Meeting One's Heroes at Baltimore Comic-Con 2023

Jim Lawless

2023-09-11

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My Secret Origin

I had a head-start in reading comics with a hand-me-down collection. I began selecting my own comics in the early 1970’s. I was in the early years of elementary school, at the time.

I’d never been to a large con before, but some fellow comic-book-loving friends were getting together at Baltimore Comic-Con this year. I made plans to join them. I was primarily interested in meeting with some of the professional writers and artists. Here are the folks I met:

Jim Starlin

In the early 70’s, I picked up an issue of Iron Man from the spinner rack at the local grocery store. Iron Man #55 introduced a couple of villains that didn’t impress me ( “The Blood Brothers” ). It also introduced me to a couple of new characters … Thanos and Drax the Destroyer. Jim Starlin drew and co-wrote the issue, creating those new characters who’ve gone on to be cornerstones in current Marvel movies.

I enjoyed Jim’s work in various titles Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu (Master of Kung-Fu), Warlock, Captain Marvel, The Metamorphosis Odyssey, Dreadstar, Wyrd, and ‘Breed to name a few. I had a very brief chat with Jim at the con. He drew an autograph that filled most of the page in my autograph book:

“I hate to waste space,” he said with a smile.

Mark Waid

Mark Waid was a creator who got my attention in the 1990’s initially on the titles The Flash and Impulse. However, the reason one of his other works became a favorite of mine goes back to my childhood in the 1970’s. The first issue of Justice League of America was issue number 97:

This is the middle issue of a three-part story. The primary villain in the issue is a space vampire known as Starbreaker. In trying to determine Starbreaker’s weakness, the JLA discuss the story of their first meeting when a series of strange aliens attacked earth and transformed a series of superheroes into unusual objects. After defeating the aliens, this group came together to form the Justice League of America.

Waid wrote a miniseries called JLA Year One. The aliens and origin told in that issue of JLA #97 was re-told ( with some changes to the JLA membership. ) I enjoyed that series a lot. I just don’t hear much about issue #97, but of course, Mark Waid knew all about it.

I was able to tell Mark about my fondness for this series. He then signed my autograph book. I hadn’t noticed until two days after he’d signed it, that he’d drawn a little Flash insignia on it as well.

He was very friendly. I really enjoyed the brief chat.

José Luis García-López

José Luis García-López ( or “JLGL” ) drew all sorts of things for DC including character style guides. His work adorns all sorts of collectible items that aren’t necessarily comics. He has a very noticeable clean style. His heroes always seemed to be happy.

JLGL was the first creator at the Con to sign my autograph book. After he signed his name, he dashed off a quick headshot of the Caped Crusader.

I shook his hand and I got to tell him how much I’ve enjoyed his work.

Mike Grell

Artis and writer Mike Grell first got my attention when he was penciling the interiors and covers of Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes.

In later years, I really enjoyed Green Arrow : The Longbow Hunters and his original series Jon Sable Freelance. As Mike was signing my autograph book, I told him about my fondness for Jon Sable Freelance. He said “Oh? We have two of the omnibus editions right here,” as he pointed to two very large tomes on the side of his table.

“Now, you only have one,” I replied as I hefted the volume over to the gentleman working with Mike so that I could pay for it. As I was paying for it, Mike grabbed the book, opened it, and signed the interior.

They gave me a few other items from the Kickstarter campaign from this book. I was just awestruck. I hadn’t really planned on any of this. I really enjoyed meeting Mike.

Joe Staton

Fifty years ago, in 1973 ( possibly early 1974 ) I was eyeing the spinner rack at the grocery store. I was about eight years old. As I looked through the comics, I saw a new one with the number one as the issue number. I didn’t have anything in my fledgling collection with the number one! On that visit to the store, I picked up E-Man #1. The writer was Nick Cuti. The artist was the legendary Joe Staton.

I knew that Joe would be at the Con. I was really looking forward to chatting with him. He and I have a mutual acquaintance. When I mentioned that this person had told my group of friends to tell Joe “hello”, Joe and his wife got big smiles on their faces. We chatted for a few moments. I got to tell him about that E-Man comic being my first #1 issue. As he signed my autograph book, guess what quickie headshot he drew?