Thursday, July 06, 2006

Comic Con Fan: Grizzled Pro


The "Grizzled Pro" returns year after year to sift through the millions of portfolios that are presented to him by the eager "Portfolio Lads." Why he does this, he doesn't know. Normally the GP is cloistered in his studio trying to pencil out the latest issue of "Gore Hole." The Con is his one chance to see the outside world and hopefully get some recognition for the hours of intensive work spent for little pay. His real reward is seeing and posing with the SCWWHNTDWCBs (Scantily Clad Women Who Have Nothing To Do With Comic Books).

9 comments:

Rickart said...

Ahhh... good ol' Gore Hole! A classic! I think there were a few grizzled old pros who worked on that comic! ;)

John S. said...

I remember my first con, it was 1984 the Mile High Con in Denver. No scantily clad women there. The only women in attendance were a couple of mothers who accompanied their sons. A very modest affair. There were pros however, Marshall Rogers, for example, who was very nice, and then Gil Kane, who was very much the grizzled old pro and had no time for questions from a skinny little, brace-faced, frizzy-haired punk with a massive back pack (me). Your drawing reminds me a little of him. And RC Harvey.

Anonymous said...

Mine was BayCon in San Francisco, circa '78. The big-time pros there were Frank Brunner, Jim Starlin and Jim Steranko. "Howard the Duck" was Marvel's bestselling title, so anything Brunner was mega-hot.
Starlin and Brunner were really nice to the fans, even taking the time to do free quick-sketches. Steranko, on the other hand, was a total asshole.

John S. said...

I had a freind who said Bill Sienk...uh Senk...uh.. the guy who did Stay Toasters was a right bastard.
Oh, and I had another friend who said he was in Chicago and witnessed the transformation of John Byrne from freindly, nice guy to self-important, pompous asshole. I think it was '82.

Jeff said...

In the 80's I got to meet my hero Jean-Girard "Moebius". He was signing his books and I was standing in the line behind this girl. He did this amazing drawing for her in her book and when it got to me, he just signed his friggin' name. He wasn't jerky but to say the least I was crushed. Oh well.

John S. said...

Was the girl hot? I bet he was tryin' to get a little convention action if you know what I'm sayin'.

Robiscus said...

i've never been to the comicon(or any) before but as a new transplant to the west coast i have friends who are yearly attendees and will drag me along this year.
now i'm thinking i'm just gonna get drunk.

wait - thats not true. i went to DragonCon in Atlanta one year and it was pretty twisted. that one is lots of role playing fans as well.
i met Tom Savini and Bernie wrightson and they were both aloof and rude.
never met your idols.

the doodlers said...

I love this sketch!! Beautiful character and pose.

On a related note: We saw Will Eisner in Toronto not long before he died and he was generous with his time and very sweet. My son Max Douglas is a comic artist(Salgood Sam). Mr. Eisner was very supportive~ he kept a copy of the self published issue of REVOLVER that Max was exhibiting at the time.
~Arna

Unknown said...

love his expression!