Brandons's Column -02/04/03
Past Columns
01/10/03
12/11/02
11/27/02
Whether you read comics or not, it's worth mentioning as a prelude to this column, that while the comics community has a reputation both within and outside the medium as being ridiculously negative and critical, when the $#%& drops, we take care of each other.
I'm not talking about the big company execs hugging 'superstar' creators in front of hundreds of drooling conventioneers-I mean that comics readers (and creators) relate to one another in a way that doesn't make sense to people that don't read comics...it's not a bond out of some assumed lonely necessity, but rather a common interest in something that many of us feel is a genuine and original form of art. We take care of each other to preserve the medium, but we give a damn about each other, both from the fan's perspective and the creators, if only because we simply love comics.
Example: In April of 2002, Top Shelf Productions' book trade distributors filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, leaving Top Shelf in a position to suspend publishing for a long, long time; perhaps for good. Top Shelf happens to employ some of the best creators the industry has to offer, (including one of my personal heroes, James Kochalka) and they produce several of the very best comics in the industry. As these events unfolded, Chris Staros, one of the big guys behind the company, posted an honest call for help on the internet, and in under 12 hours, thanks to comics readers, Top Shelf overcame a $20,000 hurdle and are publishing award-winning independent comics right this second.
Okay-I'm off my 'the people behind the comics are heroes, too' soapbox. Moving along...
A few months ago, a couple of young fellas in New York were looking to get their creation, Teenagers From Mars, into comic book stores. Let me back up here and tell you:
Teenagers From Mars is this: a John Hughes-esque story about a group of wayward teenagers, meandering through life in a little Southern town called Mars. This is Catcher in the Rye rendered in sequential art (which means I really like the series since Catcher is my favorite book). The characters and the town are vibrant and so real it's ridiculous; both writer and artist capture the details of misdirected adolescence brilliantly and the read is exciting and very, very real.
Samurai Comic's own evil genius, Mike Banks, (thanks to customer extraordinaire and international man of leisure Greg Dunnion, who told us about the book), helped to get Diamond Comics to begin carrying Rob and Rick's little book, and since then, it's been a smash independent hit, garnering fans and acclaim throughout the industry. So here at Samurai, we feel like a tiny piece of the Teenagers from Mars puzzle-they're living the dream, and we helped 'em get there a tiny bit-the guys have sent out pins and signed books for our customers, and they've been really appreciative. But that's not the story here-it's just a pre-cursor to what you're about to read, and I'm sorry to say, it ain't happy news.
TFM artist Rob G, also of an upcoming Batman project for DC with TFM writer Rick Spears, lost all his possessions in an apartment fire last Wednesday, January 22. Thankfully he, his roommate, and his cat all made it out alive, but as for everything else, including the Batman story, all the TFM art, and Rob's comics and computer, nothing was saved.
This guy IS US. He's young and he's making comic books for a living-a talented individual starting a very successful career in an industry he loves. What else is there to say but: let's help?
After I read about Rob's misfortune here online, http://www.newsarama.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=000218, I felt very happy to be a part of this community because of all the incredibly kind offers of help from readers around world (yes, world-a publisher from Italy's even offered help). Check out what his dad had to say following the above newsarama posting and feel the love:
I am Rob's dad, or "Pops," as he likes to say. I just want say that I've discovered on this message board that Rob, who is one of the finest human beings I know, is clearly in good company, with people like you. Your expressions of kindness, generosity and concern for Rob, especially those who are yourselves in a hard place, is so awesome that I can't find the words..... I can tell you that what you and the many others that have given kind and helping hands in the last couple of days has had a very profound effect on Rob. I think you have restored his belief that there are many good people left on this planet, after all. And you did that for me, too. Thank you all, ten thousand times.
Dave Goodridge
After all this, of course I feel compelled to do something-anything-and I'd really like you, the readers, to pitch in. We'll be setting up a donation fund at Samurai Comics, and you're also welcome to donate via Paypal as you check out the afore-mentioned newsarama link to see if there've been any updates about Rob's situation. Here's what you can do to help:
- Donate clothing. Rob's about 5"11' and skinny. You can donate through Samurai, or you can send 'em straight over to Rob at Rick Spear's place:
Rick Spears
609 President St. #2
Brooklyn, NY 11215
- Donate trade paperbacks and comic books. As any comic reader knows, losing your comics is a pretty devastating experience; for Rob I'm sure it's no different. Rick Spears said that Rob is a huge manga fan, and really likes Akira and Ghost In the Shell. If you want to donate, contact mike@samuraicomics.com or brandon@samuraicomics.com to find out what we've already got and what we still need.
- Donate and send any and all art supplies. Let's keep this guy excited and motivated to continue his comics work!!
- Get your ass into a comics shop (preferably ours, but any will do) and buy Teenagers from Mars. It's a great book, and now there’s even more a reason to buy it!
Being online today and seeing the avalanche of positive feedback for Rob has been really inspiring and stirring. It makes me proud to be a part of the comics community, and I hope that we can help him.
It's nice to know assuredly that we'll do our best. Let's get started.
Brandon Huigens
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