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| A tale of debauchery | |
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| Topic Started: Nov 7 2009, 07:54 PM (10 Views) | |
| Michael Watkins | Nov 7 2009, 07:54 PM Post #1 |
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every moment of it.
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I posted this for a few reasons: 1. So that people will learn of the underhanded things some creators do. 2. So that people will understand how dirty this type of conduct is from a "professional" artist. I can assure you that no one at Highburn Studios will ever act in this manner. Michael Story to follow: > > Alright everyone, this is a doozey, and at this point Im keeping all names private in the HOPES that this is just a big, giant, misunderstanding due too the passing of time... > > > > But here is the situation. > > > > Three years ago I bought a cover from a collector overseas. I promptly sold said cover maybe three or four months later and never thought about it again. > > > > A week ago the person whom I sold said cover too emails me, extremely mad, saying I sold him a forgery. Another version of the cover I sold him recently appeared on CAF which after corresponding with both artists (penciller and inker) appeared too be the true cover, while the one I sold was a forgery. The true cover was purchased directly from the penciller. The forged cover is a dead on recreation done on official Marvel board (although not on cover stock as the original). > > > > Here's where it gets messy. The person whom sold me the cover bought it from the inker (the same one now saying its a forgery) and has NUMEROUS emails from himself and the inker regarding the purchase of that piece. He also filmed his google email account on camera (I have the footage) to show that he didnt simply make up the emails as they're time stamped with photos of the artwork and corresponding messages. In all the emails the inker refers too this as the published cover and never once mentions its a recreation. â€" Flash forward to today, now the inker is claiming it's a recreation and that his hands have never even touched it BUT he's saying he did do a recreation of the cover in question but this one is not it...! There is also a record of the paypal transaction between the two that corresponds to the email information. > > > > Are you still following me here? Yeah it's confusing. I know. So to recap, according to the inker, he did a recreation for a collector overseas (who lives in the same place as the collector I bought my cover from) but the one I bought/sold isn't the recreation in question. So according too the inker, the overseas collector must have made a third copy and sold it. Right? But the overseas collector has a massive amount of saved emails between the two that has no mention of the words "recreation" anywhere and all the facts state otherwise. > > > > I have sent the inker three messages, all of which have been ignored. The person whom bought the cover from the inker has sent emails which too have been ignored. The person whom I sold the cover too, has gotten responses from the the inker, whom is acting like we're trying to threaten and scam him, making this all up too extort him, going on to say something about identity theft and that he's going too call a lawyer... Considering his name is attached strongly to all of this, I am extremely surprised at the unwillingness to communicate with all involved parties. > > > > All we want is the truth. We would also like to protect other collectors and deter people from trying to defraud others in this great hobby. > > > > I'm obviously setting the stage here for a court of public opinions. But I A> dont wanna start a massive flame post and B> would really like to resolve this without attacking anyone's reputation. BUT at the same time, it also makes me wonder, if he did indeed make a forgery too sell to a overseas collector thinking this would never come too light... How many other forgeries are out there??!! Is this some sort of punishable crime? > > > > This is uncharted territory for all parties involved. If need be, we are willing to post email correspondence, photos and names to back up our stories. > > > > How should I proceed? Any advice from those who've been down this road before would be GREATLY appreciated. > > > > -Michael Khazen > > > > PS > > > > Ive also spoken with another collector about this inker in question. He has informed me that he won five pieces from the inker on Ebay in January 2009, paid right away, only too have the inker cancel his ebay account, ignore all emails, and not send out the artwork. To date that collector still cant get in touch, get his artwork, or a refund from the inker. > > Hey Everyone, Having read over the responses, from collectors and artists alike,I can see that I'm not crossing a line by naming the parties involved. The inker in question is Rick Ketcham. Malvin - since I can now name names, I'll try and be shorter and cleared with whats happened. What happened is, three years ago, Roland Maarschalkerweerd (a collector overseas) bought the cover too Venom #14 by Skottie Young, inked by Rick Ketcham, from Rick. Reading Rolands email correspondence with Rick, this cover was indeed sold under the guise that it was the original cover. A year later I bought the cover from Roland, sat on it for a couple months, and sold it too colelctor Joshua Wilson.... As the original story goes like I said, someone posted the true cover on CAF, which prompted Josh to do some investigating. After speaking with both Skottie and Rick, both said what Josh had was a forgery. Rick then goes on too tell Josh that he did indeed make a recreation of the cover in question, and sold it too someone overseas, but the one Josh owns is not it. Josh contacts me, I contact Roland, and Roland thankfully saved all his correspondence with Rick which says quite the contrary. All three of us collectors have established reputations on CAF. I know I've personally done business with MANY of you over the years. None of us are conspiring to rip Rick off, despite what he's painting in his emails with Josh. Heck, if he would've just responded to me and Roland I wouldnt even be typing this message now. Larry - It wasnt actually my friend whom bought art from him on Ebay and got scammed. It was another collector here from the comicart-l. All you have to do is type Rick Ketcham into the search engine and you'll see his post.... So yeah, that's pretty much our situation. Again, any advice or even help would be greatly appreciated. I'd honestly like too think Rick's gotten confused over the passage of time, and he genuinely believed Roland and I to be some scammer boogey men, which is why he's ignoring our attempts at contact and being stubborn... But what I'd like to think and what I believe are two different things... As for the law. I live in Canada, Josh lives in the USA and Roland lives in the Netherlands. .. Does that make the legalities of a lawyer being involved more difficult? Should I post all the email correspondence too the group? (On a seperate webpage as not to clutter the list) Will I get in any legal trouble for that? Thanks guys (and gals should they be lurking) -Michael Khazen |
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7:20 AM Nov 29
