Phantom Restoration
My name is Phillip Rutkiewicz and I’m the owner and sole operator of Phantom Restoration. I’ve been collecting comics since before I could read, with the copy of Star Wars #1 my dad bought for me before I was born. By the time I was 12, I made my first big purchase: a copy of Action Comics #113 for a staggering $150. Within a few short years, I began my career working with comics in 2005 at the age of 15.
My first job was at my local comic book shop: That’s Entertainment in Worcester Massachusetts. From the beginning they had me putting away back issues, and that was a big influence in teaching me about the vast amount of genres and titles comic books offered. Over time I was given more roles & responsibilities, all the while developing my knowledge and love for comic books and pop-culture. The manager Ken Carson (now retired) was a big influence in teaching me about great artists like the bullpen at E.C. Comics (some of my favorite covers and stories from the Golden-Age). After earning my Bachelor of Arts Degree from Clark University in 2012 I moved to New York city in pursuit of furthering my career.
Once in New York, I had a brief stint at Midtown Comics, and ultimately ended up at Metropolis Comics/ ComicConnect from 2013-2015. Their vast selection of comic books and large collection of original comic book art helped expand my knowledge of the medium even more. Getting to see big books like Action Comics 1 and Detective Comics 27 was a commonplace. It was through that job that I met and developed a relationship with with their framer: Steve Cooper; who would become a great friend and mentor.
Steve Cooper (Coop as he’s self proclaimed) is an award winning framer and born & bred New Yorker. More importantly to my origin story: he was a student of Bill Sarill, the God Father of comic book restoration. Coop took one of the last private classes offered by Sarill and expanded upon the techniques he learned from him, briefly restoring comic books in the 1990s. Around that time he also began doing stat recreation for original comic book art.
In 2014 I began hanging out with Coop, playing chess and talking comics and life. Having both a knowledge of Photoshop and a love for original comic art, I began taking over stat recreation work for him around 2016. Around that time he also offered to share his knowledge of comic book restoration with me- and I jumped at the opportunity! After a few years of developing and refining techniques I had learned, Phantom Restoration was born. In short time I’ve preserved and added substantial desirability and value to countless comics and pieces of original comic book art.
My passion for comics and original art is the foundation for my business. I’ve been collecting vintage comic books for over 25 years and published comic book art for 15. I have a fondness for published art from Joker and The Walking Dead, and admire artists such as Wrightson, Everett, L.B. Cole, Frazetta, Baker, Ditko, Bolland, Stevens, Bermejo, Ottley and many others through the ages.
