Meeting a Legend

[dlw66]

The price of cons is maddening, isn't it? I've skipped Chicago the past two years. But, I suppose when they are flying in the folks who are officially "guests", expenses run high these days.

Anyway, through my con-ing career, I've had the pleasure and privilege to have met --

Stan Lee
John Romita, Sr.
Sal Buscema
Jim Shooter
Alex Ross
Denny O'Neil
Julie Schwartz
Murphy Anderson
Mart Nodell
Dick Sprang
Roy Thomas
Shelly Moldoff

EDIT: I thought of a couple more:

George Perez
Al Williamson
Chris Claremont
Rich Buckler
Archie Goodwin

--and some newer creators, too>

Tom DeFalco
Whilce Portacio
Jim Lee
Colleen Doran
Ethan van Sciver
Jon Cassady
Christopher Golden
Jeff Moy
Phil Moy
WC Carani

That's a partial list, but it's pretty much the Golden/Silver Age guys (and Alex Ross is such a throwback, I include him there, too) I've greeted.

Since Stan's on the backside of his 80's now, you do know you won't get another chance to thank him. Easy for me to say, though -- it's not my cash.

EDIT (part two): You asked who we would most like to meet. I am terribly sorry to have never met John Buscema, and also Gil Kane, Dave Cockrum, and Curt Swan. I also would like to greet Neal Adams, Mike Grell, and John Byrne.

[dlw66]

Bill --

I looked at the guest list for the con -- there are some people who are scheduled to attend who I'd like to see:

Ramona Fradon
Ron Frenz
Gary Friedrich
Michael Golden
Mike Grell (as I said above)
Adam Hughes
Joe Jusko (I'd have him sign my tpb of his Edgar Rice Burroughs paintings!)
Bob McLeod
Alex Saviuk -- met him in Chicago; he does nice sketches for fans and is a very pleasant man to visit with!
Tim Truman -- Hawkworld - yeah!!

Anyway, I'm excited and I can't even go! I hope you make a decision you're happy with. I know the admission, parking, a bite to eat, and any back issues/collectibles you buy can be a real financial set-back. But meeting and greeting folks who've given us some four-color fun is pretty cool.

Let us know what you decide to do!

[scottharris]

That's a pretty nice guest list. Stan Lee and Mike Grell both? Man, if I had money I would drive to Pittsburgh for that show. Gary Freidrich would be great, since I love Sgt. Fury; Tim Truman did several Jonah Hex stories in the 90's; Michael Golden of course drew the infamous Avengers Annual #10; and Ron Frenz had long runs on Thor and ASM and did some great retro-style covers on Captain America as well.


Here's my dumb con story for you guys to laugh at (it's not that dumb, but I'm still kicking myself). I went to a show in Orlando in the late 90's. Since I was on vacation, I didn't have any of my comics with me, so once I was at the show I had to buy a few back issues to get signed. One of the guests at the show was the great Gil Kane, so I bought some of the Avengers issues he had done covers for (and that I could get relatively cheaply). So I am very happy to have a signed copy of the classic Avengers #141, with the Avengers vs. the Squadron Supreme on the cover.

So, what's the dumb part? George Perez was at the same show! And I didn't have him sign Avengers #141! ARRRRGH. In my rushing around it somehow slipped my mind that Avengers #141 is George's first comic work. I did get him to sign a couple other comics, like Avengers vol. 3 #1 and Justice League of America #200. But every time I think of that show I kick myself for not having him sign Avengers #141 alongside Gil Kane. Someday I'm going to see Perez again and get it done correctly.

p.s. In case you didn't know, at DragonCon next week, Perez is going to appear on a panel for the discussion of our own Assembled 2! Man, I wish I could get down there for that.

[Shiryu]

Considering the guests invited, I would also recommend going. It sounds like a great opportunity to meet so many creators, and as Dlw said, Stan will probably soon stop going at Comicons.
If anything, just try to make sure that with "appearing" they don't mean he will send a video or be there for 5 seconds and then disappear. As long as he is around for autographs and talking, it's a fantastic opportunity.