Comic collectors - help a newbie out ?

[Iteki]

I understand there are a few comic collectors on here, and I am hoping somone can help me with a few questions. I am going to buy a piece of original artwork from an artist, Enric Badia Romero. Can any of you confirm whether http://www.badiaromero.com/ is really his site? I am in contact via email regarding the purchase, but it feels a tiny bit shakey

The purchase method is via bank transfer (which suits me great!) but I would like to confirm this is really his site before I send the moolah.
I am also wondering what things I should ask for in terms of proof of authentication etc that would help this not only be a nice piece of artwork but also perhaps an investment for the future or whatever. Tips and advice for making my buy, and any confirmation on whether I have the right site or a rip off artist? (haha!)

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

I like to think I know a lot about comics, and I've never heard of this artist. Who is he, and what has he done?

If you want people who REALLY know their stuff regarding collecting original comic art, you'll want to join Comic Art-L, a Yahoo discussion group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/comicart-l/

These folks can definitely put your mind at ease, or give you the "straight dope," so to speak.

[Exapno Mapcase]

Wow, Iteki, you are either incredible careful about the Net or extremely paranoid about it. A site that includes a personal note from the artist, his complete history, an offer to supply any particular strip by date, and a sales form that contains a:

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY OF THE ORIGINAL ARTWORK AND DEDICATION:

Each original artwork includes an authenticity stamp and a dedication if the addressee asked for it.

Not only does it sound authentic to me, but I'll put in an order for my Modesty Blaise besotted wife.

Big Bad Voodoo Lou, you've never heard of the Modesty Blaise newspaper comic strip? It ran for 38 years!

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

Originally Posted by Exapno Mapcase

Big Bad Voodoo Lou, you've never heard of the Modesty Blaise newspaper comic strip? It ran for 38 years!

You got me! I've heard of Modesty Blaise, and I know the name Peter O'Donnell in connection with it. I even know it was the book Travolta's character was reading in Pulp Fiction, and there is a movie version (I've seen the DVD for sale). But I've never seen the comic strip, and honestly had never heard of the artist Romero. I learned something new today!

[Selkie]

Iteki, if you're uncertain about whom a website belongs to, it's never a bad idea to run a [url=http://www.networksolutions.com/en_US/whois/index.jhtml]Whois[/b] search, although in this case it doesn't look like it would have done you much good.

Lou, I can't believe you managed to beat me to the Comicart-l recommendation. Never thought I'd see the day!

[Iteki]

I did a whois of the link, and also checked out the adress to which the order-email is sent. It is the equivelant of a hotmail adress which is part of why I am being cautious. I am usually not particularly paranoid, but when I am going to pop down a couple of hundred bucks I like to check my back, especially when a site is (as in this case) pretty unprofessional. I am more used to creditcard ordering where my CC company insures the order for me. Thought maybe people might know of others who had ordered from here. The artist seems very nice and I am most likely going to post the order, like Exapno Mapcase my mrs is a Modesty nut

Thanks to BBVL for the community link, I am going to mosey on over there now! While I am here, is there anything special I should bear in mind as regards to getting the strip framed etc?

[Selkie]

Everything that touches the art should be acid-free. I also recommend using glass that protected the art from UV rays that will fade the ink.

The comicart-l website associated with the mailing list used to address a lot of these types of questions, but either they've moved or removed the information because I didn't find it on a quick perusal. Still plenty of good information there.