Q&A with Eric B

Which piece in your gallery is your favorite and why?

I wouldn't say this is my grail piece, but since I haven't landed that one just yet, this is the one that comes out on top at the moment. I had originally commissioned Campbell for Spiderman/BlackCat swinging through the city in 2009. I saw a sketch of this pop up in a live-stream he did. A work-in-progress thumbnail. One day, this finished piece showed up on CAF. Clearly it wasn't mine. I was a bit heartbroken but began to patiently wait for mine. Less than a year later, it was up for sale. I jumped at the opportunity. I think Campbell was born to draw these two. I never got my original commission. Campbell cancelled it in 2016. So, this is the closest I'll ever get to it.

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I once dreamed of being a Disney illustrator, so I went to Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada. Midway through that plan, I switched to advertising. It seemed creative and a bit more practical. Since 2001 I've been creating campaigns for clients in everything from print, tv, billboards, websites, branding, direct mail, etc... I also have a comic strip I don't really share with the world (laziness). I just wanted to start drawing on a semi-regular basis again. I just started working on Book 3.

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

It's all Adrien Tomine's fault. In 2005, I was getting impatient waiting on the next issue of Optic Nerve. So, I decided to visit his site for any news. While searching, I noticed he had a section for Original Art. On a whim, I bought the illustration for the film review of "The Mexican" (published in the New Yorker). That. Unlocked. Everything.

How do you display/store your collection at home?

I only have two pieces of art framed. The rest are in Itoya portfolios. As much as I like having art on the wall, I like the intimate (and deliberate) time I take when flipping through my portfolios much more. Plus, if ever there was a fire, portfolios are much easier to carry.

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

Todd McFarlane – Amazing Spiderman 322 Cover Sean Murphy – Batman White Knight #8 Cover Sean Murphy – Batman White Knight issue 1, page 1. Bill Watterson – Any Calvin and Hobbes Olivier Coipel – Batman, Wolverine or Spiderman commission