SDCC 2010 Memories (continued)

I met also met Peter David (called "PAD" by the comic book forum community), writer of X-Factor, and talked about his story of "Dazzler: First Class" (otherwise known as issue #16 of Wolverine: First Class). Before chatting with him (and in the middle of the background of this pic), I met Skottie Young who used to draw for New X-Men. He did a quick Dazzler sketch for me and later won an Eisner Award for his work on OZ. Coincidence? I think not.

SDCC 2010 Memories (Continued)

Aaaaaaaand, speaking of Dazzler and X-Men Manifest Destiny #5, I also met Christina Strain who colored the issue!

She is SO incredibly friendly and talkative, so we spent QUITE a bit of time talking about Dazzler. She said she absolutely LOVES the character and coloring her because she can really cut loose with all the colors and lighting effects. She said she was originally in talks to color the Dazzler one-shot, but things didn't quite work out. Her favorite incarnation of the character is DISCO Dazzler; she also colored the Wolverine: First Class issue with Dazzler on the cover. Of course, I had her sign that one, too (and also had PAD sign it later!), as well as a big print of the Uncanny X-Men 500 cover with the X-Women, which she also colored.

The guy sitting with Christina is Adrian Alphona, the talented artist for Runaways. I commissioned a Dazzler piece from him while I was there.

More SDCC 2010 Memories

Kieron Gillen! Notice the issue there on the desk? That's "X-Men: Manifest Destiny" #5, his FIRST ever story written for Marvel. Neither of us wanted to besmirch the issue with fingerprints, hence our awkward hand positions, lol. We chatted a bit and he mentioned that was the very first story he wrote for Marvel. He loved writing Dazzler because she is so much more than a superhero and since she, at times, can be both confident and insecure, it was fun writing her.

I told him I was a huge fan and poster at CBR (ComicBookResources) and he came by the Dazzler thread to say hello to everyone!


Who knew that less than a year later, Kieron Gillen would be the principal writer on Uncanny X-Men!

SDCC 2010 Memories

Sadly, due to changes in the Press regulations it looks as though I won't be going to the San Diego Comic-Con this year. So, I've decided to reminisce a bit about my quest last year to meet everyone who's ever worked on anything Dazzler-related. She is, after all, the preeminent X-Woman!

I met Jim McCann at the San Diego Comic-Con and forced him to sign my dozen copies of the Dazzler one-shot (and Hawkeye and Mockingbird #1). He was INCREDIBLY gracious and was having a ton of fun. He told me the Dazzler one-shot SOLD OUT. WOOT! It's also available for download via Marvel's iPhone/iPad app!

I had hoped that would bode well for more Dazzler love (and hopefully a mini!) in the future, but nothing has come up since then aside from her usual [brief] appearances in Uncanny X-Men.