I really wish I had been smarter the one time I met Gil Kane. He was at a mini-con, and for some insane reason there was no line to talk to him. This was only my first or second show and I didn't even realize you were allowed to do anything other than get books signed.
One of the books I got signed that day was Strange Adventures #184, with his Animal Man story. I remember him flipping through the book slowly, and I asked him if anything was wrong. He said no, he just hadn't seen the book in years and was looking at it!
One of the other books I got signed that day was Amazing Spider-Man #96; it wasn't in good shape but it (like the SA 184) was one of the relatively few 'older' books I had. (I use quotes because my idea of what an older comic is has shifted dramatically as my collection grows.) That one, despite the condition, remains treasured enough because of Gil's signature that it's the book I had Stan sign a couple months ago. Now if I can just get to a show with JR Sr...
The smaller shows always have more potential and opportunity to spend a bit of time with an artist. One of the good reasons to patronize the littler cons. Of course these days it's insane. A fanboy gets a drawing done just for him and it's on eBay before nightfall.
I think finding the people you want to interact with in a less cumbersome setting always helps. For instance, I have found that many are usually in the attached hotel bar after hours...
I really wish I had been smarter the one time I met Gil Kane. He was at a mini-con, and for some insane reason there was no line to talk to him. This was only my first or second show and I didn't even realize you were allowed to do anything other than get books signed.
ReplyDeleteOne of the books I got signed that day was Strange Adventures #184, with his Animal Man story. I remember him flipping through the book slowly, and I asked him if anything was wrong. He said no, he just hadn't seen the book in years and was looking at it!
One of the other books I got signed that day was Amazing Spider-Man #96; it wasn't in good shape but it (like the SA 184) was one of the relatively few 'older' books I had. (I use quotes because my idea of what an older comic is has shifted dramatically as my collection grows.) That one, despite the condition, remains treasured enough because of Gil's signature that it's the book I had Stan sign a couple months ago. Now if I can just get to a show with JR Sr...
The smaller shows always have more potential and opportunity to spend a bit of time with an artist. One of the good reasons to patronize the littler cons. Of course these days it's insane. A fanboy gets a drawing done just for him and it's on eBay before nightfall.
ReplyDeleteI think finding the people you want to interact with in a less cumbersome setting always helps. For instance, I have found that many are usually in the attached hotel bar after hours...
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Steven G. Willis
XOWComics.com