Just Say No!

Comic book fans are lucky. The creators we look up to are far more accessible than most. Lord knows we made the high fiving arms of some of our favorite writers and artists sore at SDCC this year. In fact, Rob and I accosted Dan DiDio himself for high fives just after the DC Editor-in-Chief himself pulled an Anti-Monitor action figure out of a bag, proclaiming that it was AWESOME.

Apparently, the figure wasn’t actually for sale, just on display. DiDio wanted to buy it, and the vendor refused until he said, “I’m Dan DiDio! Let me buy the Anti-Monitor!” or something to that effect. Seriously, all geeks should be so lucky. Mr. DiDio also proclaimed that the high-five should be cool again, and soon. We do this but for the general, sir.

I’ve noticed that most writers, artists, and editors in the comic industry are just as geeky as the fans – in fact most of them are fans who just got lucky enough to end up on the other side of the table. Sure, there are writers and artists that don’t suit my particular tastes, but you know what? I just don’t buy those books. I can’t even keep up with everything by the writers and artists I love, much less spend time & money on the ones I don’t care for.

By now, most of the hardcore comic-fan community has heard about the Yellow Hat debacle at last week’s Chicago Comicon. I’m not going to link to this guy, because he’s a dick. Basically, some loser fanboy decided to be an asshole to Rob Liefeld and then brag about it on teh intarwebz. And while that one Cap cover creeped me out too; I bet you didn’t know that Rob Liefeld was responsible for returning TONS of Jack Kirby’s art to his family after he died.

Yeah, I’m STILL mad about R.A. Salvatore killing Chewbacca, but I’m not going to walk up to the guy and insult him as though he personally ruined my life. I’m just mad he killed Chewbacca. And while the fangirl in me was PISSED OFF, I must grudgingly admit that at the very least our beloved Wookiee died for a good reason.

But, hey-wha, I also know Chewbacca isn’t REAL, and Peter Mayhew’s still going to be on the back wall at SDCC every year until he dies, which is AWESOME. If I don’t like that Chewie’s dead – I’m just going to stop reading EU Star Wars books. And I’m certainly not going to leave a flaming bag of poo on Salvatore’s table at a con. In fact, I’d probably just want to pick his brain about why on EARTH he decided to kill Chewie.

Most hardcore fans of ANYTHING are a little intense and kind of overwhelming. You’re not going to like every artist and every writer out there. But seriously? Don’t be a dick.