I'm a (moderate) hoarder.

This is a little post about my love of comics and some of my experiences in that world.

1976 Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man: The Battle of the Century. The first ever crossover over of Marvel and DC Comics. I'm pretty stoked I kept this over the years and FINALLY decided to frame it. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_vs._The_Amazing_Spider-Man

A big part of my childhood was reading and attempting to copy the art of comics. In 1984 or '85, I took a "cartooning" class at the "Creative Workshop". Once a week, after school I would take the #92 bus from Cheshire to New Haven. My mother at the time was lending her talents to the "Neighborhood Music School", which was just up the block. My instructor was Tony Basilicato. He was a fantastic artist, puppeteer, teacher and best of all... he believed in me and showed me that you could make art as a living. He was really instrumental in facilitating my love of all things cartoons and comics. Durning that time, Tony was working on publishing his first comic with Mirage Studios. He offered for me to do a "back page" on one his comics, "Prime Slime Tales". I didn't do it because I doubted my skills and was a stupid teenager. Regret.

He introduced me to some other indy comic guys that you may have heard of. Eastman and Laird. This was right around the time that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were born. I have a copy of the first printing of TMNT #1...signed. Probably should dig into my parents attic and find that, since Ebay has one listed for $34,000.

I loved my time there. I started loitering around the studio on days there were no classes. I just wanted to be around it. I became a "runner" for all of them. Getting coffee and full brown paper bags from the local comic book store. Tony was also working on another comic that didn't come out until 1986, Geriatric Gangrene Jitsu Gerbils. Mirage Studios definitely had a theme going. The whole experience was crucial in fostering my passion for comics and cartoons.

I have a few more comic tales and run-ins with comic greats but thats about it for now.

-M