The Ink Stained Wretch #192 7/2/25

Surfin' Sketches, Autographs, Book Drops, and Scottish Workshops!

It's time for another of the ludicrous, lazy, and lunkheaded lemons that are these newsletters! This week our sketch is of no help to Rhonda whatsoever, we weigh in on charging for signatures, drop our newest book, and make a final push for our workshop in Glasgow...on with the 'Wretch!

Sketch o'the Week: Brian Wilson!

Click here if you are interested in this original sketch.

I've run out of Pythons! Back to more random subjects, and this week I am generating absolutely no Good Vibrations at all with this sketch of a young Brian Wilson of "The Beach Boys" fame. Wilson of course, just recently passed away, leaving a truly enviable legacy in the world of popular music.

I can't say I know much about Wilson and The Beach Boys, having been a real metal head growing up. However even as a casual listener I can appreciate the uniqueness of their sound and the universal appeal of their music. Despite the fact that my album shelf contained mostly AC/DC, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest type music, I would still turn up the volume a little when a Beach Boys song came on the radio in my car. That's saying something about the kind of songwriting Wilson and the band did.

As usual I videoed myself doing this sketch, which is ordinarily only available to Premium Subscribers. Occasionally I release the video to all subscribers, and this is one of those occasionallys. I did the sketch all the way to the end in this one, and I tell a MAD story about movie parody timing and my sometimes debilitating obsession with details, so I thought his would be a good one to share with everyone.

You can watch these and other exclusive content, including full access to the ISW archives and a permanent 20% Studio Store discount (last week’s discount code is good all this week, Premium Subscribers!), by becoming a Premium Subscriber!

$34.99?? You must be kidding…

Autograph Hounding

A pal send me a link to the above eBay auction the other day. The joke’s on the seller here, because my autograph is worth less than nothing! I sign any books, magazines, comics or prints that I have done or have work in for no charge. My scrawl on a blank piece of paper certainly has no value.

Charging for signatures is actual a bone of contention for some comics pros, particularly in the world of comic cons.

I overheard a comic book pro, who shall remain nameless, bitching at a comic con about how some artists/writers were not charging for their signature. This gentleman did charge for his signature, and had a price list that included higher prices for "witnessed" signatures and even for what he was signing on. He was incensed because those not charging for their signatures were making him look like a greedy jerk.

Now, this guy was not a big time comics superstar. I totally understand where people of that level NEED to charge for their signature, because said signature raises the value of a collectable and that is pure business. The market for signed memorabilia and collectables is real and huge, and when your work is of a certain level of notoriety, you are obligated to charge something because that is just plain old good business. Otherwise you are just being taken advantage of by resellers. You should not be embarrassed for doing that.

However if you are just a working schmoe who has done some cool stuff but nothing really "up there", expecting anyone to pay for your scrawl is a bit of a stretch.

I have a simple philosophy with this kind of thing, and I was taught it by the great Sergio Aragonés, who most certainly belongs in the "up there" category. Sergio will sign, for no charge, any printed comic, book, publication or print that he did as long as it's only one or two items per person asking. It has to be some printed product that the person must have had to buy in the first place... like a copy of MAD, for instance. Sergio's reasoning is that this person bought the item being signed, thereby supporting the publisher, and thereby supporting him and his work. He either refuses to sign or charges to sign a blank piece of paper or some printed out image from the internet. He also will charge if someone has a big stack of MADs or Groo comics or whatever and they want many signatures. It's kind of obvious when someone is a real fan and wants an autograph for themselves, and when they are looking to resell what they are having you sign.

I adhere to Sergio's practice. At a comic con, I have items for sale that range from $3 stickers to prints and books up to $30. I will sign any of these items when purchased from me for no charge. I will also sign copies of MAD or any comic or book I have done art in that someone brings in themselves for no charge, so long as it's not a stack of them. Do some of these items end up on eBay?…

Sure they sometimes do. But that is really none of my business. This person bought this print from me online or at a comic con (for $16 !!) and if they want to try and sell it for more online, more power to them.

Back to that blank signature card for sale... That was from a recent experiment I did. At least a couple of times a month I get a letter from someone that goes like this:

Dear {insert artist name},

My brother and I are really big fans of your work. We especially liked your art from {insert Wikipedia reference here}, and {insert another Wikipedia reference here}, and {insert yet another Wikipedia reference here}. We'd love to have your autograph (and maybe a quick sketch?). We've enclosed some blank cards and a stamped envelope for return!

These are the kind of thing that then end up on eBay like above. These people are not really fans. Often times they give you a real sob story like they are disabled or war veterans or something like that. Those usually go right into the trash bin. This request was of the “two brothers” angle (multiple signatures needed!). I decided to try an experiment. I signed the cards but made an “x” out of the end of the “d” in my signature:

That way I’d know where it came from if it ended up on eBay. I actually forgot all about it, until I got the link from my friend (thanks, Grant!).

Sergio has it right (as usual). Always respect and treat real fans well, but make the resellers pay.

Now Shipping!

Believe it or not the print run of my new Sketch o'the Week Vol. 6 is arriving today, almost two weeks early! Assuming it's not printed upside down all pre-orders will ship in the next couple of days. So if you were one of the people who ordered one, look for it soon, and thanks for the support!

On the Bonnie Brink

I am a few students short of my minimum number of participants needed to conduct my workshop in Glasgow. The cutoff date is August 6th, so if you have been considering going but have been procrastinating on pulling the trigger, now's the time. It's expensive and time consuming to travel overseas to do these, so I absolutely have to meet my minimum of thirteen students in order to have the workshop go forward. Sometimes these things just don't come together, so if the workshop gets cancelled that's just the way it worked out. Join in if you are able!