Championship Rings: Killmonger #2 - The Jeff Dekal Variant
When I stopped by Jeff Dekal’s booth during NYCC 2018, I really just wanted another sketch. He did three for me back in 2017 between two shows (The 5 Points Festival and NYCC 2017). I was happy with all of them, and was more than willing to put up the cash to get another piece done.
However, in 2018 I had decided not to hit up Jeff’s booth first. Stephanie Hans was at the top of my sketch want list. By the time I worked my way over to Jeff’s, he was booked solid through the weekend. I bought his self-published collection of recent sketches as a consolation prize, and told him that I would swing back on Saturday to get a few books signed. He thanked me for being the first person to buy his book in-person, and gave me the okay to bring some comics by later.
When I saw him on Saturday, the vibe was completely different. Apparently, an artist that he was supposed to swap pieces with was missing in action. The piece that he created for dude was just sitting on the table. In addition, he hadn’t been able to move some OA that he thought would be perfect for NYCC collectors.
Jeff was agitated. I got my books signed and asked about what was going on. He filled me in on the details. I reassured him that his work was fire (it really was though) and that it was that other guy’s loss. That’s when Jeff’s light bulb turned on.
“Hey, I know you wanted a sketch. But are you into OA?”
OA? Original art was for people without student loans that drive Range Rovers. Way too rich for my blood. Still, it was Jeff Dekal. If it was something that I really liked, I would find the money if I had to.
“Sure, let me see what you got.”
I first saw the Killmonger #2 variant cover on Instagram. He had posted that the original would be available at the show, but there was no way that Midtown Manhattan money would leave such an amazing piece behind, right?
I was quickly corrected. It turns out that an 11’ x 17’ portrait of a black dude with twin burners isn’t desirable to traditional OA enthusiasts. It was still there.
I asked him for a price. He responded. Looking back, I should have had my head examined for balking at his original offer. But at that time, the money he wanted was well beyond what I had ever paid for a collectible.
Jeff then responded to my hesitation with a revised offer.
I gave him every last dollar that I had in my pocket as a down payment. I promised him that I would be back on Sunday to pay off the balance. I kept my word, and the Killmonger #2 variant OA that you see before you went into the rafters.
- Sketch God
