Kevin Maguire

When I was 11, I was forced to get allergy shots each week. It was a lousy thing and I dreaded it... until I discovered the Waldenbooks across the parking lot from the clinic. It became my ritual: walk in, get the allergy shots, walk over to Walden's for 20 minutes, back to the clinic to check for allergic reactions, go home.

It was in Waldenbooks that I decided what I wanted to do with my life.

I bought a copy of Justice League International for a buck one afternoon. At home, I pored over the detail in the artwork. I wasn't quite at the age where I was remembering the names of artists I liked, but I remembered the guy that drew JLI - Kevin Maguire.

Maguire's artwork was a strange thing to see in a comic book. It wasn't goofy or sloppy or trendy. There weren't stupid, overblown muscles that didn't exist bursting out of the superheroes he drew. Instead, his work was soft and subtle. He paid close attention to gesture and proper anatomy. He understood facial expressions and lighting and composition. He pulled off the near-impossible and made it look easy.

My issue of JLI #23 grew worn and ragged from the reading, re-reading, scrutiny, analysis, and straight up copying of the artwork inside. I read that thing and said to myself, "this is it. This is what I want to do. I want to draw for a living. If I can draw pictures that can inspire others the way Kevin Maguire inspires me, I can die a happy lad."

To this day, Maguire remains my favorite. He's not the fan-fave he used to be, but he's still popular. Nearly 18 years later, if it says "Kevin Maguire" on the cover, I'm sold.

And last night, Carey handed me a flat package she'd won on eBay, backed with stiff cardboard. "It's a big day," she said, "let's get it framed for your birthday next month." I opened it up to find original Kevin Maguire artwork - a page from JLI #23.

It's the real thing, too, man. Maguire's signature is on the back, with the official DC Comics stamp and everything. Inks by Kevin's best inker: Joe Rubinstein. It's gorgeous.

So, "thanks" doesn't quite seem to say it, but thanks, Care. I still can't draw like Kevin Maguire, but think I can die a happy lad.

posted by Jeremy Bear 8:01 AM

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Monday, April 04, 2005

The IRS has made April Fools of us all.

Because I'm so terribly clever:

JER: Hey. Babe. Wake up.

CAREY: Hnh?

JER: We got a letter from the IRS. They're saying we missed the deadline and now we owe them double.

CAREY: Wha? What do you mean... wait, WHAT LETTER?

JER: I just opened it. Do you want to read it? We're screwed.

CAREY: We missed the... I thought... wait wait, are you kidding me? Double?

JER: Sorry, sweetie. Isn't that a bummer?

CAREY: DOUBLE? We can't... are you SERIOUS?

JER: No. April Fool. I gotta go to work. Love ya.

And, of course, a half hour later, on my way to work, the cell phone rang.

CAREY: Hey. It's me. I don't feel good.

JER: What's the matter?

CAREY: I'm sick. I threw up. A lot.

JER: Aw. Did it make you feel any better?

CAREY: No. It was all blood.

JER: Huh?

CAREY: It was blood.

JER: That you threw up?!

CAREY: Yeah.

JER: BLOOD?!

CAREY: Yeah.

JER: God!

CAREY: Do you think I should go to the hospital?

JER: I don't know! Maybe! So you looked in the toilet and you saw--

CAREY: April Fool.

Just a taste of the fun we have in the Bear household.
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On Saturday, though, we went to have our taxes done. (I know, I know. Hey, at least it's before the 15th, right?) Er. We owe a lot. It's pretty dire.

(*Editor's Note: Never claim "9" on your taxes if you don't make much money and you have no children. It's a really, really bad idea.)

The good side of it is the accountant we're using seems to be a straight arrow and he's helping us out with the last year's audit situation. Hopefully we can get that ridiculous thing reduced a little.

So, while the rest of the world mourns the fallen Pope, we find ourselves mourning our disposable income.

(Speaking of the Pope, though, I thought the comic pictured at the right was a gas. I wish I could say it's made-up, but no. That really was a legitimate Marvel comic from 20 years or so ago. The Spidey head makes it.)
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After being shell-shocked at the accountant's office, it was time to hit Scott and Stephanie's for a ridiculous evening of limosines, spirits, food and general excess. Always a memorable evening with that crew.

Unfortunately, I drank a little too much (thank God for limos).

And unfortunately, Carey drank a lot too much (her April Fool's prank was literally realized, minus the blood, after we got home).

So, Sunday was sort of a lazy day of nauseous recovery.

Fun, but we really shouldn't do that. After all, we have two impressionable cats at home that look to us to be responsible adults.
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Oh, by the way, Aunt Nancy came in second, which didn't get her a vacation, but it did get her $500 and a one-year supply of Eagle Brand Premium Dessert Kits, which, being honest, is better than a dumb old vacation anyhow.

Congrats, Aunt Nancy.

posted by Jeremy Bear 4:07 PM

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