My First C2E2 and My First Boyfriend:

My boyfriend and I weren’t officially boyfriends (he’s my first, squee!) when he asked to join me for my first C2E2 trip to Chicago last year. I was worried he would be bored to tears, but that was the trip when I saw just how much of a trouper he is. He showed me kindness that I had not experienced from gay guys before, including helping me get this comic book signed with its final autograph!

The line for the writer J.Michael Straczynski of this comic was huge; fucking huge. It was about an hour and a half wait, which to some is standard but I’m not used to, because I play it smart like that. I had a dozen of Straczynski’s Spider-Man issues, but quickly realized that there was a limit of comics he would sign.

But my wonderful boyfriend, trouper that he was, offered to wait in that line with me the whole time, listening to me go on and on about comics, and to hold three of the books so I could get more autographed.

I will always remember how wonderful it felt to have a man offer to do such a favor for me, sacrificing his own time for me, willing to do something miserable to make me happy. He had offered to participate in an important part of my life, collecting comic books, just because it was important to me.

When we finally made it to the author’s table, it was a real treat. The line had lasted so long because Straczynski was willing to talk to the fans and was very friendly. An even greater surprise was the presence of his frequent collaborator, illustrator J. Scott Campbell, sitting next to him, who was the cover artist for this comic! When my boyfriend approached him with this issue, Straczynski signed it and then graciously passed it to Campbell to sign. And so, thanks to my wonderful boyfriend and thanks to conventions the previous year, those two signatures made this my first comic to be signed by the entire creative team!

What’s Inside:

This issue began the run of TV writer Straczynski who, particularly in the beginning, refreshed Spider-Man after his lowest period, though it did fall apart near the end. This storyline introduces the idea that there may have been a subtle, supernatural element to Spider-Man’s origin and was an early attempt to bid farewell to Mary Jane. The issue number is confusing; it is issue 30 because the series had been relaunched with a new #1, but the numbering was changed back once the what-would-have-been the 500th issue began approaching. Ah, Marvel.

Writer: J. Michael Straczynski

Artist: John Romita Jr

Publisher: Marvel

Condition of My Copy: Covered in signatures! Just look at it! Smothered with the ink of writer Straczynski, artist Romita Jr, inker Scott Hanna (who is totes a nice guy btw), and cover artist Campbell. Hopefully someday I can add the colorist’s and editor’s John Hanpenises as well!