Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, jack kirby

When Jesse Met Jack

Published Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:30:51 -0500

It was January 25th 1982 when my comic book life began. I had got a job, and went straight to the friendly neighborhood comic book store right after school to sling comics–before I even knew what a comic book was. Every day I would sort comics, bag and board them. It was a hard life growing up and I did it all for bags, boards and comics. Yes it was a pain staking life for this 12 year-old kid starting a life in the great world of comic books–but I learned comics…and learned to love them too..

I was brought in right by Mary and Tom Heiner, owners of The Friendly Neighborhood comic book store. They loved and respected comics, and passed that along with every sale they made–and to this day I try to run my own store the same way. Its really about culture, passion for the material and maintaining the foundation of the comic book business and history everyday.

This shouldn't be something brushed aside or forgotten. I do however look back and look at where my journey has taken me and I wonder if I've just been lucky the last 30 years. After all, my beginnings had some very special help; I was introduced to the big picture of comics with my first store signing–only two or three weeks into collecting.

I was assigned to watch a table for a creator and was to make sure no one cut in line. At such a young age–and maybe a solid 5-feet tall and a whooping 75 pounds–I knew this was going to be a challenge. However, as I saw this older man come in I thought to myself, "How many people are gonna actually want to see this guy?" However as the line outside grew and went around the corner, I started to get very nervous because of one simple fact; the gentleman wasn't signing for another 2 hours and all these people were already there. It dawned on me that this unassuming guy might actually be a real big deal.

Then it happened. The gentleman walks up to me and says, "So, you're Jesse, eh?" I, of course proudly announced that YES I was! The guy nodded and said, "Okay just make sure no one cuts in line, okay? Oh by the way my name is Jack Kirby." Keep in mind I had only been into comics for three weeks at the most, so I really had no ideal what was really happening at that very moment.

But the day went smoothly. However, I wondered why grown men were literally crying as they took pictures or just shook his hand. I was amazed as with each comic Mr. Kirby would sign, he would open up the book to his favorite page and tell a quick story on how and why it was his favorite page and then sign the book. And he had done a LOT of comics and remembered them all.

That night was the greatest night of my comic book life as we went for dinner. I sat next to Kirby the whole night, listening to him talk.

By that point, he wasn't talking about comic books and really I don't think we wanted him to. We drank in everything he did talk about, history, science, WWII, the world… Near the end he asked me, "So Jesse who is your favorite character?" Not quite sure, I responded with "The Avengers." Kirby then said "Well that's a team, who is your favorite single hero. I had just got Avengers #172 with Hawkeye on the cover, so I blurted out "Um…Hawkeye!" Kind of stunned, he said "WOW that's nice…" I think I stunned him by choosing a hero few thought much about, if at all.

The truth is, that as I was saying 'Hawkeye,' I could hear my inner self saying "NOOOOOOOOOOO! Say Captain America, not a nobody hero!" To this day though,

Hawkeye has been my man and I will never change out of respect respect for Mr Kirby and that special moment we had shared. I have a wall that is all Hawkeye art work from many creators to honor Mr Kirby in my store as well.

As you probably know, I own a comic book store and try to always remember that our culture and history are very important–as are the very special people who created and maintained and nurtured the art form they were creating. Those creators made a fine thing (comics are still vital 75 years later!), and passed it on to us with pride and love. Creators like Jack Kirby should stay in our hearts and minds forever for what they have done for this industry, and for the fans. I will never forget that day I spent with Jack Kirby, the day that really made me a die-hard devotee of comic books and everything connected to them. I mean, if this great man could give his energy, love and everything inside of him to comics, how can I do less?

As I prepare for the New York Comic Con this week, there will be a newly minted fan somewhere shaking hands with a creator for the first time and his or her comic book life will begin from that moment. Who knows they might even be writing an article 30 years from now about when they started their first steps into the comic book world. A world where even a 12 year-old can live like a KING!