Gallery Comments by jack juka

Owner:

Bill,

I'm proud of you. You are really expanding your focus in art. Great stuff.

Jack Juka

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You're a good man Steve. How are you?

I remember buying that back in the day!

jack

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Beautiful piece. I went through a monster phase a few years ago. 
I remember you were pals with Basil Gorgos. You're the best.

Owner:

Really nice page. You always were ahead of the curve! 
jack

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Greg Wilson

Wonderful collection you have! 

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Victor,

Was the one you had a color sketch? I always liked that. Someone once offered to sell it back to me. 
im not sure if I ever answered your question as to who was his model for the Spider. Same as the Shadow. William Magnar. 
 

Owner:

Marcus,

Hi. Thanks for the insight! For many years I wrote everything down but this was for Jonathan Juka and he's had it hanging up for years without a thought to anything but his memories of it. 

So finally I'm going to get to the bottom of it if only for posterity.

Jonathan is a grownup now and like me, a kid at heart. I forget which others I've "donated" to him over the years. One Brothers Hildebrandt and a nice Matt Busch. Both Star Wars.

My late neighbor Stanley D'Amore (The Colonel) once said "a gift is better given from a warm heart than a cold one."

I guess it means if you're dead and inherit stuff it doesn't mean as much.

Good for Jonathan. 
Thanks again,

Jack Juka

Owner:

Marcus, 

you're a good man! Thanks.

I worked as a sports photographer at a tv station at the time and probably shot 4 hours of him in his studio talking about his work and telling stories. 

Jack

Owner:

I'm glad you liked it. Have you ever read any of his books? 
spider, The Night Master, Deadly excitements, there's a bunch. Each a classic . He had a sense of humor with his writing like nobody I've ever read. 
 

you can probably find Spider Cheaper on Bookfinder or used. 

He took me under his wing so to speak. When there was a Pulpcon in New Jersey he made sure I knew everyone. And never once did he mention he worked at NASA.

most of my stuff is not here except for a few letters. 
im glad you liked it. 
Jack Juka 
 

Owner:

Shelton,

Thanks! Funny how collecting goes isn't it? When something has meaning it's tough to let the memory go. 
For instance, besides collecting Star Wars with my son I was on a composition toy soldier kick. 
they were made in Germany before the war. Most kids collected the fighting guys. I collected what they call "camp figures."Guys goofing off, eating, shaving and other everyday stuff. Once at a show someone sold us a nice bunker. My son Jonathan made a sticker that said "not for sale."

35 years later that sticker is still on the bunker. It's all about the memories for me. 
Jack Juka

Owner:

thanks Illia. I'm going to use a response I just wrote as it is pertinent to your comment also. 

The neatest thing I'm finding out about the Spider is all the violence that took place and the Spider (Richard Wentworth) still had time for romance. 
I collected The Shadow for many years and I can't remember him giving Margo Lane as much as a hand shake. Wentworth was a true romantic. He played the violin for his gal and the villains raped and pillaged and drugged the population. Crazy stuff that Spider was involved with. 
ThenPhantom Detective was involved with some nasty characters also. I guess it depends on who wrote it.

for instance. My favorite Shadow author (forgive me Will Murray) was Theodore Tinsley. He loaded up on tragedy in his stories. I remember in ThePooltex Tangle someone shot the Shadow and threw him into a river. I can't swear they shot him but to me it was all very exciting.

Getting to see all his originals was also wonderful. I will post a comment from Bob Sampson dated July 1, 1990 with the photo to give it some extra flavor. . 

Owner:

ilia georgiev

A pretty good rendition if you ask me Illia. If you had continued your pursuit I bet people would be posting your stuff also. 
 

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ilia georgiev

Very well thought out piece. 

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ilia georgiev

I always liked his work on the Shadow. 

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It was such a wonderful experience to work with Rafael. I did a documentary on him doing the art as I was a television sports photographer at the time and had access to a good camera. 
 

I have a photo of him teaching my young son how to draw a cat at a place we had lunch at. 

Owner:

It's such a great two part story also. Richard Corbin did one issue and John Severin the other. Thanks again.

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ilia georgiev

Good things happen to good people Illia. 
 

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ilia georgiev

Good things happen to good people Illia. 
 

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ilia georgiev

I find it amazing nobody left you a comment on this. Congratulations!

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ilia georgiev

What a ripoff! You always get the nicest stuff! Seriously though you have some wonderful art!  

Owner:

Thanks!  Just looks like a guy that's been put through the ringer and keeps on going.

I had the poster on my door back in the day. Unfortunately I had my shoulder dislocated at least 30 times playing football necessitating a shoulder reconstruction in 1975. "It's only a stinger John the coach said. Get back in there." That really hurts too.

The two stories are very entertaining. To me it was almost as much about the stories as the art. 

Maitz does some incredible paintings of Pirates these days. Great guy. I put him right up there with my friend Doug Klauba as far as talented nice guys go.

Thanks again.

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Another dandy even though I am repeating myself.

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I still like this a lot Richard. After all these years too.
I hope you are doing well. 

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Thanks Jason. Whether is two guys sitting in a bar and brooding or beating each other up Jae Lee makes the moment memorable. 
jack

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Thanks Marcus. I was reading about Charles Addams from the New Yorker and his stuff is just so darn expensive that I couldn't rationalize it. This was well done and both gruesome and comical at the same time. My daughter showed it to her boyfriend who has a great sense of humor and she said he laughed out loud. thanks again.

Jack Juka 

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Bama used himself as a model for the guy to the right of Doc. Nice piece. 

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Greg,

you have good taste!

jack Juka

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Amazing to see how painters work. Bob Larkin is a fine artist. 

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The Magic Island was one of Larkins most realistic Docs. 

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Very nice piece Peter. 

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Nice piece of art. Reading how you collected the art as a kid reminded me of myself. 

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It really is Mark. Thanks!

It’s actually hanging over my fireplace. 

Someone once said it looked like it should be hanging in the Chrysler Building or some big old famous building. 

Doug is a great person besides being a terrific artist.

jack

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One of my favorites. Let me know if you ever sell it. Congratulations. Bama did some real dandies in his day.

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Thanks! My wife says "if you sit at a computer looking for something to buy long enough sooner or later you're going to find something." Obviously this wasn't a compliment.

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Doug Ellis

Doug, You are my hero. People have occasionally told me they want to be be me when they grow up. I on the other hand wouldn't mind being you. I'd have to get to keep everything about me that I love though. Lol! What a great collection you have. War art is my favorite. Nice piece. Jack

Owner:

Yep! Plus the central image looks larger in person. I wasn't supposed to be buying stuff. "Taking a break" my wife refers to it as. I forget what excuse I used. It's a very Innocent yet dynamic and fun image. Thanks!

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They really are fun aren't they. Glad I have company in my appreciation. Thanks!

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I can't believe I never complimented you on this Richard. Very nice. Love his eyes. I have to hand it to you, you have good taste. And you keep what you have. Good for YOU. Best wishes, Jack Juka Still buying (and KEEPING) James Bama Doc Savage paintings after all these years. I guess good for ME too! God bless ya Richard.

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Will K

Nick Cardy made Batlash an enjoyable read when I was a kid. And his work still holds up well today. Great you got to know him. Nice art.

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You know which I 'd be interested in when the time comes. Thanks for the heads up!

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Thanks Pal! I think it's a dandy.

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I actually discovered their work about a year ago when I saw one of their Spider-Man paintings. When I spied it online I thought to myself "WOW!" When I first set my eyes on this piece I thought "WOW!" again. So I guess Fastner and Laeson have a wow factor. Thanks for your nice comments.

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Alex Ross has nothing on Doug Klauba. Great piece!

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Stunning!

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Daniel Fowlkes

Even my WIFE would like THIS!

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Thanks for the nice comment. I changed the image. Better now?

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Thanks Mark. Jane and Howard Frank had their choice of five Bama Doc paintings many years ago and they picked The Gold Ogre. The Franks have an art collection that is massive. This hung on their wall in their foyer and is in a book on their collections. I believe it was the first Doc Savage I read when I was a kid back in the 60's. thanks again! Jack

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Thanks Mark! It certainly is a great story. Glad to share. Best, Jack

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Lord knows!

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You are totally right. I suppose I should ask his son for the master tapes. It's been several years. Did you see the other three Spiders I have posted?