"NOG: The Protector of the Pyramides": November 2022

Thursday, November 10, 2022

Why is the original art from Graphic Novels or Comic Books so highly valued and sought after by scholars, fans, collectors, and museums?

Cover drawing by Christian St. Pierre for the best-selling reboot of NOG. "NOG NU"

It's a question often asked by the outside observer, perplexed by the ever-increasing interest in and value of original pages of comic-book art: Why? Yet the answer remains straight forward; the explanation is perhaps even obvious.

NOG's creator & publisher Prof. Onli painting NOG live in a dynamic demo

in 2021 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago.

Because these drawings are the raw, handmade images that sparked the imagination of countless people inspired by superheroes and their archnemeses. That provided the visual narration to stories and fables. They are the original singular moments before these graphite drawn images are later turned into inked renderings, or fully painted illustrations were replicated for the printing process then placed on spinner racks and comic-shop shelves and other stores.

Prof. Onli will one of the remaining two highly valued original inked on vellum pages of "NOG: The Protector of the Pyramides". Circa 1980. On exhibition in 2021 at the Musuem of Contemporary Art, Chicago.

"Melon Throw". By Turtel Onli. Circa 2016. Drawn during an over-night promotion at the Graham Cracker's Mega- Comic Book Store in Chicago. During which Illustrators and Artists were invited to set up in the store to draw non-stop for 24 hours.

In a world where everything can be digitally mass-produced, copied, or techno-screen-read at any time, these are this dynamic industry's true human-made, non-forgery, not A.I. programed amazing one-of-ones. Precious one-of-a-kind truths. Born of the pencil, fueled by unique imaginations, from the living hands of a creative skilled artist!