After being trapped in my studio for months, working on the new Dexter: Early Cuts animated webisode, and some Simpsons stories, I’m finally free enough to go to a comic store for New Comics Day…something I’ve not done since November of last year. They still have comics on Wednesdays, right?
For those of us in the biz in Toronto, heading to my local comic stores (the Silver Snail in Toronto, and Altered States out here in the suburbs where I live) It’s a little like going to CHEERS and having everybody shout “Norm” when you walk into the room. It recharges the batteries and reminds me that I actually LOVE this job…and it inspires a competitive attitude in me to see all the great work coming out week after week.
Imagine: We have Bryan Hitch, Michael Lark, Howard Chaykin, Alex Ross, Butch Guice, Ed Brubaker, Art Adams, Alan Davis, Kyle Baker, David Finch, Stuart Immomen, Leinil Yu, Danny Slott, Mark Waid, and HUNDREDS of other top flight creators making comics art for us RIGHT NOW. Not at some nebulous, nostalgic time where everything was better…but right NOW. Covers, scripts, full issues…all flowing from an overwhelming group of creators, and I’m only scraping the surface of Marvel and DC type folks. When you look at the panoply of available comix out there in the indies, the self publishers, IDW, Dark Horse, the online stuff…why don’t people call THIS the golden age?
My friend and co-conspirator in the Toronto Comics Workshop, Walter Dickenson, was with me at the last convention I attended, and he saw me heading over to the tables where they sell comics for a dollar, usually something from the last decade a dealer has overstocked. When Walter saw me returning with about a hundred “dollar comics” he asked me why I bought them and I pointed out copies of Greg Land Ultimate FF comics, Jackson Guice issues of RUSE, Busiek ASTRO CITY DARK AGE stories, Jerry Ordway’s RED MENACE, Warren Ellis Cliffhanger miniseries….all for a DOLLAR? He asked me “What are you going to do with all those comics, Ty?” and I got confused by the question.
“I’m going to read ’em, Walter….and have a great time in doing so.” Apparently, I’m like the last working pro who STILL can’t get enough of these funny books. Does that make me sick?
Ty the Guy. Smiling with anticipation at what glories the day might bring…
(Ty challenged me to hyper-link the bejeesus out of his entry…I hope you’re happy, Guy! And I’m aware that Ty’s episode of Dexter: The Early Cuts is online…for various reasons, we are not linking to it at this time, but will at a later point).
(you never know who you’ll run into at your local comics store…like Jimmy Olsen. Yes, that’s our son, Kellam–he’s a member of the clan, god help him.)
Ty Templeton's ART LAND!! 