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| Bart Sears |
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| Cully Hamner |
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| Denys Cowan |
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| Ron Garney |
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| Ron Willson |
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| Todd Dezago |
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| Mike Grell |
As with most conventions, Baltimore Comic Con offered a magazine to attendees. The biggest benefit, for me, was the map and directory for where everyone was sitting. That was a life saver many times in helping me zip around the showroom floor from table to table.
I had to pull out my Heroes For Hope: X-Men book to grab a few more signatures from the convention. One of them was from someone I was supposed to grab two years ago when there but was so tired from walking around that I decided to call it a day. I'm glad I finally checked that name off the list.
Mike Grell was quite happy by the person ahead of me from Texas, who apparently owns his own whisky distillery, and brought the artist a few sample bottles. Grell said that he may need to get into them soon, to which I laughed and said, "He'll be signing books as Mark Graham by the end of the show, and telling people, what do you care what it says, I signed it." Fortunately, the joke landed.
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| Paper Girls cover by Cliff Chiang |
I had to pull out my Heroes For Hope: X-Men book to grab a few more signatures from the convention. One of them was from someone I was supposed to grab two years ago when there but was so tired from walking around that I decided to call it a day. I'm glad I finally checked that name off the list.
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| Signed by Charles Vess, John Workman, and Mike Grell at Baltimore Comic Con 2025. Signed by Jim Shooter at Big Lick NOVA 2025. Signed by Art Adams, and Joe Rubinstein at Awesome Con 2024. Signed by Al Milgrom, Bob McLeod, Chris Claremont, Howard Chaykin, Klaus Janson, Louise Simonson, and Walter Simonson at Baltimore Comic Con 2023. |
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| Charles Vess |
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| John Workman |
Mike Grell was quite happy by the person ahead of me from Texas, who apparently owns his own whisky distillery, and brought the artist a few sample bottles. Grell said that he may need to get into them soon, to which I laughed and said, "He'll be signing books as Mark Graham by the end of the show, and telling people, what do you care what it says, I signed it." Fortunately, the joke landed.
P.S. Mike was the person I missed out on a couple years back.
One of the things I missed out on at the last Baltimore Comic Con was taking the time to walk the floor and just grab a few signatures here and there from artists who I didn't necessarily have anything else for but were / are big names in the comic world. Admittedly, there were a handful of other signatures I wanted to get but missed out on because either their line was capped until later in the afternoon, they'd taken a break, and would be back later in the afternoon, or were doing a panel, and would be back later in the afternoon. Oh well, I got more than enough to walk away happy.
Bart Sears is not only a legend in the comic industry, but worked on the art for many toy lines, including, C.O.P.S., G.I. Joe, World Wrestling Federation, and the 90's X-Men Toy Biz line.
Some of Mike Grell's standout work in the comic industry include Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and The Warlord. Mind you, that's only the tip of the iceberg.
I'm not going to lie. I was a bit miffed when I told Richard Case that he could sign on the back, and he said, "I think I found a good spot on front," and proceeded to sign over both Brian Michael Bendis and Bob Wiacek's signatures.
Case started in the comic industry working under Walt Simonson before becoming the main penciler for Doom Patrol and even worked on the iconic Neil Gaiman Sandman series.
While at his table, Ron Garney regaled us with the story of the time he met William Shatner. Apparently, Captain Kirk was quite a jerk to him and basically told him to pound sand. The two were guests at the same show, and one of the staff brought Garney to the same room Shatner was in. When Garney told him that he too was a guest for the show, Shatner was taken aback. Things only got worse when the artist dared to sit on the same couch as the thespian, who voiced that he was note pleased about it. When Garney tried to apologize to him later when he saw him again at the hotel, he was basically blown off. Wow...I would have told Kirk where he could go ahead and beam himself to.
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| Mike Grell |
Though no new signatures were added, here's the back of the book, signed only by Jim Starlin.
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| Signed by Jim Starlin, at Baltimore Comic Con 2023. |
One of the things I missed out on at the last Baltimore Comic Con was taking the time to walk the floor and just grab a few signatures here and there from artists who I didn't necessarily have anything else for but were / are big names in the comic world. Admittedly, there were a handful of other signatures I wanted to get but missed out on because either their line was capped until later in the afternoon, they'd taken a break, and would be back later in the afternoon, or were doing a panel, and would be back later in the afternoon. Oh well, I got more than enough to walk away happy.
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| Signed by Bart Sears, Mike Grell, Richard Case, and Ron Garney at Baltimore Comic Con 2025. Signed by Guy Dorian Sr. at Big Lick NOVA 2024. Signed by Art Adams, Jeph Loeb, Jim Salicrup, and Joe Rubinstein at Awesome Con 2024. Signed by Art Suydam, Jim Shooter, Mark Waid, Michael Golden, Renee Witterstaetter, Rick Leonardi, and Ron Marz at Big Lick NOVA 2023. Signed by Al Milgrom, Alex Saviuk, Bob Hall, Bob McLeod, Bob Wiacek, Brian Michael Bendis, Chris Claremont, Howard Chaykin, Jim Starlin, Jon Bogdanove, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Judy Bogdanove, Keith Williams, Klaus Janson, Louise Simonson, and Walter Simonson at Baltimore Comic Con 2023. |
Bart Sears is not only a legend in the comic industry, but worked on the art for many toy lines, including, C.O.P.S., G.I. Joe, World Wrestling Federation, and the 90's X-Men Toy Biz line.
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| Bart Sears |
Some of Mike Grell's standout work in the comic industry include Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and The Warlord. Mind you, that's only the tip of the iceberg.
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| Mike Grell |
I'm not going to lie. I was a bit miffed when I told Richard Case that he could sign on the back, and he said, "I think I found a good spot on front," and proceeded to sign over both Brian Michael Bendis and Bob Wiacek's signatures.
Case started in the comic industry working under Walt Simonson before becoming the main penciler for Doom Patrol and even worked on the iconic Neil Gaiman Sandman series.
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| Richard Case |
While at his table, Ron Garney regaled us with the story of the time he met William Shatner. Apparently, Captain Kirk was quite a jerk to him and basically told him to pound sand. The two were guests at the same show, and one of the staff brought Garney to the same room Shatner was in. When Garney told him that he too was a guest for the show, Shatner was taken aback. Things only got worse when the artist dared to sit on the same couch as the thespian, who voiced that he was note pleased about it. When Garney tried to apologize to him later when he saw him again at the hotel, he was basically blown off. Wow...I would have told Kirk where he could go ahead and beam himself to.
The Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America, X-Men, Daredevil, Silver Surfer, Hulk, Garney worked on them all, and then some.
Back side
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| Ron Garney |
Back side
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| Signed by Billy Tucci, Charles Vess, Cully Hamner, Denys Cowan, John Workman, Josh Baylock, Marc Hemper, Ron Wilson, and Todd Dezago at Baltimore Comic Con 2025. Signed by Christopher Priest, Guy Dorian Jr., and John Beatty at Big Lick NOVA 2024. Signed by Mark Bagley at Awesome Con 2024. Signed by Howard Mackie, Jae Lee, Pop Mhan, and Terry Kavanagh at Baltimore Comic Con 2023. |
Unless you read Shi in Top Cow Comics, Billy Tucci probably isn't a name you're too familiar with. He was definitely big in the indie circle of the 90's, helped all the more by frequent shout outs in Wizard Magazine.
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| Billy Tucci |
Charles Vess has delivered a treasure trove of fantasy artwork and even worked with the likes of Neil Gaiman. However, for me, his work will always stand out for those wonderful covers he did sporadically for various Spider-Man titles back in the 80's.
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| Charles Vess |
Cully Hamner is best known for his work on Green Lantern, and Blue Beetle. Truthfully, I only snagged a signature from him because there was nobody at his table, and he only wanted a couple bucks in donations for signing books.
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| Cully Hamner |
Denys Cowan was kind of rude to me when I stepped up to get his signature. When he saw that Jim Shooter had signed the book, I told him how Jim was great and literally signed hundreds of books for me one year. He looked me dead in the face, and said, "I wouldn't sign that many for you." Okay...I didn't ask you to. Be happy I'm paying you to sign one of my books.
Though his name has floated around the industry for a long time, Cowan's most popular contribution was the character Static, a comic which many fans look for. Personally, I've never read it. Based on my interaction with him, I never will.
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| Denys Cowan |
John Workman is credited with many lettering contributions to some of the best comics of the 80's. He's worked with all the greats in the process. Without his words, you'd only have pictures.
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| John Workman |
Josh Baylock was the lead artist on G.I. Joe when it was relaunched by Image Comics / Devil's Dues back in 2001.
He was selling commissions for only $50.00, but when I asked if he'd do a Peter Parker for my "Decisions" series, he said it would be too much work for him to do at the show. I get it, so no harm done.
Beyond his work with Neil Gaiman on Sandman, I don't know much about Marc Hempel. Unfortunate, since he's worked for just about all of the companies out there; DC, Marvel, First Publishing, Mad Magazine, Malibu, and more.
Ron Wilson worked pretty steadily for Marvel Comics from the early 70's through the 90's, though his contributions to Spider-Man were limited to just two issues. I suppose in hindsight I could have brought those books along for his signature.
Todd Dezago worked mainly on The Sensational Spider-Man, but contributed to more Marvel books in the 90's. Honestly, it was his affiliation with my favorite wall crawler that got me to walk up to his table.
Another thing I often miss out on at the shows is actually having the time to walk around and buy stuff. I suppose this could be a good thing, because when I do actually stop to smell the roses, I make bad decisions, such as this.
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Did I need an Amazing Spider-Man 121, the death of Gwen Stacy, signed by Stan Lee? No. Did I need to spend the money on it? Absolutely not. Am I glad I have it? Ecstatic!
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| Josh Baylock |
Beyond his work with Neil Gaiman on Sandman, I don't know much about Marc Hempel. Unfortunate, since he's worked for just about all of the companies out there; DC, Marvel, First Publishing, Mad Magazine, Malibu, and more.
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| Marc Hemper |
Ron Wilson worked pretty steadily for Marvel Comics from the early 70's through the 90's, though his contributions to Spider-Man were limited to just two issues. I suppose in hindsight I could have brought those books along for his signature.
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| Ron Wilson |
Todd Dezago worked mainly on The Sensational Spider-Man, but contributed to more Marvel books in the 90's. Honestly, it was his affiliation with my favorite wall crawler that got me to walk up to his table.
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| Todd Dezago |
Another thing I often miss out on at the shows is actually having the time to walk around and buy stuff. I suppose this could be a good thing, because when I do actually stop to smell the roses, I make bad decisions, such as this.
%20121.jpg)
Did I need an Amazing Spider-Man 121, the death of Gwen Stacy, signed by Stan Lee? No. Did I need to spend the money on it? Absolutely not. Am I glad I have it? Ecstatic!
We'd gotten there just before 8:00 AM, and I was on my feet the entire time until 2:30 PM. I was hurting, tired, hungry, thirsty, and really didn't need to spend any more time walking around. I honestly didn't want to walk around anymore, take photos myself, or necessarily look for things to buy that I didn't need - Especially since I'd already checked that box pretty hard.
Overall, another great convention, a good time, and I'm happy to have had the opportunity to go, and add more great signatures to my comic collection.
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