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“Sure, kid, I’ll indication your comic book.” beloved Smith
by beloved Smith
Sometimes I fail to remember that not everybody has been in the comic book business as long as I have. I began my expert career in 1987, a few of you reading this weren’t even born yet. That kinda boggles my mind when I believe about it. When I got into the industry, most everybody was older than me. I assumption I wandered out of that corral a while back.
The Avengers original Art By Don Heck
I was reminded of this the other day when I was doing a store signing as well as speaking to a group of visitors that had come to get me to mark up the comic books I had written. most of the group was under 30 years old as well as college students. They asked me who a few of my preferred comic book writers as well as artist were when I was growing up. simple answer, Stan Lee, Robert Kanigher, Don Heck, Ross Andru, Jack Kirby, George Tuska, Jim Aparo, John Severin, gene Colan, Irv Novick, as well as the listing went on as well as on.
The people there understood who Stan Lee as well as Jack Kirby was, even though they admitted they hadn’t checked out much of Stan’s work as well as understood him more for his cameos in the marvel movies. As far as Jack Kirby, they understood he utilized to draw a great deal of the old marvel characters as well as had seen his name on the Web a great deal when older people spoke of comic books. The other people I mentioned, they had never heard of. You’d believe I’d be utilized to this by now, being “For never Young,” however it still jolts me a bit when I hear this.
We got to speaking as well as I asked who were their favorites were growing up, they told me that they were huge fans of the “Old Guys” from picture Comics like Todd McFarlane, Rob Liefeld, Marc Silvestri, as well as Jim Lee in addition to marvel guys, Humberto Ramos as well as Joe Quesada. A couple of them were surprised when I informed them that their preferred “New Batman Artist,” Greg Capullo, has been around drawing comic books for 20 years.
They had no concept that at one time, Frank Miller, George Perez, as well as John Byrne were when the most popular artists in all of comics. They understood Frank from transgression City (more the movie than the comic). They understood that Perez utilized to do the old teen Titans when they very first came out as well as that Byrne drew the X-Men back in the day. They understand him more for being a star trip guy now.
Art by John Byrne
They explained to me that they truly don’t have the rate of interest or the time to keep up with the old stuff. They weren’t disrespectful, they were just honest. They explained that they had a true nostalgia for video games they grew up on more so than comic books. Their “Old Man” stories were chuckling about the days before wi-fi as well as exactly how they utilized to have modems in their house.
They likewise told me that they truly don’t gather comics. They keep some, however usually offer them off after a few months or just checked out them on their laptops, phones, or iPads. They did mention they did keep their signed comics that they get at store signings as well as conventions. They truly enjoy the whole pop culture environment of a signing or convention. almost all of them stated they would like to work in video games or draw/write comics. They all expressed the wish to produce as well as do on their computers. most had work they had done on their phones that they showed me there at the store. I understand that if I would’ve had the innovation that they have, I would’ve gotten into comics much earlier than I did. Back in my stone age life, I had a legal pad as well as a pencil, that was quite much it. part of me truly envies the outlets of imagination that younger people have today, as well as part of me feels sorry that they aren’t required to work with just that #2 pencil as well as that legal pad to truly produce from a bare bones area within their mind.
It’s so much like contemporary sports today. extremely few pitchers in major league baseball that have won the Cy young award even understand who Cy young was. I assumption the rate of interest in history is dealing with a much shorter interest span today. Plus, when it comes to pop culture, I assumption not whatever is truly that important to hang onto or remember.
I discovered that afternoon with those younger visitors of fantastic rate of interest as I do whenever I have the possibility to talk with other comic book visitors as well as followers of pop culture. I always discover something. I always find something new as well as in return, I provide them something from the past that they can find or understand more about. It’s a wonderful trade off. I don’t resent them for not understanding my past, as well as the history I grew up on. I look at it more as a possibility for them to find a few of the stuff for the very first time, if they like, as well as be entertained by what has come before. speaking to them provides me the chance to comprehend the patterns as well as modifications in a business that I aim to keep present with every day. I do more than fine with the innovation of today, in fact, I stay ahead of the curve, however it’s the person to person info that excites me as far as business as well as creativity. I always try to keep my ear open for discovering as well as enjoying something new.
Change can be a difficult date to take to the prom sometimes, however you’ve always gotta be able to adapt to the latest dance steps as well as appreciate them for the growth as well as fun that includes the learning.
Listen as well as discover goes both backwards as well as forwards. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy it all.
Forever young, just not as pretty,
Beau Smith
The flying Fist Ranch
www.flyingfistranch.com
