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Post by foxley on Apr 21, 2022 3:33:40 GMT -5
All of my personal interactions with comics professionals have been positive, but two stand out. At one con, I commissioned a drawing from Mike Grell of Sigil (from Shaman's Tears and Bar Sinister). The next day I went to collect it, but my name had somehow fallen off Mike's list and he hadn't done it. Mike and his wife were both hugely apologetic, as both of them remembered me commissioning it. I said it wasn't a big deal as I was attending the con for the whole weekend, and he promised to have it for me tomorrow. He also signed my first appearance of Dawnstar for free as an apology (Mike was charging a nominal fee for signing things to discourage people from turning out with a suitcase full of comics and expect the artist to sign all of them. And I have literally seen that happen at a con). He was as good as his word and had my drawing for me the next morning. Still by way of apology, he had put extra effort into my drawing and--while most of his commissions were just a figure--he had added some background and surrounding scenery to mine and it depicted Sigil perched on a gargoyle atop a building. Mike said that in his head he had titled the drawing "One of the 'goyles", and that is how I always think of it. The extra effort he put in really shows, and it is my favourite piece of original art. (I think Mike probably also put some extra effort in because he appreciated the opportunity to draw Sigil instead of one of his usual standbys.) The other standout involves Ken Lashley (who, coincidentally, was the artist I saw dealing with the 'Mr. Suitcase' I mentioned above, and doing so far more politely than I would have done). I was looking at what Ken had for sale on his table and he had several 'blank variant' comics that he had done original drawings on. Ken explained that these were old ones he had done for a previous con and hadn't sold. He had packed them away and forgotten about them, until he was going through his storage looking for stuff to bring to Australia with him for the con. A Secret Six #1 with a particularly horrific looking demon on it caught my eye. Ken said that I was first person to show any interest in it as most people found it too gruesome. I asked him what he wanted for it, and he said I could have it for a couple of packets of Tim Tams if I wanted it. (Tim Tams, I should explain are a uniquely Australian chocolate biscuit. It is customary to introduce foreign visitors to them, and any overseas guest at an Australian con will be given them by the con orgs. Many fall in love with them and actively hunt them out on future visits. Jonathan Barrowman gets so many packets at Australian cons that he plays Tim Tam jenga with them: see here.) I promised to bring him some tomorrow; expecting to pick the book up when I gave them to him. To my amazement, Ken just handed me me the book; trusting me to return the next day with the biscuits. Needless to say, I stopped at a 7/11 on my way back to my hotel and bought him three packs of Tim Tams and gave them to him the next morning; leaving both of us extremely satisfied with the transaction.
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Apr 21, 2022 6:12:13 GMT -5
If we include prose authors, I have an anecdote about SF writer Greg Bear' generosity!
Back in the Bethesda days, my research director was somehow acquainted with Bear (friend of friends or some such). Preparing a book that touched on molecular biology, Bear was to visit the NIH campus and meet a few people, including my boss. Knowing my love of the genre, the latter suggested that I talk to the author too.
Alas, when the day came, my boss was otherwise occupied and before I knew it Bear had come to the lab, been told of the situation, and said good-naturedly "oh well, no big deal". What's that sound? That's my fannish giddiness deflating!
But then the twist: learning a bit later how disappointed an unknown dude had been about not getting a chance to talk to him, Bear sent me a copy of the novel for critical reading! (It was Darwins radio, quite a fine yarn). How cool is that? I thought is was awesome of him, and to this day I feel extremely grateful.
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Post by MWGallaher on Apr 21, 2022 8:22:31 GMT -5
Chris Khalaf and I got to spend about 10 hours with Jim Aparo at a Chicago Con, including lunch with him and Doug Moench, and a visit in Jim's hotel room to see the Batman pages from an upcoming issue, which he'd brought along to work on at night. I loved every second of hanging out with him. I got to spend about 15 minutes chatting with Jack Kirby, who was very approachable and friendly and not as mobbed as he would have been in any era other than the early 90's. Among the pages of original art he had for sale was a page from my very first comic purchase, and you can bet I snapped that up, even though I had to cough up a whopping $50 for it. (If only I'd had the foresight to buy him out of every page he had on sale there--which I probably could have afforded easily at the time, 60 or so pages in the $50-$100 range--I could be comfortably retired now.) I've got some fond memories of the first comics pros I met, Ron Wilson, Sam Grainger, and Bob McLeod, and I got a kick out of discussing our similar thoughts on the work of Mike Grell with Lurene Haines, who did finishes on Longbow Hunters). I showed Peter David an Aquaman-related story he was completely unaware of, and he got excited about resolving this unfinished story in the Aquaman series he was then writing...but he never got around to it... In online interactions, I was really pleased that Marty Pasko had a very enthusiastic response to my justification of the Clark Kent identity, a take that I'm proud of, one that no one else has ever proposed, to my knowledge, and I enjoyed engaging with Scott Shaw! for many years on his long-gone Oddball Comics forum.
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Post by Cei-U! on Apr 21, 2022 9:01:28 GMT -5
I've told this story a couple of times on Facebook but it bears repeating:
I only met Jack Kirby once. It was at the 1984 San Diego ComicCon, where I was trying to sell a comic series I had created. A wiser man than I once said that if anyone in comics had a right to be arrogant it was the co-creator of Captain America, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Thor, the X-Men and the Avengers, and yet he was probably the most approachable comics pro of his (or any other) generation. That was certainly true in my case. Mr. Kirby proved to be as kind and generous as a hopeful young artist could ask for. As it turned out, he.was far more interested in talking about me than himself. He wanted to know all about me: the nature and cause of my disability, my education and art training, the mechanics of drawing with my mouth, etc. Not only that but after looking through my presentation package, he suggested half-a-dozen potential storylines off the top of his head that were better than anything I'd come up with in nine months of development. The fecundity of his imagination was staggering. To this day, the short time I spent with King Kirby remains one of my fondest memories. So thank you, Jack, for making an insecure would-be cartoonist feel, just for a moment, like a peer of the greatest of them all.
I'll post some other memories of wonderful encounters with comics pros (like the time Mike Grell tried convincing me to try out to take over the art on Jon Sable) later, but the story above is the best one.
Cei-U! I summon the golden memory!
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Post by badwolf on Apr 21, 2022 9:19:41 GMT -5
I don't have much in the way of stories, as I tend to be too nervous to talk to people when I meet them and just try to hold it together while they are signing and thank them at the end.
Doug Moench and Mike Manley were at a local mall comic shop promoting Batman #500 and I brought along my copy of #400 as well, which Doug thought was cool.
Got Neil Gaiman's autograph on a couple occasions, once with Dave McKean. Neil drew a little Sandman sketch in my friend's book.
Going to prose authors, I met Lisa Scottoline at a B&N. She did a talk and Q&A before the signing and was very nice and extremely funny. When I finally got to the front of the line I mentioned that I was getting the book for my mom for her birthday. She thought it was really amazing that I would wait in line for two hours (or however long it was) to do that, and she announced it to the small number of people who remained behind me, which was only a little embarrassing. No it was fine, she was just so nice. After I had walked away I noticed that she had forgotten to actually sign the book (she wrote my mom's name and a dedication)... oh well. My mom was still happy.
I have "met" Mary Higgins Clark a couple of times for the same reason. She was nice I guess but the events were strictly formalized to move people along as quickly as possible. I suppose it's understandable; I remember at least one time the line went the entire length of the mall. I think that was when her daughter was there too for a double signing.
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Apr 21, 2022 9:27:53 GMT -5
(...) I'll post some other memories of wonderful encounters with comics pros (like the time Mike Grell tried convincing me to try out to take over the art on Jon Sable) (...)
Okay, now I won't be able to rest until I heard that story!!!
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Post by Hoosier X on Apr 21, 2022 9:45:33 GMT -5
The time I met Harlan Ellison ...
It was at The Golden Apple, a comic book store close to the Fairfax District in Los Angeles. It was a Saturday and the Golden Apple was hosting a number of creators, including Neil Gaiman, who was of course the big draw.
I’m thinking it was probably the early to mid-1990s.
I was in line for Gaiman, and the line ran alongside the table set up for the other writers and artists. I started talking to an older guy at one of the tables. He said that Gaiman was a really good writer and that Sandman was really good and we were just chatting about Sandman.
It was then I noticed his name tag said “Harlan Ellison.”
I almost said “Wow! I heard you were a total a-hole!”
I had not read much of his work at that point, I’m sorry to say. I completely forgot about “City on the Edge of Forever” and “Demon with the Glass Hand.” All I could think of was Dangerous Visions (I read the introduction at the bookstore and I really liked it! But I didn’t read the rest of the book until 20 years later) and “The Brute that Shouted Love at the Heart of the Atom!” from Hulk #140.
I didn’t mention Dangerous Visions because it would soon be clear I had only read the introduction. So we talked about the Hulk! He made a face when I brought it up. He said Roy Thomas had re-written it extensively and it doesn’t seem to have been a very positive experience for him.
By then the line was moving along and I said goodbye and moved on.
It was a very pleasant experience! I wish I had known more about his work and his life at that point. I would love to have heard from his own lips about Frank Sinatra or the Disney story or the guy that was killed at the New York movie theater.
He had a bad reputation but I think Ellison just had a very low tolerance for stupid time-wasting crap.
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Post by badwolf on Apr 21, 2022 10:08:10 GMT -5
He had a bad reputation but I think Ellison just had a very low tolerance for stupid time-wasting crap. That's exactly it. And a frustration with the world for not trying harder... he knew humans were capable of great things.
Harlan is my favorite writer and I love to hear positive stories about him.
I'm in the HE Facebook Fan Club and there are countless stories there of his immense generosity and kindness, from people who actually knew him.
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Post by Hoosier X on Apr 21, 2022 10:59:29 GMT -5
When he was selling his comics, I bought his personal copy of Kamandi #1.
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Post by Cei-U! on Apr 21, 2022 11:02:04 GMT -5
I met Harlan Ellison at the same ComicCon where I met Kirby. Dick Giordano, who I'd met all of ten minutes before, introduced me. Ellison was nothing like his rep. He couldn't have been nicer and said some highly complimentary thinds about my samples.
Cei-U! I summon the epic encounter!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2022 11:13:40 GMT -5
I've never met any famous comic creators. They all hate me. Also, I live in England where very few of the big U.S. names seem to come to meet their adoring fans. I did enter into a short e-mail correspondence with J. M. DeMatteis four or five years back and he came across as a really nice guy, for what it's worth. DeMatteis answered a tweet or two of mine. Most engaging and personable.
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Apr 21, 2022 12:31:33 GMT -5
I've never met any famous comic creators. They all hate me. Also, I live in England where very few of the big U.S. names seem to come to meet their adoring fans. I did enter into a short e-mail correspondence with J. M. DeMatteis four or five years back and he came across as a really nice guy, for what it's worth. They don't come to Idaho either.
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Post by MDG on Apr 21, 2022 13:11:56 GMT -5
Ithacon in the late 80s and early 90s was great. Roger Stern lived in town and used his connections to bring people in and for a small show they got a lot of A-list guests. Two (later three) friends and I went 10-12 years in a row. The atmosphere was easy and informal, and everyone was always in a good mood. One of the best times was when I hung out most of the day in the artists room with Steve Bissette, John Totleben, Rick Veitch, Jan Duursema, June Brigman, Roy Richardson, and Tom Mandrake. (I think all of them were Kubert School grads.) Just non-stop talk about all kinds of things as they were doing sketches and signing. I think I mentioned before the time we were having breakfast at one Ithacon and at the next table Julie Schwartz said as a big bearded guy entered the room, "I don;t think you two have ever met. Curt Swan, this is John Buscema." Another time, we were waiting returning to the hotel after dinner and ran into Johnny Craig and his wife, and as we walked to our rooms she talkd about speaking up at a PTA meeting when the nuns were running down comics. (When we got to the room, turned on the TV and HBO was showing the Tales from the Crypt episode of "'Til Death." When my friend and I were dealing in original art, we made a deal with Al Williamson for a bunch of pages he had for sale (just the stuff he inked for Marvel.) Every time I went by after that, he'd call out "Y'want more?!" I asked Don Rosa to do a "sketch" for me and we settled on a price, but he said he'd do it overnight. The next day, he said, "I should charge you more 'cause I got a little carried away, but I won't."
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2022 14:12:22 GMT -5
I met Harlan Ellison at the same ComicCon where I met Kirby. Dick Giordano, who I'd met all of ten minutes before, introduced me. Ellison was nothing like his rep. He couldn't have been nicer and said some highly complimentary thinds about my samples. Cei-U! I summon the epic encounter! I miss his insight via his YouTube videos.
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Post by Mister Spaceman on Apr 21, 2022 15:24:23 GMT -5
All of my creator encounters have been positive and there are really too many to name and no singular story that stands out. So a general shout-out to the ones I can recall off the top of my head, all kind, gracious, and pleasant folks: Marshall Rogers, Dick Sprang, Ramona Fradon (a real sweetheart!), Jaime Hernandez, Gilbert Hernandez, Jim Shooter, Roy Thomas, Stan Lee, Mark Waid, Trina Robbins, Neal Adams, Jim Steranko (what a raconteur!), Jerry Robinson, Chris Claremont, Keith Pollard, Charles Burns, Dave Gibbons, Marv Wolfman, Len Wein, Elliot S! Maggin, Paul Levitz (so generous), Denny O'Neil, David Mack, Russ Heath, James Warren (a real hustler!), Louise Simonson, Walt Simonson, Alex Nino, Tony DeZuniga, Bernie Wrightson, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Bob Layton, Mike Royer, Stan Goldberg, Murphy Anderson, and Mike Nasser (on a different wavelength than most of us!).
In terms of non-comics creators, meeting Ray Bradbury was a highlight. When I taught at Woodbury University (in Burbank, CA), they held an annual dinner and award ceremony honoring someone chosen by Bradbury (when I attended in 2008 it was Roy Disney, Jr.). It was a very intimate, invite-only affair and I found myself with lots of face-to-face time with one of my favorite authors since childhood. It was a wonderful night and a treasured memory.
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