Q&A with Michael Diaz

Which piece in your gallery is your favorite and why?

Right now my favorite piece is my Rom Spaceknight cover issue #3 by Frank Miller. I never thought in a million years I would be able to get something this sweet. Between availability, cost, and competition with other collectors I didn't think it would happen.

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I've been reading comics since I was five. My older cousin got me into them. My father is a hard core SciFi fan and Trekker. In the 70's he would take me to Star Trek and comic conventions along with my cousin. In my CAF gallery you can see a picture of me at age 7 with a young George Takei. Now my father flies in from NJ to go to SDCC with me. I'm a proud second generation geek.

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

I think I started collecting art around 2009 or 10. If I remember correctly it stared with a commission from Matt Wagner of Christine Spar as Grendel. After that I wanted commission from every artist I ever fallowed. The first published piece I ever got was a Sean Phillips Marvel Zombies page on ebay. I still have it. With all my history of reading comics it's just impossible to have only one or two pieces. With collecting you have to feed the beast and the beast is always hungry.

How do you display/store your collection at home?

Most of my art is in portfolios but some of it is framed on the walls of my man cave. Four walls are not enough.

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

1) John Byrne X-Men or Iron Fist issue #15 2) Frank Miller Ronin 3) Sam Kieth The Maxx 4) Keith Pollard, George Tuska, Ernie Chan Incredible Hulk #218 5) John Totleben Miracleman