A Word about Heroes...

Jim Lee's Beer
Originally uploaded by maq911.

I have been thinking about this a lot and being meaning to post but this is my first chance to do so.
I been thinking about who my heroes are, who influences me and who inspires me. Obviously my parents are a big influence. If they weren't it is either because I am an idiot or they weren't good parents, neither of which is the case.
But aside from them, the people that inspire and influence me are really few and far between. The people that impress me aren't the typical people in the spotlight. Some big name movie star could be in the same room as me and I wouldn't even blink but you put me in a room with Lance Armstrong or Jim Lee and I become a star struck fool.

I don't think it is any secret my love of Jim Lee's art. I have posted several times in this blog how much I admire his talent and appreciate the years of entertainment and fascination he has provided me. But there is more to it than that. There is more to being a "hero" or an "inspiration" than just being good at what you do. A great example is my other hero, Lance Armstrong. We all know that he is an amazing athlete and he has succeeded in doing what no one has up to this point, winning 7 consecutive victories in the Tour De France. But aside from his athletic prowess his legacy was insured by his off-bike activities. His creation of the Armstrong Foundation, his advocacy, and his kindness to fans, cancer patients and survivors will ultimately outshine his athletic records.
The same could be said of Jim Lee only on a smaller scale. As much as I am a fan of Jim Lee and Lance Armstrong I also see them as contemporaries of a sort. I would love to go ride and train along with Lance. To be coached by him and learn from him would be worth all the money in the world. At the same time I wish I could sit down with Jim Lee for at least an hour and just ask him everything about art and the comic business. That is sort of the reason why I went to the convention in Chicago. Partly because I wanted to get his autograph and say hello. The other reason was my hope that I would be able to run into him and have the opportunity to chat and get some inside information or just some tips regarding my artwork. To communicate with someone like that on a level other than being a fan would just be amazing. To be honest I am jealous of the people that work along side him. They get to pick his brain on a daily basis and learn from him which you just cannot put a price on.
Aside from being a great artist, Jim is considered one of the nicest guys in the business. There are untold number of stories by fans or young artists trying to break into the industry of his generosity and kindness. I think that is what sets him apart in many ways from a lot of the professionals out there. While in Chicago, my friend Griggs wanted to get a sketch by an artist named, Rob Liefeld. Liefeld was really big in the early 90's with his work on a book called X-Force for Marvel Comics. He literally became the next big thing in the industry and not without good reason. His style of art was unlike anything that had ever been out there. Then during the Image boom, Rob left Marvel and started his own books at Image Comics. After a while it was clear it had few original ideas, his art wasn't really progressing and he got a reputation, a bad one. Well Liefeld was at the convention and Griggs decided he was going to try and get a sketch from him. After standing in line for over an hour, Griggs finally got to approach Liefeld and as him for a sketch. Liefeld said no. It wasn't that he was too busy or wasn't doing sketches that day, he would only do a sketch for you if you bought his $50 book. Here is a guy who went from hero to zero, whose career is pretty much over and he is demanded $50 from someone who just stood in line for over in hour to get a quick sketch. You never here these types of stories about Jim Lee. He always manages to at least say hello and shake hands. True it is damn near impossible to get a sketch from him at big conventions, but that is primarily due to the number of people standing in line to see him and get his autograph. He goes out of his way to talk with fans and answer questions.
I have had two run ins with Jim over the years. The first was at my first big convention, Wizard World Philadelphia. I was entering the convention center and as I opened the door this short Asian man came running right for me. Shot through the door with the quick "Thank you!" and headed for the escalator. It took me all of 10 seconds to realize who it was after he ran by me. My other run in was more recently at Wizard World Chicago. It goes as follows...
It was Saturday, my last day at the convention. Griggs and I were pretty tired. I had been hanging out in artist alley watching Dustin Nguyen draw while asking him questions unendingly. I loved his work on Wildcats 3.0 and has since become a really big fan. I didn't know he was going to be there and when I found out I made it a point to try and talk to him. Well towards the end of the day on Saturday while I was sitting there talking to Dustin. He let me in on a little secret. There was a VIP after party for all the vendors and artist being held by the convention promoters, Wizard Magazine. He told me that he couldn't go and handed me his ticket. I sort of felt like Charlie pulling the Golden ticket out of the Wonka bar, except this was way cooler. Unfortunately the ticket only admitted two and I was with a group of four. Well another up and coming artist, Joe Dodd, was sitting next to Dustin and said he couldn't go either and gave me his ticket. I had successfully scored two VIP passes to an open bar party my last night in Chicago. Some days I am amaze myself.
The guys and I decided we would go home first, shower up and eat dinner and then go back for the after party. The entire time I was hoping that Jim would be there and I could sit down and talk with him away from all the other fans. The entire convention I wasn't able to get closer than my zoom lens would allow because he was mobbed. He and Frank Miller (of Sin City fame) were working on a project together and were both at the convention. On top of that the convention had a new policy of having to get tickets at a certain time to be allowed to stand in line to meet certain people. Jim was one those "certain people" and I was never able to get a damn ticket. I was pretty hopeful he was going be there.
We arrive at the party and give our passes. I am surprised they let us in because I think it was pretty obvious we were not vendors or artists. Anyway we get in there and get our free drinks. I ordered a Jack Daniels and got a Jim Beam that tasted like fermented dog piss. The guys and I grabbed a table and talked while I was monitoring who walked in and out of the room. No Jim.
As the party was ending we decided to go downstairs to the sports bar that was attached to the hotel. The place is packed. Nothing but fanboys and comic creators. Still no Jim. I pretty much gave up at that point. I ran into a few people I had met earlier that day, Had another drink, shot the shit and then the guys and I decided to go home. Just as we are trying to leave, the sea of geeks parts and in walks Jim. He isn't there 10 seconds and he gets swarmed, like Jesus in a leper colony. I really try not to be another fan when meeting these guys. I try to say something intelligent and insiteful to let them know their works i appreciated. Nine times out of ten I still sound like a dick, but hey I try. I was determined at this point to meet Jim, say hello and move on. I post on his blog often enough, he should hopefully recognize my name. Well the minutes go by, Jim buys a round of drinks for people. Fans ambush him left and right while he is talking to his friends and colleagues. I pretty much decide that in order to meet him I have to interrupt someone and come off like a rabid uber-geek.
I walk up to Jim and introduced myself. He has been drinking a little bit and it takes a second and low and behold a light goes off in his eyes, he knows who I am. This is most pleasing. He introduces me to a few people, name one guy that is running an online contest sponsored by Jim's blog. I talk to him briefly. Then go back to Jim. I say something like, "Before I leave you alone, will you be signing tommorrow..." but before I can get the words out, he looks at me. He has this smart-ass grin on his face and a beer in his hand. He gives me the beer and says "Here ya go, this my gift to you." At this point I am trying not to laugh hysterically or to tell him that I don't drink and actually HATE beer. But instead I shut up and smile and like a little boy who just made out with the homecoming queen say in a shaken voice "Thank you. Before I go, are you signing tommorrow?" Jim tells me yes but he doesn't know what time. At that point I say thanks again for the beer and walk back to my table...
At least I think I walked, but I don't remember my feet touching the ground. I do remember I was smiling and I kept saying to myself, "Jim Lee just gave me a beer!" I got back to my table and told my friends. At first, Griggs didn't believe me. Then he says "What did he buy everyone a beer?" Not to let him piss on my golden moment I reply most forcefully "NO! He gave this to me!" I don't think I stopped smiling for the next 48 hours.
I originally went to Chicago with the intent of getting his autograph on a few comics and introducing myself. Instead what I got was a pretty damn cool story to tell. That is a whole lot better and worth more than signing a book, at least to me it is. The picture up at the top is of me holding the beer that Jim gave me. I wasn't able to take it with me unfortunately but I got the picture to remind myself. This story is why he is my favorite artist. It isn't just about the pictures. It has just as much to do with the person as it does with the art or the sport or whatever. I think if more people realized that they would find themselves in better company and probably more successful.
Anyway, that is enough out of me. Like I said this has been on my mind a while and I wanted to get it out. I should be posting more soon and the blog should be changing it's appearance as well. Good night all
Mark
PS. Jim, thanks for the story