McFarlane DC Multiverse

Alt said:
I allow that a lot of people I meet at cons can be gruff and aloof because most creative types are introverts and don't actually want to be put on display, and it's also just a very stressful time. I do get it.
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I don't think being an introvert leads to being an ass. I'm an introvert, but I inherently try to treat people with respect. In fact, if I'm in an uncomfortable situation, I'm more likely to hide it than direct it at anyone.

I love a lot of Ross' art, but I don't really have any interest in the individual. In fact, I can think of very few artists/actors/celebrities I would ever want to meet in person, which probably goes along with the whole introversion thing. I'm happy to enjoy what I enjoy from afar and as long as the person hasn't done something horribly egregious, I'm content to not let their personality impact my enjoyment.

With that said, I don't know how you grow up to be a comic book artist without holding onto some of that childhood wonder. If you draw Batman for a living, that should bring you joy, and you should want to share that joy with others. It sounds like he just takes himself entirely to seriously. What a shame...
 
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When I worked my first convention I turned to my partner and said "If I ever lose a sense of wonder being asked to sit at a table to talk about superheroes tell me to quit and go do something else."

That being said, I just expect anyone with a measure of fame to disappoint me. It's actually crazy how many assholes work in comics.

As a palate cleanser though, I'd been trying to buy a piece by Chris Uminga for like FOUR YEARS and kept missing him at his booth at shows and I found him at NYCC a while back. He had this gaggle of absolute morons pawing at his prints and just being in the way and he saw me and Steph hanging back just trying to not be a pain in his ass, and he hits us with this huge, radiant smile and says HELLO NICE PEOPLE! and invited us up. Finally got that print of Batman and Robin '66 from him and he was an absolutely lovely man. Have it framed in my office to this day.
 
Alt said:
Never cared for Alex Ross art, but I have two stories about him.

At a Chicago con in my teens, a friend wanted to get him to sign something. He had never actually read any of his works but because of Wizard he loved the look. His plan was actually to buy Marvels and Kingdom Come at the booth to get them signed.

When he was up at the table, he mentioned this exact thought process to Alex. And Alex told him to make room for real fans and didn't actually let him buy the books to sign. There wasn't even room to let it breathe as a joke. That is what happened, and he dismissed my friend from the line.

14 some years later as an adult, Alex Ross had a booth at Chicago. I was waiting for a crowd to clear at someone else's table, so I was just meandering around in front of Alex and someone else. He had all his original art and prints in portfolios laid out on the table, as they do.

There was a kid, probably like a 4th grader, who was drawn to all the Justice League (the comic series) material laid out, and he started flipping through it. And he was being very gentle and looking at everything with reverence.

Alex walked over, pulled it away, closed it, and then pulled the other portfolios on that section back while saying, "This is serious art for adults."

The kid looked stunned. Myself, my friend Andrea, and some other people at his table all looked at each other. Andrea laughed , really loud and cruel, and asked "Is he serious? Is he somebody?" and I said, "That's fucked up. He paints Batman, obviously kids are gonna be an audience" and he gave us both a dirty look.

I allow that a lot of people I meet at cons can be gruff and aloof because most creative types are introverts and don't actually want to be put on display, and it's also just a very stressful time. I do get it.

But I stand by what I said. You paint f****** Batman dude. Get over yourself.
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Guy is a pompous egomaniac - treats his fellow creators as lesser competitors. Comics is a “kiss the ring” business, but he wants people to bow down before him. I have a difficult time separating the person from the art, so he’s persona non grata in my collection.
 
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It's funny how much of the people behind the art we get just by looking at the art if we look - or feel. I didn't know any of that about Alex Ross but his work was always pompous and offputting to me. Working in other mediums behind the scenes it fascinates me how little the audience realizes how much of the writer/producer's POV they are ingesting. Most will never know who that person is but they are getting that person's thoughts with every beat.
 
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scottg10 said:
I don't think being an introvert leads to being an ass. I'm an introvert, but I inherently try to treat people with respect. In fact, if I'm in an uncomfortable situation, I'm more likely to hide it than direct it at anyone.
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You're right, I didn't mean to connect introversion with assholery. I don't believe that to be a thing. Poor stock of words for conveying what I want to say, even now.
 
I like Ross' art but his online store shows he wants top dollar for just about everything he produces. Don't get me wrong he's obviously very talented, but like a lot of pro's like Adam Kubert, he's settled into an "easy" production style where the art is more or less just there and you get what you pay for, there's nothing really groundbreaking or anything that will blow you away. You can appreciate it for what it is, but not at "Stan Lee when he was alive" signature prices. He's not really in my top 10 favorites, so if I don't get anything of his signed before he passes it's not the end of the world to me. Plus given these stories he sounds like less of a Neal Adams / John Burne grump where at least you got the vibe they were nice people once you got to know them. Con behavior really sets the precedent for how someone may view you, so if you can't at least be polite to the folks who traveled from who-knows-where to come see you, let alone a small child, you probably should just send someone to run your booth in your stead.
 
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