CBR: Shelf Life - Feb 24, 2011

[CBR News]

Ron Marz returns with a look at the triumphs and pitfalls of convention season from the creator's side of the table and explores the relationship between pros and the fans who support their work.


Full article here.

[Lurker13]

Great article, Ron! I was just curious on your thoughts about pros charging for autographs at conventions.

[wildstorm3]

Great article. I only attend one Con a year, Pittsburgh Comiccon. It may not be huge like San Diego but I like it. Even though about 60-75% of the creators that attend are the same, I enjoy talking to them, Tucci, McDaniel (only con he attends), Banks, and Fraga to name a few.

As for charging for signatures, I don't like it. I can see charging for sketches and commissions, but signatures...

I can see creators getting upset, along with fans, having someone bring up 100 comics to sign and there are 50 copies of one book, 25 of another, and the rest are singles.

And if you could EVER find it in your schedule to come to Pittsburgh...

[ralaven]

In reference to the reprint stamp notice - it's a joke. The reprint stamp is completely voluntary - the author in question will sign reprints but he has the stamp for those who want it. Seems like a good idea to me

[Ron Marz]

Great article, Ron! I was just curious on your thoughts about pros charging for autographs at conventions.

I understand why some pros might charge for autographs. There are times when it's pretty obvious that someone is getting you to sign a stack of books that will wind up on Ebay. Essentially, someone is taking advantage of you to make money for themselves, which is a pretty shabby thing to do. But to charge for autographs seems like it penalizes everyone for the actions of a greedy few.

Ultimately, I feel like if someone went to the expense of buying a book, the least I can do is sign it. Does that mean some of them wind up on Ebay? Sure. But in the long run, karma's a bitch.

[mhendra]

Ron, I just have to say that you were nothing less than humble and gracious when I met you this past New York Comic Con. It was my first time meeting you after more than decade of being a fan of your work and it was worth the wait. I only brought a choice few Green Lanterns from my youth and purchased a couple of Witchblades for you to sign. I vowed not to bother you with an insane amount of books or trouble you with too many silly questions. But afterwards, I reflected on how cool you were to me (and my wife and 10 month daughter, by the way) and I realized that more than likely I could have chatted with you a little longer. All in all, it was a short, brief moment in my life that I will honestly treasure and that is exactly why I like my books signed by my heroes. To simply remember and reflect. Oh, and I hope to see you again this year!

[wildstorm3]

I understand why some pros might charge for autographs. There are times when it's pretty obvious that someone is getting you to sign a stack of books that will wind up on Ebay. Essentially, someone is taking advantage of you to make money for themselves, which is a pretty shabby thing to do. But to charge for autographs seems like it penalizes everyone for the actions of a greedy few.

Ultimately, I feel like if someone went to the expense of buying a book, the least I can do is sign it. Does that mean some of them wind up on Ebay? Sure. But in the long run, karma's a bitch.

Well I for one bring very few single issues for people to sign. I usually will bring a HC for people to sign.

And I know a lot of artists who now charge even for a sketch, Eric EBAS Basaldua, when I first met him at a con he was doing free sketches, quick ones. The problem was that he started seeing his FREE sketches ending up on Ebay so the next year he decided to chard, but at least this time they weren't quick sketches but pinup pencil sketches for $40. I had no problem paying for them and also got the first year a Darkness sketch and the next year I finished the trilogy and got a Witchblade and an Angelus sketches.

Also now at the cons people will now have signs on their table limiting the number of books they will sign at one time. If they say they will sign 10 books at a time and you have 50 books, you have to stand in line 5 times to make it fair for everyone else. My first con I went to 6 years ago I met Bendis. I was 3rd in line and had an Ultimate Spidey for him to sign. Just ONE book. It took me 45 minutes to get it signed. The first person not only had about every book he ever wrote but multiple copies of the book which pissed a lot of people off. He had a long box full just for Bendis to sign and another for George Perez but Perez signed a few and asked him to get in line again to get more signed. Then he went to Jusko and had 3 sets of Marvel Masterpieces for him to sign. I just had the Shi:Senryaku HC. Jusko looked at him and told him he wasn't signing all those cards and for him to pick 10 that he wanted signed.

It just surprises me that people will get stuff signed and then I will check Ebay that night and see the same item just listed.

[GoodClone]

Ron,

The insight provided in your article is refreshing. You signed some of my issues - my favorite Silver Surfer and Green Lantern that you wrote - at the Orlando Expo Center in the early 2000's. I brought 15-20 of your comics; however, I owned many more: the complete run of both tenures. I still appreciate the insight you provided about your GL run, when I asked at the convention. You even made a point to use different colored markers for signing the stated issues. That meant a great deal to me, and it still does.

For true fans, it is not about bringing longboxes of stuff to place on Ebay; it's about owning a well written/ drawn piece of fiction that you cherish - signed by one of your favorite creators. NUFF SAID!!!

[Alex6166]

I think what Marz is saying is that he hates us and doesn't want us to come up to him and talk.

Acctually, I met Marz at a convention2 or 3 years ago (whose counting) and he seemed cool.

I'm trying to get in the biz as an artist, do you have to go to conventions? I'm not great with people anyway, that's why I want to be an artist.

[wildstorm3]

Ron,

The insight provided in your article is refreshing. You signed some of my issues - my favorite Silver Surfer and Green Lantern that you wrote - at the Orlando Expo Center in the early 2000's. I brought 15-20 of your comics; however, I owned many more: the complete run of both tenures. I still appreciate the insight you provided about your GL run, when I asked at the convention. You even made a point to use different colored markers for signing the stated issues. That meant a great deal to me, and it still does.

For true fans, it is not about bringing longboxes of stuff to place on Ebay; it's about owning a well written/ drawn piece of fiction that you cherish - signed by one of your favorite creators. NUFF SAID!!!

Yes it is! Personally, I like to get a HC of say Art of Top Cow or the Hero Initiative (blank) 100 HC and try to get as many people that contributed to the book to sign it and if I am lucky they'll even do a little sketch. Texiera did a Ghost Rider head in my Wizard HC of the covers. It's funny if you bring something like the 3-minute sketch book and the artists look through the book to see what they did. And I also collect sketches from people at cons which NEVER go on Ebay.

If you only go to get a long box of comics signed then I don't believer you are a true fan.

[Boabie]

I enjoyed reading your article very much, Ron. Living in Scotland, I've never been able to attend one of the huge conventions you get in the States, so it's like looking at photos of the Giza pyramids or the Great Wall. Sort of. You know what I mean.

As for selling items on eBay, I hate it when people ask creators for autographs, etc, just to make a profit. Years and years ago, I wrote to Sal Buscema and he sent me a lovely note with a head sketch of the Hulk. I of course framed it and it's one of my proudest possessions. The thought of exchanging it for mere money seems ludicrous.

P.S. Signing 200 issues for one guy?!! Good grief. Two things: firstly, I'm impressed you did that (I doubt many would have shown such patience and grace) and secondly, how can someone be so rude? As a child, I would get in bother for asking for more than one of anything. It would never occur to me to ask for more than one autograph or photograph or whatever. In among all the decent folk, you really must have to put up with incredibly ill-mannered people.

[Ron Marz]

P.S. Signing 200 issues for one guy?!! Good grief. Two things: firstly, I'm impressed you did that (I doubt many would have shown such patience and grace) and secondly, how can someone be so rude? As a child, I would get in bother for asking for more than one of anything. It would never occur to me to ask for more than one autograph or photograph or whatever. In among all the decent folk, you really must have to put up with incredibly ill-mannered people.

The total was probably somewhere between 400 and 500 issues for one guy. To his credit, he brought them in batches, and stepped aside for others.

Hope you can make it to a con someday. Or I get invited to Scotland.

[Ron Marz]

I think what Marz is saying is that he hates us and doesn't want us to come up to him and talk.

Acctually, I met Marz at a convention2 or 3 years ago (whose counting) and he seemed cool.

I'm trying to get in the biz as an artist, do you have to go to conventions? I'm not great with people anyway, that's why I want to be an artist.

It's very beneficial to go to conventions when you're trying to break in and establish yourself. You need to be a face, rather than just a name, to the people who do the hiring. The social aspect in the business is important. The truth is, it's a small industry. Not quite an "everybody knows everybody" situation, but pretty close. People skills might not required to do the job, but they're required to get the job.

[grphxkindaguy]

For true fans, it is not about bringing longboxes of stuff to place on Ebay; it's about owning a well written/ drawn piece of fiction that you cherish - signed by one of your favorite creators. NUFF SAID!!!

QFT Couldn't have said it better myself.

I put my few autographed comics aside in their own special short box, I treasure them so much. Most of them took me hours of waiting on line to attain & has a story behind each one. Why would I even THINK of selling those?!?

[sudro2]

I found your comment about not getting the whole autograph thing interesting. I generally feel the same way. I've always viewed autographs as a way to prove to other people that you met someone noteworthy and my feeling is that the people that matter to me will believe me when I say I met that person and the people who wouldn't believe me don't matter to me.

That said, I do stand in line at cons to get stuff signed, but for me it's really all about getting the opportunity to spend a moment telling someone how much their work meant to me. Getting a Starman Omnibus signed by James Robinson or an Invisibles TPB signed by Grant Morrison or New Frontier signed by Darwyn Cooke lets me approach the creator and say "hey, this book was really special to me; thanks for sharing it with us."

That probably seems pretty goofy and sentimental to most people, but, what can I say.