Daredevil Message Board

[blacktyphoid]

I'm so sorry to hear about Gene Colan's declining health.

In September 2001, I travelled to Worcester, Massachusetts to attend a surprise 75th birthday party for Gene. The event took place at a big comic book store and all Gene knew was that he was scheduled to make a "celebrity" appearance. About two dozen of us so-called "Colanuts", including those who flew or drove in from New York, New Jersey, Ohio, California and Canada assembled in a side room of the store about an hour prior to Gene's appearance. We were old and young; American and Canadian; wealthy and poor; married and single; geeky and hip; Jew and Gentile; Hispanic, Asian and Caucasian. We had a great time meeting with each other. Despite the vast diversity, we all had two things in common: a love of comics and, in particular, a love for the work of Gene The Dean. Don McGregor, one of Gene's great collaborators (Nathanial Dusk), also came in for the event and subsequently joined us.

When Gene was announced and after he and his wife, Adrianne, settled in, all of us traisped over, single file, to the stage with a huge birthday cake, singing "Happy Birthday". Everyone in the store stopped what they were doing and joined us at the stage with Gene and Adrianne. Gene generously signed autographs for everyone in the store. I had him sign autographs for a bunch of comics I brought from home.

At the store, I found a couple of Archie comics drawn by Gene, which I snapped up! Can you imagine Gene's sleek cinematic style overtop of an Archie story? It is to be seen to be believed!

As a birthday gift, somebody presented Gene with the original artwork from a 1940s newspaper comic strip daily drawn by Gene's all-time favourite artist, Reed Crandall. Gene was practically in tears.

Later that day, we travelled together to an auditorium at the University of Massachusetts to view a retrospective of Gene's work. In the evening, we all got together for dinner and drinks at the top floor of a three storey restaurant that was reserved for us.

It was a great and unique experience. Needless to say, Gene was emotionally overwhelmed by this open display of affection and respect from his fans and peers. Adrianne later told us she felt this event would add years to Gene's life.

(Footnote: Just a week after this joyous occasion, the world witnessed the 9-11 terrorist attack. All the innocence and fun generated from that weekend event with strangers from all walks of life was abruptly slapped from my being.)

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blacktyphoid

[train]

thanks for sharing a nice story.

[MaxP]

Wow, what a great story. Very cool of you and the others to go to such trouble to attend and hold a party to show your admiration of Gene the dean. That must of made him feel so great. Too bad about the timing. Anyway thanks for sharing.
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Later from MaxP