Comics News
Artists Agent Allen Spiegel Passes Away
Farewell To A True Artist’s Champion
Yesterday we got the sad news that artists agent Allen Spiegel, who represented the likes of Jon J Muth, Kent Williams and Dave McKean and whose company Allen Spiegel Fine Arts was a regular fixture at San Diego Comic-Con for many years, has just passed away. Here’s a few tributes from artists in the comics industry…
“Goodbye to the great Allen Spiegel.
This is a tough one as there is so much to say and no idea quite how to say it.
When I was a kid (18? 19?) he was the first non-teacher to show any real interest in my artwork–And (unlike any of my teachers) he actually KNEW my heroes–Jeff Jones, Wrightson–He was a link to that world I so much wanted to be a part of. He was not REALLY an art dealer but he did buy a lot of my very (I shudder to think) artwork–not for it’s value I’m sure but as a way to encourage me. Once I became a working professional we drifted apart but eventually he set up his ALLEN SPIEGEL FINE ARTS booth at the San Diego con, just around the corner from where I would set up–So once a year we would meet and catch up–Not a lot but he was always a friendly face from days gone by. Very glad we got to see him this year and chat a little–I knew he wasn’t well but certainly never imagined it would be the last time I would see him.
Rest well, sir. I owe you a lot and I’m afraid I never told you that. You always think there’s going to be more time.” -Mike Mignola
“Allen Spiegel, our Uncle, has passed away peacefully in his sleep.
Known to many simply as Spiegel (or to some as Owl), he was, at his core, a collector: Of comic books, of art, of stories, of people. I say OUR Uncle above, because as much as he was “ours”, Allen was an uncle, and was family to so many who will miss him as much as we will.
Allen was larger than life, and contained multitudes and multiverses within him.
He loved playing the tough Brooklyn kid to some, but built a life and community of friends, all characters, in the post-hippy beauty and calm of Pacific Grove.
He’d affect that old school Brooklyn gangster scowl one moment, telling someone who had committed some perceived injustice to screw off; then would be softly mentoring an unknown artist, or checking in on a friend.
He set the bar as the “silly” Uncle for Emily Zoback Silverman and me: A character from a book, he would blow in from out of town with his ridiculous ponytail, waking up after noon, growling like a bear as he stumbled up the stairs. He would make up voices on the phone as the Birthday Fairy; invent silly songs on road trips about his “nephew Scott, who sits on the pot.”; he couldn’t remember his own sister’s birthday, but would never let anyone forget that his niece didn’t like being woken up from a nap when she was 8. He pushed Scott into midtown NY traffic (‘Ya don’t know how to jaywalk???”); only to pull him back from getting hit by a bus, and then told him to thank him for saving his life. A meeting at Scholastic books followed.
An offer from him to take you to dinner after a cross-country flight to Monterey could mean he was paying for a five-course meal and drinks; or a Costco hot dog; or a rotisserie chicken sitting on his counter for a time indeterminate. All seemed entirely natural in his labyrinthian mind.
He made outrageous claims, like he invented the grilled cheese sandwich, and told the most incredible stories, some of them true, most of them embellished, none told the exact same way twice, but every time told with conviction. We can’t wait to tell, and hear and rehear some of those stories…and there will be time for that.
Much as his favorite superheroes, Allen was a constant champion of the underdog – which for him, manifested in his day job as a teacher for 4 decades: He taught generations of students on the margins; pioneered the use of comic books and graphic novels as reading aids; and NEVER (never) tired of passing on life lessons to anyone within earshot.
But his passion was the world he built around the Allen Spiegel Fine Arts business over 50 years. He often talked about himself as a “connector” or a “facilitator” in the art and publishing world. And though that is true, he was more of a creator than he would acknowledge.
There are whole universes of stories, and books, and art that wouldn’t exist without him. Without the singular combination of bullheaded persistence and fabulist dreaming that only he possessed. His legacy will partially be in that work that he played a role in shepherding, as it will be in the couples who are together, kids who were born, and careers that exist…because of Spiegel.
He helped steer or shape the careers of so many young artists (and others in publishing); several became part of the “Official” ASFA family over the years. He was their brother and uncle too.
There is a lot of poetry that Allen died 10 days after San Diego Comic Con, his summer “home” for over 40 years, where he was surrounded by his art and his friends, and was able to accept an award this year on behalf of Jeff Catherine Jones. Some people go on vacation; Allen built his year around his Cons. (And holy shit was I thrilled when he finally invited me into that universe to work with him 16 year ago!)
There are a million stories to tell from that world alone (and please do!), but needless to say, the family/community/world that Allen created and that revolves around Allen Spiegel Fine Arts is embodied in that annual gathering. He revelled in the dinners with a mix of old friends and just-met strangers; the portfolio reviews of nervous students; the chance to add to his ever growing collections…and maybe he would sell some art in the process.
You never knew who you were going to run into when you were around Allen in San Diego or another convention. Big shot and no-shot producers, directors, actors, writers, artists, editors, fans, collectors all came to pay tribute, to say hi, to work the booth, to get Allen’s unique take on something. (Cue Guillermo del Toro swooping in, in a Luchador mask, in a perfect del Toro accent – “Tell Allen I love him, and I miss him very much!”…exit: Del Toro, and SCENE.)
We will all miss Allen. His wit. His stubbornness. His kindness and his generosity and his mercurial moments and his vision and his entirely backwards, yet always (ok, usually) effective way of getting things done. The way he would say something entirely unlikely…and then it would f-in come true.
Final arrangements will be posted, but Allen will be buried near his sister, our mom, who he missed every single day since her passing last year. We will be planning a separate memorial in the PG area in the near future for his circle there, as well as some sort of tribute at next year’s Comic Con.
Make something new today in his honor.
And then share stories, share love.” Scott Zoback, his nephew
Artist David Mack offered his own tribute on his wall on Facebook too:
“We lost our dear friend ALLEN SPIEGEL 1949–2023.
From artist Greg Ruth on Facebook:
“@allenspiegel was as much family to me as family could be to anyone. It’s hard to fully capture how lovely, bullheaded, ridiculous and brilliant it was to know and work with him all these years.
I owe him everything I am today. He helped ignite and support the careers of so many artists and creatives like Dave McKean, Kent Williams, Jon J Muth, Phil Hale, George Pratt and myself among so many others. He helped me navigate terrible times, and celebrate impossible victories. I couldn’t have gotten here without him, and it’s hard to imagine going forward that way. Godspeed, brother. It was a gift to know you, and to share 26+ years together in art. I will never be able to thank you enough for everything you were and are to me. I will miss you forever.”
Walt Simonson offered his own tribute to him:
“Deeply saddened to learn that Allen Spiegel has caught the last train out. Allen liked to think of himself as a ‘facilitator’ for artists, cutting their deals and getting them work. Among other things. He also masterminded Allen Spiegel Fine Arts that husbanded and published the finer artists amongst us. A friend for many years, he joined us for at least one of our big family holidays, Thanksgiving or Christmas, along with everybody else. I think we had to bring picnic tables in from the terrace outdoors in order to have enough room for us all. Always a delight; always smart about so many things. Saw him once more at the last San Diego Comic Con we were at, 2018 or 2019. Already, I can’t remember. But he had a large table/booth filled with all sorts of cool stuff, and was as always a wonderful presence there and a highlight of the con. Thank you for your friendship, Allen. Godspeed.”
Charles Kochman, editor-in-chief Abrams, had this to say about him:
“ALLEN SPIEGEL 1949–2023
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