Original Comic Art collectors know that if you want to collect the finest pieces from the hottest artists in the industry, there’s one name in the hobby which stands above the rest: Albert Moy. Collectors constantly refresh his website on new art drop days, and his booth is consistently the best place to pick up new artwork at conventions. Moy is pictured above with his wife and business partner, Jamie Moy. We caught up with the dynamic duo of original art at TerrifiCon 2024, where Moy answered our questions in between some high-end wheeling and dealing.
When did you first become interested in collecting original comic book art, and what was the first piece you ever acquired?
Moy: It was back in 1983 and it was two pieces. It was a John Byrne Fantastic Four page that was inked by Joe Sinnott and a Hercules drawing by Bob Layton, and I think I paid $25 for the pair. I got interested in it because I didn’t know that the art existed and I thought the company kept it all. When I first went to a convention and I saw a dealer selling some artwork I just bought what whatever I thought were the best looking pieces at that time off of that dealer. And then the next show, there were better dealers who had more stuff, and then I realized I’ve got to always save up money for this! At that time you could buy a Steve Ditko Spider-Man page for $200 to $250 but it was a lot of money for me then because I was just a high school kid.
You are the original artwork sales representative for Jim Lee, Erik Larsen, Sam Kieth, Bruce Timm, and many more. How and when did you first become an original artwork sales representative for artists?
Moy: Well, when I was collecting I was selling art on the side just so that I could buy more artwork. And then artists started coming up to me and asking me if I would mind selling some stuff for them, and I said, “no problem!” I think that the first artist who asked me to help him was actually Klaus Janson, who wanted me to sell some pages from The Dark Knight Returns. I helped him sell all of Issue 2 and then I gathered whatever money I had left and I said, “I’ll buy Issue 3 from you” and he sold me the entire book of Issue 3. Then from there I helped sell art for Rafael Kayanan.
My relationship with Jim Lee started differently. I actually bought his inventory from Wildstorm Fine Art and as a part of that business deal I became Jim’s original art sales representative. He had a certain amount of time to get rid of Wildstorm Fine Art because DC was buying up his company and it was a conflict of interest because Warner Bros. owns DC. Jim couldn’t sell his original art because there were the Warner Bros. stores selling original art so he had to get rid of the company. So I bought out the company.
As for Sam Kieth, I knew Sam for a long, long time and he was looking for an art rep and he liked me so he asked me to sell. The same thing happened with Bruce Timm. I used to buy stuff from Bruce but then Bruce said, “Nah, I’d rather you just sell it.” And I slowly started repping artists, but I also buy and sell collections.
What is your favorite part about being an original artwork sales representative for artists? What is the most challenging part?
Moy: No comment on the challenging part! But the nicest thing is that I get to meet them and know them. I am a big fan of a lot of them. I get to see the artwork which, which I really like a lot. Yeah, the best part is getting to see the art and getting first crack. And, a lot of them I collect myself. I also like building those relationships. It’s different when you know them and establish a nice, good relationship with them.
Between the artists, the dealers, and the collectors, the world of collecting original artwork is full of many strong personalities with specific tastes, preferences, and quirks. As an original artwork sales representative, how do you find the right balance for keeping everybody happy as best you can?
Moy: Well as for the collectors, actually they have to deal with me so they’ve just got to pay if they want the material! I’m very direct and some people don’t like that, but at least
I’m not beating around the bush and playing around with people. The price is the price, and I don’t try to mess with people. So, I’m pretty straightforward and some people don’t like that because they like to negotiate and I don’t.
With the artists, I try to be their friend and I try to give them the best advice I can. I do the best I can to get the highest prices for them, and that’s what they hired me for. Many of my artists don’t do commissions. But a few do and it comes sporadically.
What advice would you give to a comic book fan who would like to start collecting original comic book art? How and where should they start?
Moy: Try to buy what you like and never buy for investment purposes. Buy what you like, and if you don’t get the piece you like there’s always going to be another piece. Maybe not the same piece, but know that you will get something else. You’ve just got to not have the highest expectations. Just try to get the the best art that you can. And as long as you love the piece… hey, that’s the best thing!
What’s next for Albert Moy Original Comic Art? What can collectors look forward to in your upcoming website updates and convention appearances?
Moy: Sam Kieth is retired so whatever artwork or sketches or prints with remarks you can get, that is all there is going to be. With Jim Lee, there will be more! For me, my next show I’m going to do is OAX in Orlando from January 24th-26th, 2025, and I will also be in Lake Como Art Festival from May 16th-18th, 2025. I will also be attending La Mole Convention from March 14th-16th, 2025. I won’t have all my inventory at that show, but collectors can contact me by email, and I will bring the items they are interested in.