Heroes Con Memories: No, I’m Not Chris Claremont’s Toady

As a kid in rural Nebraska, I had access to three comics: G.I. Joe, Spider-Man and X-Men. No surprise, then, that I considered Chris Claremont to be the pinnacle of comics writing.

I still enjoy his run on X-Men, but over the years I’ve grown out of being such a fanboy. Which serves to explain how I didn’t even notice Claremont’s name amid the Heroes Con 2009 guest list. If I had, I wouldn’t have gone for an autograph, but I might’ve tried to say hello.

But I didn’t know he was at the show, and so I went about my merry existence working the Top Shelf table, covering some panels for CBR and sitting on my first panel (about digital publishing).

Finally, it was time for the show to end. I made one last run for the bathroom as we were packing up, but before I could make it to the men’s room, one of the few remaining fans grabbed me and said, “Oh my God! Chris Claremont! Will you take my photo with him?”

I turned and saw a gentleman with white hair and goatee quietly packing up his things. He looked spent after a long weekend. For some reason, I agreed. The girl handed me her camera. She posed with Mr. Claremont. They smiled. I snapped a photo, then another. I handed her camera back…

And when I turned around, I saw a line of about six people, each with their camera held out. “Will you take mine?” the next person asked. For some reason, I agreed. It seemed Mr. Claremont was eager to escape, and he might have flashed a quick glare my way. Or maybe I imagined it out of guilt.

The next person in line didn’t even ask, just shoved his camera at me. I took the photo. That was the end.

I turned to the waiting line and said, “I’m not Chris Claremont’s photographer,” and I walked off for the men’s room. I had wanted to add, “I’m a comics writer too!” But, in hindsight, that would’ve been even more pathetic.