John Byrne wrote: Let's see -- if I did it for my 1980 page rate, no royalties ------ why, for a three parter, you guys would have to cough up a staggering $2550!!!

Actually, I'm astonished at how affordable that would be. However, we want words on them pictures, so you'd need to be compensated for writing and lettering as well. And I suspect your rates have increased slightly since 1980.

In all seriousness, John, I bet we could put together an effort to sponsor such a work, a series of comissions that would equate to three issues of classic X-Men. The final result could be viewed in your Gallery and the individual pages would proudly hang in the homes of their sponsors.

Marcel Chenier wrote: Matt, don't forget there would also have to be a small fee for JB to reply to all our mail for the letters page.

LOL! Marcel, I like the cut of your jib. You're welcome at my place anytime!

Of course, $2550 in 1980 dollars is worth $6476 in 2005 dollars -- and that's not even accounting for the fact that 1) All artists are probably better compensated today than they were in 1980; and 2) I would imagine that JB commands a higher page rate today, even apart from general and industry-specific inflation.

All of that said, put me down for $25.50!