Another Disappointing Meeting with an Idol

More than a month ago, I attended TCAF 2015, here in Toronto.

One of my main reasons for attending was the opportunity to meet someone that I thought highly of,

Stuart Immonen.

I have written a couple of pieces for this Blog about him and how much I admire his ability to compose comic book pages.  The chance to tell him, in person, how highly I rated his work, was irresistible and I would be able to get a copy of 

Russian Olive to Red King

hot off the presses!

I was one of the first wave of people onto the convention floor and while the Immonen's were not yet at their table, their publisher was and I promptly bought a copy of the book from him.

While I was chatting with the publisher, having already put my purchase away, the Immonen's arrived and I had the opportunity to "gush" about how much I enjoyed their works.

Then I left their table, to wander the convention and meet 

Hunt Emerson, about whom I will write later.

Quite a while later, in passing the Immonen's table, I noticed that they were both adding their talents to books being bought!

Kathryn was inscribing and Stuart was sketching.

So, I sidled up beside Stuart and said something to the effect that, had I known that he would have been sketching in the book, I would have delayed my purchase...

And he said, "That's the problem with buying too soon."

Or at least, something very similar... and I was floored!

Here was a man that I had admired and spoken to only an hour or so earlier and he was being an ASS.

Considering that I bought the book at his table, from his publisher, I expected at least... "If you are willing to wait in line, I will see if I can fit you in..." or something, but the disdainful dismissal that I received was hurtful and uncalled for.

I have been a steady supporter of Stuart Immonen's work and it pains me to find out that he is not the type of person that I thought he was.

In the end, as little as it is, I can only show my complete disappointment in his conduct towards me, by no longer buying anything he does.  No matter how good it might be or how much better his artwork continues to get.

Thank you, Mr. Immonen, for all the great work that you have done.  I will still pore over those pages, trying to learn from you but I will not buy your wares anymore.

Brian Lewis Cartoonist and Illustrator: The Reptile, House of Hammer #19

Here is another instalment of the ongoing collection

of comic strip work by the late, great Brian Lewis.

Brian would have been 86 this year, had he not died in 1978.

It is a sobering thought, that he was nine years younger than I am now, when he died.

There are a lot of bits and pieces by Brian, that I have copied from the Web and I will continue to put them up but this is the last of the full stories that I have.

Several years ago, I had a short exchange of e-mails with a guy in England who owned two of the original House of Hammer cover paintings.  They had come to him through a market vendor, who believed that the stylized signature said "Lenin" and he advertised them that way!  The owner was half-heartedly trying to sell them but the three thousand pounds ( I seem to remember ) he was asking for them,was far too high for me to consider; sadly.

I wonder where they are today?