My buddy Matthew Nelson saw Jim Steranko at Denver Comic Con and related how he told crazy-ass stories that scared...
My buddy Matthew Nelson saw Jim Steranko at Denver Comic Con and related how he told crazy-ass stories that scared the shit out of little kids. But apparently Steranko does this on Twitter too, and Matt transcribed this tweet story. Needless to say, I'm now following him on Twitter. This is gold. Thanks, Matt!
"I'd hadn't encountered Kane in my travels, but at one rockin' SDCC, an associate asked me if I wanted to meet him, ... and walked me into a hallway. There he was, in a small group of people, wearing patent-leather shoes-- ... and an ASCOT, like he was Vitamin f*****g Flintheart in a Dick Tracy cartoon. ... For years, I'd heard how he'd taken credit for Bill Finger's contributions (in addition to half his pay) and other ... despicable tales from his associates. But nothing aces an in-person encounter. We were introduced and Kane began talking ... about my Batman chapter in the HISTORY OF COMICS, which treated him--and everyone else--very respectfully. ... He felt I credited Robinson & Finger (both of whom I knew intimately) too much. Kane (aka Kahn) was beyond pretentious, ... an intolerable ass as pompous as they come. I bit my tongue while he regaled us with his many achievements. ... The group was waiting for an elevator, which they stepped into when the door opened. Our conversation ended, ... but not before he said: 'See you later, Jim, baby,' ... and cuffed me across the face--like some rat-pack street gesture he'd seen in some cheap flick. The doors closed ... I was stunned by the sheer audacity of a stranger--like him--to lay a hand on me, and boiling with anger. ... That night, I couldn't sleep and the next morning began combing the halls for his Bat Majesty. Around noon, I found him ... in another group, which I walked into. 'Good to see you, Bob, baby!' I said, then bitch-slapped him across the face. ... But this time, there was no elevator door closing between us. I stood there for about 15 seconds, waiting. He did nothing. ... I turned and left. But I regret it now. I regret that he didn't do anything about it, ... even though he was at least a head taller than me. I wouldn't have minded bleeding at all for one more opportunity ... to give Kane the kind of Bat Lesson that Finger, Robinson, Sprang and others only dreamed of."
Happy to say I've got his autograph in my sketchbook. He was at the Cinci Comic Con a few years ago. :)
ReplyDeleteYou should follow him on Twitter. Everyone should.
ReplyDeleteHe was incredible. We helped him set up his table, and he told us some stories about the comics we brought for him to sign (mainly talking smack about Stan Lee). When I agreed with him that he should have earned combat pay for working with Stan, he asked me to be his agent. Then his spotlight event turned into a bunch of stories about growing up being tortured by gangs of psychotic kids and the revenge he took on them.
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