my fix there.

How do you display/store your collection at home?

After a large fire in my community I now have prints on the walls of the art I own and the art is stashed safely away. My comics are boxed and I like to read trades now.

What are your top five most wanted original pages or commissions?

1. Avengers 127 cover by Gil Kane 2. Avengers 115 cover by John Romita 3. Avengers Annual 7 cover by Jim Starlin 4. G.S. Defenders 3 cover by Ron Wilson 5. Captain Marvel 37 cover by Gil Kane and Klaus Jansen