When your heroes are creators of heroes
Most people dream of someday meeting their childhood idols, getting the chance to breathe the same air and shower praises on the people they looked up to since they were children. For many, this materializes in a musical artist, talented actor or sports icon.
This isn’t the case for me.
Growing up, I read my collection of “The Amazing Spider-Man” from cover to cover countless times, marveling at the precise strokes of the pencil that formed into the webbing ejecting from Spider-Man’s web shooters. I would stare in awe at the way artists would portray Superman’s red, majestic cape on the pages of “Superman.”
I had the opportunity to meet many of my idols at San Diego Comic-Con. This may seem like a pretty simple task, right? Just wait in line for a few minutes and hand over your copy of “Spawn” #1, and Todd McFarlane would sprawl his signature on the cover that he drew nearly 20 years prior. This is not the case at Comic-Con. My journey to acquire their scribbled names on a piece of paper included waiting in line for nearly two hours to board a pirate ship docked at the marina and running across the exhibition floor within the five minutes before I was kicked out at closing time.
Was it worth it? I can say, without a doubt, hell yes. I have never been as happy in my life as when Todd McFarlane signed my near-mint copies of “Spawn” #1 and “Spider-Man” #1. While I was probably just another wide-eyed fan to him, he was one of my biggest idols growing up.
Unfortunately, I come bearing bad tidings. Not all of these idols of mine lived up to expectations. Upon hearing Geoff Johns, current creative director at DC Comics, speak at a panel about “Trinity War,” a story arc currently unfolding across three of DC’s flagship titles, I couldn’t help but think that he sounded like a disgusted rock star. It was almost like he didn’t want to be there, among his adoring fans who spent an hour in line to gain access to the panel. As soon as the panel ended, I ran up to the front to get the convention exclusive print of “Justice League” #22 signed by him, upon which he illegibly scribbled his name.
Listen, I know you’re busy Geoff. But we are your fans. Your true believers. The ones that go to our local comic shop every Wednesday to pick up the newest issue of the multiple titles that you lend your talent to. Show a little appreciation for us.
Outside of Mr. Johns, the rest of the creative talent that I was able to meet and greet was very humble and grateful of our love for their work. I was able to watch another idol of mine, Gary Frank, sketch his rendition of Superman at the DC Comics booth. It was amazing to see the techniques that he employs to bring static images to life on the page.
Probably the most humble of them all was Scott Snyder, the current scribe of “Batman” and “Superman Unchained.” At a panel for the upcoming issues of “Batman,” Snyder expressed his gratitude for his fans, referring to us all as one “family.” From his description of the upcoming story, you can easily tell that he has been a fan of comics since he was a child. You can tell that he has had these ideas in his head for decades, and he couldn’t wait to get the chance to tell them to the world.
And maybe that’s why his fans love him so much – he’s just another dorky nerd like the rest of us.