If You Could Spend an Hour with a Comic Creator (Living or Passed) Who Would You Choose? 3 3

[jjonahjameson11]

My #1 is Dave Stevens, followed very, very closely by Al Williamson 

surprised nobody mentioned these fine folks (or Eisner) for that matter.

[jdandns]

The Immortal Bard of Northampton, England.

[Larryw7]

I think Bill Gaines would be my number one choice. Good wine, good food at Patrissey's and some of the best conversation in the world. When you read his interviews, his enthusiasm and love for his creators, his comics and his fans is infectious.

I know a lot of people would disagree, but I would like to spend some time talking to Bob Kane. Why did he screw over Bill Finger? He should have realized that sooner or later the truth would be known and his reputation would be in tatters, which has happened. Also, why did he hog all of the glory and keep the names of his "ghosts" hidden. I'd tell him his autobiography is over the top with his ego ruining every story, true or not. But I would also thank him for paying his ghosts well, helping them to keep food on the table. Unlike Marvel, which never paid or gave credit to Jack Kirby for all of the books he wrote in the "Marvel Method", and for the scores of characters he created. 

[batman_fan]

No question, Mr Sprang.  I never got the chance to meet him while he was alive sadly but I did send him a letter once and he actually replied.

[Robot Man]

On 9/12/2023 at 4:10 AM, Larryw7 said:

I think Bill Gaines would be my number one choice. Good wine, good food at Patrissey's and some of the best conversation in the world. When you read his interviews, his enthusiasm and love for his creators, his comics and his fans is infectious.

I know a lot of people would disagree, but I would like to spend some time talking to Bob Kane. Why did he screw over Bill Finger? He should have realized that sooner or later the truth would be known and his reputation would be in tatters, which has happened. Also, why did he hog all of the glory and keep the names of his "ghosts" hidden. I'd tell him his autobiography is over the top with his ego ruining every story, true or not. But I would also thank him for paying his ghosts well, helping them to keep food on the table. Unlike Marvel, which never paid or gave credit to Jack Kirby for all of the books he wrote in the "Marvel Method", and for the scores of characters he created. 

Yeah, again Gaines for sure. I did have the pleasure of having dinner with Grant Geissman and Al Feldstein once. So many great stories including ones about Gaines. Al was a great guy.

Kane, not so much. He would probably just talk about how great he was the whole time. 

[B2D327]

Too many lost legends to name. Meh, I’ll meet them all soon enough

[bronze_rules]

Reading some of these comments, it's funny because I can't remember how many times I passed by uber talents like Wrightson, or Neal Adams sitting at a table all alone in a convention, and I never stopped to say Hi.

I just wouldn't know what to say. I won a print from Tony DeZuniga one time and had a nice chat with him and his wife. But I never asked anything about his artwork because it felt awkward. Even though I consider

him a legendary artist.  Sucks being an introvert, sometimes.

[Happy Noodle Boy]

Stan.

[Cman429]

Ditko. I feel like we have 659 interviews of Stan giving his versions of Spideys origins but there’s very very little from Steve. I know he was a recluse who refused to do such things. I’d like an hour to get his version of events. 

I would say the same for Kirby too but since the question specified an hour, I don’t think that’d be long enough to cover 1/10 of his work at Marvel. 

[toro]

On 9/10/2023 at 9:06 PM, comicjack said:

Murphy was a great person, artist and all and always dressed up.I was lucky to have met him and always loved his work

I too was lucky to meet Anderson.  He went to a small Boston show.  Wasn't selling a thing and didn't charge.  Not one soul was around him.  I got to talk to him about his time in the military.  Truly a great gentleman.  And yes he was dressed like he was going to Sunday service.  

[Dr. Balls]

On 9/12/2023 at 12:53 PM, bronze_rules said:

Reading some of these comments, it's funny because I can't remember how many times I passed by uber talents like Wrightson, or Neal Adams sitting at a table all alone in a convention, and I never stopped to say Hi.

I've heard of these situations, and I'm glad that I veered over to Bernie Wrightson's empty table at DragonCon back in 2009 to talk to him about Cycle of the Werewolf - my first introduction to horror-themed comics when I was 11 years old (Not sure how I got this one past my mom, I guess because I was reading Stephen King, she didn't bother to look inside). He was a good sport, as I probably didn't have anything profound to say on the spot - but I do recall, I was the only one there at his table for awhile.

[Mmehdy]

Wi

On 9/10/2023 at 10:02 AM, EastEnd1 said:

Bill Gaines... and the whole EC bullpen!

second that!!!, I have had lunch with Bill, but the whole gang....just wow

Edited September 12, 2023 by Mmehdy

[KCOComics]

On 9/12/2023 at 11:17 AM, Robot Man said:

Yeah, again Gaines for sure. I did have the pleasure of having dinner with Grant Geissman and Al Feldstein once. So many great stories including ones about Gaines. Al was a great guy.

Kane, not so much. He would probably just talk about how great he was the whole time. 

Never had the pleasure to meet any of them, but interviews I've watched auth Al left the impression that's he's an extremely nice and gracious person. 

 

[KCOComics]

On 9/12/2023 at 2:53 PM, bronze_rules said:

Reading some of these comments, it's funny because I can't remember how many times I passed by uber talents like Wrightson, or Neal Adams sitting at a table all alone in a convention, and I never stopped to say Hi.

I just wouldn't know what to say. I won a print from Tony DeZuniga one time and had a nice chat with him and his wife. But I never asked anything about his artwork because it felt awkward. Even though I consider

him a legendary artist.  Sucks being an introvert, sometimes.

I feel the same way! I went to so many shows with some many great creaters. I was never one to seek autographs, let alone pay for them.  I always tried to respect people's privacy if I happen to spot them away from the booth.

Over the last few years, as we saw Neal, Perez, Sinnot, Romita Sr and many other greats pass on, I've found myself regretting never saying hi or thank you.

I did go out of my way last year to meet Sterenko for just that reason.  To say thank you and your work meant alot to me. 

[AJD]

The living one. Duh.

[rexinnih]

Well, Kirby would be an obvious choice but I did have the honor of meeting him so I'll lean towards two I never did get the chance to meet. 

1. Allen Bellman - found out who he was in 2019 and had great correspondence with him and did a couple of commissions. Wanted to fly to a show he was attending but COVID prevented that

2. Herb Trimpe - Bummed I never had the chance to meet him before he passed

[Robot Man]

On 9/12/2023 at 7:35 PM, KCOComics said:

I feel the same way! I went to so many shows with some many great creaters. I was never one to seek autographs, let alone pay for them.  I always tried to respect people's privacy if I happen to spot them away from the booth.

Over the last few years, as we saw Neal, Perez, Sinnot, Romita Sr and many other greats pass on, I've found myself regretting never saying hi or thank you.

I did go out of my way last year to meet Sterenko for just that reason.  To say thank you and your work meant alot to me. 

Not me. I would look at the guest list at SDCC every year. I would look for GA & SA creators and anyone whose work I admired. I would then go through my collection and select a couple of my favorite books and bring them with me.

I would then prowl Artist’s Alley and track down their table. A lot of times they were just sitting there bored. I would engage them in a conversation and politely ask them if they would sign a couple of books on the splash page margin. Always being respectful. Most were engaging and happy to speak with their fans. A few not so much but I won’t go there. I figured if they were at a table, that’s why they were there.

I got to meet most of the biggest and a lot more obscure folks. Have a lot of fun memories and always remember those moments when I open up the books they signed.

Sadly, almost all of them are gone now but I do have great memories. 

[davidpg]

On 9/13/2023 at 2:11 AM, rexinnih said:

Well, Kirby would be an obvious choice but I did have the honor of meeting him so I'll lean towards two I never did get the chance to meet. 

1. Allen Bellman - found out who he was in 2019 and had great correspondence with him and did a couple of commissions. Wanted to fly to a show he was attending but COVID prevented that

2. Herb Trimpe - Bummed I never had the chance to meet him before he passed

Herb was an incredible gentleman.  I was lucky enough to have had supper with him and his wife and two daughters (and Art Suydam, and Harley Yee of couse) and had a great time talking with them all all evening.  He did a killer Captain Marvel (Shazam) sketch for me that I cherish to this very day.

PS - I also had a great night sitting beside Art, and heading out with him after our supper.  Montreal has a lot of...ionteresting...spots to visit, and so we did ;)

[MisterMR]

1. Winsor McCay

2. Siegel and Shuster

3. Stan 

[HighRadArt]

I actually had my hour with one of my favorite artists.  I was a big fan of Steven Hughes and was fortunate enough to have met him during his prime at Chaos Comics. We had a few beers and talked about his artwork on Lady Death and Evil Ernie.  Unfortunately, he passed away way too soon but for those that haven't seen my really old pics  in the gallery forum...