If someone came to me and asked me to trace another artist's finished work (as distinct from inking pencils) I would say "No" every time. (And I have been asked to do just this.) If there was any hint that it was work for which the original artist had not been properly compensated, there would be nothing on Earth that could persuade me to do the job.

"JB did not.  That nudges this firmly into shades of black, as far as I'm concerned. "-Thom

Ahhh, right I see where we are missing each other now Thom.

JB didn't get paid because he failed to meet the clients requirements (apparantly) so no theft there!

The "theft" occured when the commissioner -then- turned around and commissioned a tracing of something he didn't want!

The saddest thing about the entire incident is that it is JB's generosity in showing the commission work enabled the theft. Perhaps John should refrain from making his products generally available until the money is secured.

Or perhaps the images in this forum should be secured like the actor pictures in IMDB. On that site, you cannot download images except by performing a screen capture that would produce an inferior copy; this is true on PC technologies, anyway; I don't know about Apple PCs.

Also, bear in mind that the theft was discovered because the thief blissfully advertised the fact. This type of thing probably goes on all the time on a very large scale. I myself (for my own edification) have traced and inked images; the Jack Kirby Collector is a favorite source. I don't sell the stuff but if I did, I wouldn't be nitwit enough to telling people.

Lastly, MAC did not duplicate JBs signature. Consider that. Sometimes a commissioner commissions because of the value of owning (to keep) the composition; sometimes a commissioner commissions because of the estimated future commercial value upon resale. It remains to be seen which scenario is operating here.

When Mr. Castrillo sat down to produce his "version 2" of the Marvels piece, before he even put pencil to paper, easily more than 95% of the work was already done. Where did that 95% come from? Not from Mr. Ditton. He never paid a dime to anyone for it. It came from Byrne, without his permission, without his knowledge. It's hard it characterize this as anything other than theft.

Thom don't forget that Anthony -also- said: "The deal had fallen thru yes, why because of the bands on the wrist and
because he was trying to work something out with JBs agent.
I know he wanted the art, i know he was trying to get John to do the bands, i
offered to send him that piece of the art with the bands for free,just use a
mild adhesive. "

So MAC was still acting under the impression that Ditton was still looking to buy the piece.