This morning I signed on as usual...  checking my Facebook Wall and opening up my email accounts.

Immediately I noticed several mentions of the passing of Dave Simons, who had become a 'Facebook Friend' back at the end of 2008.

Like many of my Facebook Friends, Dave was a 'regular guy' in corresponding with me even on a limited basis. He was quick to acknowledge mentions I made of him in my blogs and replied as quickly to questions I asked of him.

Dave was a well known artist in the comics and animation fields.  So I thought a lot of his comments and messages to me, and that he would take the time to comment or write.  

Matter of fact, my first mention of Dave in my Blog was back on January 4th, 2009 when I blogged about the fact that Chic Stone would have been 86 years old and posted the cover to Journey Into Mystery (JIM) #72 with the blog.  Dave added his comment on my FB Wall about my post.  Here's the mention from that blog: 

Dave Simons said "I think that issue of JIM was the first Marvel comic I ever read. Bought it coverless at the local store when I was about 7 years old."

A little later in the month I blogged about Dave's attending the NYCC 2009, (New York Comic Con), in a post that mentioned earlier works of Dave's and what he was then currently working on.

I also mentioned in the same post that 'The Dave Simons Appreciation Society' had been recently started on Facebook by Daniel Best for Dave.  Which had been started because Wikipedia had rejected the initial entry for Dave Simons.

Daniel's header for the group page on Facebook started with...  "Since the Wikipedia site wants to believe that Dave Simons is 'not inherently notable' I think it's now the right time to show people how important, and loved, Dave really is. Let's spread some good cheer to our favourite inker of all time!"   That  group can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=1300067983&share_id=90113658385&post_id=90113658385&comments#/group.php?gid=47188527707&ref=share. 

I of course joined that group, as well as the Facebook Comic Con Artist Table set up by Michael Netzer for Dave at that ongoing virtual comic con.   See the following link for the FBCC Table: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=61183184136&ref=nf#/group.php?gid=61183184136

By the way, Wikipedia later relented and allowed an entry for Dave, which you can see here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Simons, and just look at all Dave was involved in during the years! And to think that they thought an entry for Dave was 'not inherently notable'...

I mentioned Dave attending the NYCC a few more time in blog posts concerning others that were also attending the same con. 

Then I included him in a post about the April 2009 Boston Con:  http://blogs.ebay.com/make_it_so_marketing/entry/Bret-M-Herholz-Appearing-At-The-Boston-Comic-Con-2/_W0QQidZ773804011.

Dave later submitted Sketch Cards for a charity auction that I blogged about here:  http://blogs.ebay.com/make_it_so_marketing/entry/Special-Sketch-Cards-Benefit-Auction-Listings-Endi/_W0QQidZ777784011.  The auction was the 'Comics For Cures' for the American Cancer Society.

All during this time Dave was fighting for his life.  I hadn't known about it earlier, and just a passing mention was made.  However it was more serious than Dave let on to casual friends.  As Daniel Best said last night in his blog, "the cancer was back, with a vengeance and the doctors had given him anywhere from six months to two years to live". 

Yet Dave still made time to help support projects that he thought worthwhile, including the upcoming Inkwell Awards, as seen at this post:  http://blogs.ebay.com/make_it_so_marketing/entry/The-Inkwell-Awards-Are-Returning-For-Their-2nd-Yea/_W0QQidZ807380011.

Stacey Aragon sent me the link to Daniel Best's blog from last night, which was informing his blog readers of Dave's passing, which you can view here:  http://ohdannyboy.blogspot.com/2009/06/dave-simons-1954-2009.html. 

Additionally Stacy is the Co-ordinator of the 'Inherently Notable - An Art & Writing Jam in Appreciation of Dave Simons"   which can be found here:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=54828152653&ref=ts.  The event itself started back on March 12th and ends this Friday, June 12, 2009 at 11:55pm.  Please note it in Your Calendar to attend as it is a virtual event and can be attended at any time.

Special Note:  You don't have to travel to see all the entries submitted and the appreciation for Dave Simons! Just go to the link shown above at any time!  

The following description for the above event was written prior to the death of Dave Simons.... "(This) is the second virtual Art and Writing Jam event @ Facebook Comic Con, dedicated to and in appreciation of veteran comics artist DAVE SIMONS. Please help us in honoring Dave Simons, by sketching your rendition of him and/or any of the many characters which he has worked on, or writing about them. Sketches should be accompanied by the tagline "Inherently Notable" where possible".  

My 'Facebook Friendship' with Dave Simons was of short duration, but a rewarding one for me.  I am the better for 'knowing' him even for this short while, although I had enjoyed his works for several years earlier.  Thanks to magic of the FaceBook social network I was able to get to 'know him better', and I for one will miss the opportunity to correspond with him, or see him at Cons closer to our immediate area. 

Dave's works will continue on in print / online in some format for decades to come.  His works will be appreciated by those that first read it when they were published like myself, and by those that will be following us in the future and just finding out about Dave Simons...  Thanks Dave for Your Legacy of Work!

Please Note:  Because of all the links leading to non-eBay pages, and with eBay's policy of not allowing those 'hot' direct links,  this will be another one of our blog posts that will not be found in our eBay formatted Blog. 

This Blog, at http://www.comicbookcollectorsblog.com/ is our main Blog, and you should 'Favorite Place' or 'Bookmark' it for future reference. You may notice that several of the links included in the above paragraphs are directed to our eBay formatted posts, which are easier indexed for retrieval of topics.  

Sometimes I get reminders for topics to run in my Blog...  which are appreciated!  They come in the forms of emails, messages, calls, hard copy requests, TV Show mentions, etc. 

Well, yesterday morning I had an email from Tim Brown, Webmaster- Superman Celebration and host of the Superman Celebration Fan Film Competition, reminding me that this is the week for the Annual Superman Celebration in Metropolis, Illinois.

Then late yesterday afternoon, while driving I was station punching on my car's radio buttons, and happened across Brad Meltzer talking about the same topic on the Glenn Beck Radio Show! 

OK, enough hints! LOL!   Today's topic is this week's THE Superman Celebration taking place, starting on June 11th and ending June 14th, 2009!  

  Of course there are media guests and comics guests at this Celebration!  One guest that I have seen before, and always worth listening to, is Noel Neill, who will be at this Celebration.  Matter of fact, there will be a 'Tribute to Noel Neill' on Friday, June 12th, 7:00 pm at the Artists Alley.  Seating is limited, so be sure to get there early!  

  Another guest, (and Facebook Friend), is Gail Simone!  She is a comic book writer best known for her work on DC Comics' Birds of Prey series.  Would you believe she is also the first female ongoing writer for the character Wonder Woman?!

  Well, I mentioned that I heard Brad Meltzer on the radio talking about the Celebration.  Last year he was on the same radio program stating that there was a fund raising for saving "Superman's House".  He was pleased to state that the fund raiser grossed over $100,000 last year!  Brad is a writer of comics and novels. He is well known for the 'Identity Crisis' for DC Comics, and has now taken over the Justice League of America for a relaunch.  It is not known by this blogger if Brad will be attending the Celebration or not, but I wanted to include him because of hearing about his work for the Superman House and mentioning the Celebration Week.

  Oh... and I did mention that Tim Brown reminded me first, right?!  Well Tim is the Owner and Executive Producer of Inked Monkey Productions.  His company is returning for a third year at the Superman Celebration after successfully hosting Fan Films in 2007 and 2008!   Tim is also a film editor and videographer who has done work for Coca-Cola, Maw Productions, Pencil Neck Studios, and for the Superman Celebration produced a tribute video to Christopher Reeve!  

Please Note:  For a schedule of events you need to look at the following - http://www.supermancelebration.net/index.php/schedule . The guests mentioned above may not be there all days and times or not be on any programs or panels.  Times, guests, and programs subject to change!

Tina and I can't make this great Superman Celebration Week in Metropolis, but for all those of you that are or could... Have Sum Fun!  

I have an affinity to the San Diego Zoo...  which dates back to 1969 when I was a Senior in High School, and started my first 'paying' job there during the Christmas Vacation. Between that job and selling at the earliest San Diego Comic Cons in the early 1970's, I earned enough money to put myself through college.

  So when my folks asked us to go with them yesterday to see the newest exhibit at the San Diego Zoo, 'Elephant Odyssey', I said sure!  My folks are 'sponsors' of the Zoo, and were among the guests asked to attend the Opening Night festivities for the Odyssey earlier last month.  My dad also has an affinity toward the Zoo as he worked there just before I did, after his retiring from the US Navy. 

The first thing I noticed was the vast openness of the new exhibit... which I knew would be expansive as I had joined my folks for a special luncheon for sponsors many months ago when the exhibit was just on the drawing board, and the Zoo was looking for additional sponsor funds to build it. 

  The second thing I noticed was one of the keepers who came out and was taking care of a couple of elephants within the enclosure.  I kiddingly told Tina, 'Look it's Shanna!".  Within a few minutes out comes another keeper, and Tina said... 'And there's Sheena, just for You!"

  Well, we finished watching the two take care of those two elephants and started moving on with my folks.  Turns out that 'Shanna & Sheena' were also going next to where there were two more elephants in a different part of the Odyssey.  (There are a total of seven elephants mentioned on the Zoo's web site as being at the exhibit, and we saw all seven.)  We watched the two keepers carry a bale of hay and a bucket to the enclosure, and smiled when they started calling the elephants just like real 'Jungle Queens' would!  The elephants came right over to them and started almost posing for the Zoo goers, as seen at the top left photo of this post.

  So what does this blog post have to do with comics or even pop culture?   Well, next month is the Comic Con International San Diego - CCI (or the San Diego Comic Con as we old timers still call it, SDCC).  Even though it starts on a Wednesday afternoon  / evening and ends on a Sunday late afternoon, many Con goers come out earlier in the week to see San Diego itself.  

The San Diego Zoo (and even their Wild Animal Park in Escondido which has more elephants), is but one additional place I could recommend for sight seeing while out here!  After all you gotta get out of the Convention Center and breath 'fresh air' sometime! 

Which is funny for me to say, as Tina and I 'live' at the San Diego Convention Center starting early Wednesday afternoon when we pick up our membership badges!  Then to make sure we have parking in the underground structure, we are there at the wee hours of the morning till late at night after the evening programs stop running!