Tales from the Central Canada Comic Con #2 - The Curious Case of the Stammering Man

Be sure to catch the first installment in this series! Tales from the Central Canada Comic Con #1 - The man who offended... Marv Wolfman!

We now start the tale that can only be called, The Curious Case of the Stammering Man!

As some of you may know, I'm a huge fan of Marvel Comics' 1984 mini series, Secret Wars. I'm also a big fan of the Valiant Comics line that was started by Jim Shooter in the early 1990's. What do both of those series have in common? Each had creative input by Writer/Penciler/Inker/Editor/Creator Extraordinaire, Bob Layton.

Now, a quick perusal of his wikipedia page brings you up to speed on a few of Mr. Layton's numerous accomplishments in the comics field.

• Layton co-wrote Iron Man's Demon in a Bottle storyline as a part of his run on the title that made it one of Marvel's top books
• Penciled some issues of Marvel's Secret Wars title, one of my favourites
  
• Wrote and drew Hercules: Prince of Power, the first ever limited series comic book
  
• Was an integral part of the launch and creation of the Valiant Universe in the early 1990s, including the title X-O Manowar, another of my favs!
  

Keep those four points in mind. They come back to haunt me.

It may seem strange to some that at a convention boasting the attendance of such household names as Adam West, Julie Newmar, and Peter Mayhew (aka Batman, Catwoman, and CHEWBACCA, repsectively!), that none of them were even on my list of people to see! As soon as I entered those doors, it was straight to Bob Layton's table, three of my favourite books of his tucked under my arm.

That's when everything started to fall apart.

The following took place between 6:00pm, and 7:00pm, last night.

Donovan Yaciuk: (approaching table): Hi Bob Layton!
Bob Layton: Hello, there!
Donovan Yaciuk: Hi!
Bob Layton: ...
Donovan Yaciuk: I, uh, have these three books of yours that I love, and I was wondering if you'd sign them for me.
Bob Layton: I'd be happy to!
Donovan Yaciuk: I mean, uh...
Bob Layton: Yes?
Donovan Yaciuk: Do you, well... if you charge for signatures, you know, I'd totally...
Bob Layton: No, no. Lets see what you got there. (begins signing)
Donovan's brain: Whoah! Donovan! That's Bob Layton! What the--?! Why didn't you tell me we were here already! I told you to wake me before you got behind the wheel of the car! Okay, okay, it looks like he's signing things. You've done well without me so far. Now, don't say ANYTHING until I assess the situation!
Donovan Yaciuk: So, Bob, I like Iron Man!
Donovan's brain: What did I just tell you?!?!
Bob Layton: Sorry, how do you spell your name again? O-V-A-N?
Donovan's brain: Oooh! He's good! Tell him it's spelled just like the singer!
Donovan Yaciuk: Yep! Just like the singer!
Bob Layton: You're not even old enough to remember the singer!
Donovan Yaciuk: Yes I am! You haven't seen my hairline under this hat!
Donovan's brain: Hey, did you come up with that without my help?!?! That's pretty good!
Donovan Yaciuk: And, also, I like Secret Wars.
Bob Layton: Here's the first book! You're not going to want to touch that until the ink is dry. Give it at least a year.
Donovan Yaciuk: HAHAHAHA! A whole year!
Bob Layton: ...
Donovan's brain: ...
Donovan Yaciuk: And, also, I like X-O Manowar.
Bob Layton: Oh yeah, I see that's the book I'm signing right now.
Donovan Yaciuk: And, also, I like the Demon In A Bottle storyline you did with David.... Michuh, Mickey...
Bob Layton: David Michelinie. It rhymes with "Pickle-My-Knee".
Donovan Yaciuk: HAHAHA! I like pickles!
Donovan's brain: You IDIOT! Layton doesn't CARE that you like pickles or not! Now look, we've got to do better than this! We've been reading this guy's work for YEARS, and you're standing in front of him now, basically reciting his wikipedia page! What next?!? Are you going to tell him that his Hercules: Prince of Power books were the first comics mini-series in history?
Donovan Yaciuk: Oh, yeah! Bob, did you know that your Hercules: Prince of Power comics were the first mini-series in history?
Donovan's brain: Sigh. All right, Mr. Wikipedia. Why don't you just tell him he was born in 1952.
Donovan Yaciuk: Also, you were born in 1952.
Bob Layton: Pardon me?
Donovan's brain: Nothing.
Donovan Yaciuk: Nothing.
Silence: ....
Donovan's brain: Okay, getting quiet. Let's not panic here, Donovan. Keep your mouth shut, let him sign the books, and in no way shape or form should you mention to Bob Layton that you run a Secret Wars fan site.
Donovan Yaciuk: Bob, remember earlier, when I was talking about Secret Wars? I also run a Secret Wars web site. Do you think maybe one time, I mean, if you aren't busy, that one time maybe I could ask you a few Secret Wars related questions?
Bob Layton: Sure.
Donovan's brain: I quit.
Donovan Yaciuk: (shakes Bob Layton's hand) Well, thank you, Bob Layton, thank you... for being one of the greatest, uhmm, artists, I mean, the living legend, and uhmm, the legend, a legend of comic books.. err... just thanks for signing my books!

Honestly, it went that badly! Head up to the list of accomplishments I posted above from Bob Layton's wikipedia page. Yep, I embarrassingly shoe-horned every single one of them into the conversation.

Immediately afterwards, I was reminded of the following SNL skit, except in this case, Bob Layton was Paul McCartney, and I was Chris Farley!

Things got better though! Luckily for me, my pal Ian Sokoliwski knows Mr. Layton professionally, and arranged a proper, less nervous re-introduction an hour or two later, as evidenced by my ridiculously disproportionate smile in the photo below.
I'll tell you, I've met a few comic book professionals in my life, and since you are only familiar with them by their work on the printed page, you never know what to expect. Some of them can be downright anti-social. But Bob Layton was such an entertaining, gregarious, welcoming guy to be around, meeting him was an absolute pleasure.

Well, for me at least!

And I got three books autographed! How sharp does a signed hardcover of the Iron Man: Demon in a Bottle Premiere Hardcover look!
And just for bragging rights, I've also got a personalized Secret Wars HC as well! Now, I just need to study Mike Zeck's wikipedia page and get prepared for HIS autograph!

Stay tuned for the "Tales from the Central Canada Comic Con #3 - I Shook the Hand of the Honky Tonk Man, and LIVED!".

Currently playing: The Guess Who - Undun
Currently colouring: A yet-to-be-solicited project from Dark Horse Comics!!!
Proudly in my fourth Cola free year!

Tales from the Central Canada Comic Con #1 - The man who offended... Marv Wolfman!

Well, Winnipeg is hosting the Central Canada Comic Convention this weekend (known from this point on as C4!). I got my weekend pass and hit the place up tonight. And as you would expect from me, the whole evening was nothing but a bunch of tomfoolery, accidents, and unintended acts of stupidity on the part of yours truly.

So here starts the first issue of "Tales from the Central Canada Comic Convention #1"! Tonight's brief tale... The Man who offended... Marv Wolfman!

For the first time in a long time, I got the chance to hang out with my old pal and colouring colleague, Ian Sokoliwski. I've mentioned him numerous times in this blog over the years, and he's made numerous comments on these blog entries, so you may be familiar with him. One of his numerous gigs right now is colouring for comics legend Bob Layton - remember that name, there's a bit of foreshadowing for the NEXT story!

Well, Ian eventually gets busy co-ordinating a post-Con supper for the evening with the man across the table from him, who just happens to be Marv Wolfman.

Yeah, THE Marv Wolfman.

The man who had a lengthy run writing the Amazing Spider-Man.

The man who co-created the Felicia Hardy, the Black Cat.

Oh, and he wrote some story called "Crisis on Infinite Earths", which I've never heard of but should really try to read some day. ;)

Ian's big plan is to hit up the "Elephant and Castle", one of my favourite restaurants in downtown Winnipeg, and also the location of my very first date with my wife!

The food is great, but I'm told that one of the best things about the restaurant is it's selection of imported beers and alcohol. Marv and Ian are talking like two old pros who have known each other for a long time, and I figure it's my turn to jump in to this conversation.

Yes, the conversation between Ian, and THE Marv Wolfman.

So, sweating profusely, I offer up the fact that the Elephant and Castle is a great place to get imported beer!

In my head, I hear the abrupt sound of a needle being violently ripped off of a vinyl record. I hadn't noticed that there was any music playing before this point, but I sure as heck noticed it's absence now! Wolfman stops, looks in my direction, and proudly tells me that "That would be very interesting to me, were it not for the fact that I do not indulge in alcoholic beverages.".

As if I was supposed to know that.

He watched me panic for a few seconds before swiveling his head back to Ian to continue to make supper plans.

Well, that went swimmingly. The type of swim that precedes a drowning.

Mr. Wolfman did have a book for signing on his table called the Illustrated History of the State of Israel. I'm guessing you wouldn't write a book on that subject unless you are Jewish or practice Judaism. I'm not really familiar with the Jewish faith, but a quick check of the Google machine gives me hints that some Jews avoid alcohol unless it's wine used for religious purposes.

Boy, that's information that would have been useful to me yesterday.

I felt like I'd just offered to take him to a restaurant called "Mr. Porky's Deep Fried Scavenger Birds and Shellfish".

Anyhow, if Mr. Wolfman eventually stumbles onto this blog, I apologies for any offense I may have caused!!!!

It wasn't the first embarrassing moment of the night, which I'll detail in our next issue, "Tales from the Central Canada Comic Con #2 - The Curious Case of the Stammering Man"!

Currently playing: Dare - The Last Time
Currently colouring: A yet-to-be-solicited project from Dark Horse Comics!!!
Proudly in my fourth Cola free year!

Not Applicable! Our home and native land!

I have been a little absent from this blog for the last couple of weeks. I've been tied up colouring a project for Dark Horse comics - I'll post some preview pics when the book gets announced, but for now, it'll have to remain under wraps!

I've also been busy working towards getting certificates in Web Site Development and Digital A/V Production from Red River College. I've been involved in web design for over a decade now, but am completely self taught, so I figured it can't hurt to get some form of paperwork proving that I know my stuff! I just wrapped up Graphic Design, which was actually fairly challenging, and Flash Level 1, which I did with my eyes closed and one hand tied behind my back.

And just my luck, it looks like Red River might have an opening for a new Webmaster, after the person who made the following registration form on their website gets fired. While filling out my address on their site, I was given two choices for what country I lived in.

West St. Paul isn't even a country, its actually a Rural Municipality north of Winnipeg, so I had no choice but to choose "Not Applicable". I immediately went to the phone book to find their local embassy to apply for dual citizenship, so I could continue my education!

Currently playing: Queen - Sheer Heart Attack
Currently colouring: A yet-to-be-solicited project from Dark Horse Comics!!!
Proudly in my fourth Cola free year!

Hot Dog Cart