What came before... | What is to come...
Mike, Stephen, Lesley, and StarbuckTORONTO COMICON SATURDAY APRIL 12 2008
Oh, behave. It’s not what you think -- at least it’s not what I think you think. My longstanding, long-distance like-affair -- with another woman’s husband -- was reaffirmed this past weekend at Toronto Comicon.
Oh, behave. It’s not what you think -- at least it’s not what I think you think. My longstanding, long-distance like-affair -- with another woman’s husband -- was reaffirmed this past weekend at Toronto Comicon.
In full view of Steve, Lesley and Starbuck, I might add.
I am shameless.
I noticed (like I could help it) that mikegrell.com’s webmaster, Stephen, has (apparently, unbeknownst to everyone but me) Christopher Reeve’s smile -- and Brandon Routh’s hair, eyes and profile. Steve, I have decided you need to have a Superman outfit for the next con.
Whoa… digression – sorry.
I’ve known Mike Grell since 1979 – the very day I dropped in on this little dimension from Earth Prime (comic book Curt Swan got it right –- almost*), where I was Earth's protector – The Last Daughter of Krypton. A chance meeting with a comic book artist, led to my being grounded here when a particle of Gold K -- caught in my cape -- gradually eliminated my powers.
It was Mike Grell, a comic book artist, who made his cash drawing little pictures of all the people I knew back home on Earth P.
Talk about a small universe.
Stuck here, I fabricated an identity, and hypnotised my way (using a deceptively simple, non-super Kryptonian technique) into a lovely family that bore me enough physical resemblance to pass.
Oh, yeah.
Mike.
(Note to self – stop burying the Lead)
We hit it off, and I played the prerequisite part of adoring fan, while admiring some gorgeous renderings including some eerily accurate depictions of my cousin, Kal.
Not KalYears passed, and I became accustomed to flying only in dreams (as Mike says… where we remember how), and our friendship subsisted on letters and phone calls -- our lives diverging, as lives do, and we lost track of each other – for years.
Enter, stage right, The Internet.
I still have the email that reconnected our two old souls, and could compile it -- and the rest, in a naughty, but nice, tell-all book.
However, I won’t.
The last time our eyes met, was at Maplecon in 1983 or ‘84, where we both had brown hair. Last Saturday, as Mike strode toward me, through the crowded dealer’s hall, and then entered the artists’ circle -- enveloping me in a warm and familiar bear hug -- I was somewhat gratified that our hair had remained the same colour.
Just… no longer brown.
Nothing had changed, and neither of us stopped talking ‘till we passed out from complete mental and physical exhaustion at about 3.00am.
As I said before, behave – Mike and I are both happily married – just not to each other. And, that’s okay.
After the warm welcome, Mike got down to pleasing his huge line-up of fans in his typical bighearted, yet professional, fashion. Giving each what they needed -- to his own detriment, in loss of sleep, later, when the many sketches promised would flow, water-like, from his pencil onto the pages of their own collectors’ sketchbooks.
A panel, an interview, more autographs and free sketches, and I marvelled how Mike’s drawing hand moved in tandem with the flow of stories, conversation, and quips – mostly his.
Never a dull moment.
A master storyteller in person, as well as through his graphic novels, Mike kept us regaled well into the night, with our own counterpoint tales rounding off the floorshow. Luckily, our raucous laughter rang unchecked, in the deserted hotel dining room.
The next morning, on the train, I kept company with a full tummy of good-tasting memories to digest on the four-hour ride home, and a heart and body still aching from hours of companionable laughter.
K.
K.
Link back to Mike Grell's official page
- in The Fortress:Crystal Couch of Comfort
- Empathic Aura:
geeky - Superhearing detects...:The Bird
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Comments
and Kara, that outfit is amazing. If they only made them like that now for us mere mortals..
Wow, I wish I knew Julie Schwartz -- then I'd be writing for DC, but no luck.
It WAS fun! Fans are such sweet people too:)
I got to be Mike's assistant and had to meet, greet, divert and guide -- all good.
On a separate note -- have you had trouble uploading pics? I'm trying to add a couple more to this entry and they won't work.
K.
and I grabbed one Superman TPB.
The best part is hanging out with people with the same obsessions.
K.
1. Loved the Superman: The Movie reference in your title.
2. That was a fantastic costume you had.
Ok, very engaging and thoughtful article. It's almways interesting to read people's experiences with creators. Luckily yours didn't end with, "So anyway, according to the restraining order I am no longer..." You have a very easy going writing style and you tell a good story.
I like Grell's work too. Not just his Green Arrow stuff too. I think he has a great art style and my brother-in-law was a huge Warlord fan and spoke very highly of him. Good to see he's a nice guy to boot.
Oh, and you're right. That guy needs a Superman costume stat.
Stephen looks even more like Routh/Reeve in person -- a very soft-spoken fellow too. If we tell him enough, he just might dress up for a con.
The Superwoman drawing was a gift Mike drew for my 24th birthday. I received it by mail on a lonely, snowy day the first week of December, and it made my year!
Kar:)