My dad works for a magazine and he gets freebies all the time. I was wondering what sweet comic merch you've collected over the years and what your favorites are?

That’s the amazing thing about my job…people give you things, and you WANT to tell them that it isn’t necessary, that their support is enough. But you can’t, because a) they spent the time to make/buy/cook/sew/draw the items, and b) BECAUSE THE GIFTS ARE SO COOL.

I have been given tons of stuff by companies, lots of movies, games, toys, clothes, other stuff like that. Very much appreciated.

But the two things that are the most meaningful are:

1) Art. I love it all, I can’t draw so seeing art from new artists, and webcomickers, and children is a big deal. And being given art by artists you love, like Michael Golden, Ethan Van Sciver, Aaron Lopresti, Bernard Chang, Bruce Timm, Nicola Scott, Darwyn Cooke, etc…that’s HUGE.

2) Gifts from readers. Again, they don’t have to do this. I feel like I should be gifting THEM for the support. But they have brought me toys, clothes, action figures, dolls, stuffed animals, snacks, cultural items, jewelry, books, statues, games…just on and on and on, so many  things I have a room just for those things. And they are very meaningful to me, AND many are completely home-made.

You can’t put a price on that, it’s just something that you treasure.