Posted in: Comics | Tagged: art, Comics, commission

Commission And Be Damned – The Green Princess

Published Mon, 03 Dec 2012 11:00:59 -0600

Johnny Lee Achziger writes for Bleeding Cool. Certain creator names redacted at his request;

Back in the mid 1970s I wrote a book called "The Green Princess" and since I couldn't sell it (it wasn't all that great), I decided I would publish it myself and fill it with illustrations from my favorite comic artists. I commissioned a cover painting from Boris Vallejo and great illustrations from Frank Brunner, Curt Swan, Alex Toth, Paul Gulacy, Val Mayerik, Neal Adams (at a San Diego con). Several others said they'd do a drawing but never did (no money was paid, so no problem).

But…there were two artists who took my money and ran. Mike Nasser (now Netzer) got my check, went to Israel and never came through. A couple years ago I found him on the internet and contacted him. He didn't remember me but agreed to do a drawing and a few months later a gorgeous drawing of Black Canary showed up (pictured).

I also paid [REDACTED] $75 in advance and waited and waited. After contacting him 4 times over the next year I gave up on him. About 12 years ago I contacted him again through DC and he phoned me. He didn't remember me either, but agreed to do a drawing. Nothing ever showed up. A couple years ago I tried once more with no response. Now I hear he's having terrible health problems and I don't feel right contacting him again.

About the early '70's, I read in [REDACTED] magazine that he was looking for nice copies of certain old pulps. I sent him a bunch of [REDACTED]and hinted that I'd love to have a sketch by him (he was doing fanzine sketches back then). He wrote back and said he'd do a drawing for me. Despite contacting him now and again (and meeting him at a San Diego con), nothing ever arrived. I found his website about 10 years ago, contacted him and he said he'd send me something. Nothing ever came. A few months ago I saw he was accepting commissions and contacted him again. Again he said he'd do something for me, but I'd have to wait at the bottom of his commission list (as if 35+ years wasn't long enough to wait). I've e-mailed him since, but got no response. I hope to see something before I die, but am not counting on it.

So, for all your readers who've waited for months to get a commission, I've got them all beat by a long shot.

Unfortunately, I had to sell all my art and comics years ago, but still it's the principle.

Love your blog and read it every day!

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