Marie Javins's Blog, page 10

I Do That A Lot

The tech conference people from Toronto posted a few photos of our panel. I

n the second one, I'm doing the classic "What we needed to make digital comics different was this" while holding up my phone.

Toronto Weekend

I arrived in Toronto on Saturday morning, disoriented from an overnight flight from L.A.

“Purpose of travel?” asked the Canadian border agent.

“Tourist,” I said. I learned long ago not to elaborate. If I start telling the passport stamp person about me speaking at an event on Thursday, there’s room for confusion about “Is this work, and do you have the right to work in Canada?” She paused, looked at me, and asked one more question.

“Do you know anyone in Toronto?”

I thought for a second and shook my head. Was that weird? Who comes to Toronto as a solo tourist? It’s not exactly a hotspot of wildlife or archeology or adventure.

But she let me in.

I picked up my bag (yes, I check bags occasionally, you philistines, so sue me) and caught the train to the center of town. I used an app to find a spot to store my bag until the apartment would be ready at 4, then headed to a nearby breakfast spot.

As I sipped my morning coffee, I wondered what I might do today in Toronto. I vaguely remembered seeing a FB post of someone trying to get to Toronto recently…what was it?

Oh.

TCAF. There’s a comics con in Toronto this weekend! If finished my coffee, bought a subway ticket, and headed to the con. I guess I’d lied when I’d said I didn’t know anyone in Toronto.

From Space

The Terminal 6 TSA agent told me about a dating site for UFO aficionados.

This happened because I'm wearing a shirt with flying saucers silkscreened onto it.

When I wear a shirt with a cat or pony on it, I get the same sort of response but more like "Is that your cat? I love cats!" or "Do you like horses?" The dating site bit was new to me.

Nursery Patio

Six baby bandits! That's the backyard count for summer 2022.

The Most Valuable Scooby Snacks

This is not my story to tell—it's the office archivist's. But it's too good to overlook.

As you know, our Burbank office is moving across the street. All our personal items are long since removed but a few things needed special treatment.

Our rarest, most valuable comics were packed in special crates which did not easily fit in a car. A cargo vehicle was required but using brute force and moving trucks was out of the question as the likes of Action Comics #1 and New Fun #1 require a delicate touch and constant supervision.

Fortunately, we have access to a seldom-used van that could be driven by our librarian and facilities supervisor. I wonder how many "ruh-rohs" were uttered as they drove over potholes.

The Patio

 Some days can be very confusing when you're a city cat. 

Happy Mother's Day

All the best for Mother's Day in the US today, for my mom and those of you who are moms.

My mom has had a banner year so far, moving into a cute new house and furnishing it almost exclusively by reviewing products. File under "Stuff I didn't see coming in the near future."

Here she is in her native habitat, reading her iPad while reclining on an emerald green chaise lounge.

Ungrateful

A couple weeks ago on the patio in Jersey City.

He's obviously grateful for all the snacks and healthcare.

Wait for It

My office is relocating in June, and we've all been packing up for months now. I think I've brought home 40-50 boxes of comics and books over the last few months, and this weekend, I carried the last of them in a rented Toyota hatchback.

I don't live in an elevator building, and my condo has no street entrance. To get to my unit, I have to climb 12 or so stairs from either the street or the garage, then loop around the side of the complex, then go up more stairs to my apartment.

The office movers put all the boxes into the car for me, but they don't follow us home, so I had the joy of lugging 20+ boxes from the car to my apartment. I have a little wheeled cart, but the stairs are unavoidable. I just took it slow and moved boxes a few at a time.

The movers also took all my cow art down off the wall and packed it up for me.

I am tired and sore and worn out.

Or maybe it's the booster shot I got last night.

But at least the cows have come home.

Remember the Meerkats

The art and comics world has lost a legend, a creative genius who remapped how stories were conveyed, evolving the comics world to 2.0. I have nothing to add to the stories from his family, mentees, colleagues, and fans. Their loss is personal and raw, both joyous and sad. All I have to offer to our colleagues and Neal's family is my condolences and one amusing recollection.

I came into comics in 1988, when Neal Adams was working in advertising, so it was 12 years before I finally worked with him on a Marvel reprint cover. I remember being slightly terrified when I called the main number at Continuity, but Neal couldn't have been more kind. I didn't understand the final cover's joke about cows and Skrulls at the time, but I knew to shut up and accept that it was the right call, because Neal knows comics in ways I never will.

Years later at DC after we'd moved to Burbank, I had a custom comic about talking meerkats in superhero costumes, where the client asked "Can Neal Adams draw this?" And my first thought was "Don't be ridiculous, he's busy." But there was a part of me that remembered the silliness of the cow joke, and I said...hold that thought. Maybe.

Neal was amused and dove right into our goofy meerkats story. We all relished the experience, which was beyond absurd. I worked with Neal on plenty of other stories over the next few years, but I cherish the meerkats.

All my best to Neal's family, and all his mentees and colleagues.