So, I broke down and finally joined Twitter about a week ago.  This may not come as much of a surprise to many of you, but it still is some kind of confusing to me.  For one, it seems as if you're getting only PARTS of conversations.  But if the tweets I saw are true, then it appears that they delivered in one respect -- they informed me of the passing of a true Legend in the comic industry -- Al Williamson. Al Williamson was a GOD among inkers and was an illustrator without peer to many.  He has worked for nearly every comic company out there for generations.  But most important to me, he was a mentor who encouraged me to pursue the industry .  He stands as a paragon to me along with Archie Goodwin, Mark Gruenwald, Bob Harras and Larry Hama as the people who gave me my start that led me down the career path my life has taken.  In fact, he was the first. It all started WAY back when there used to be a comic book convention called the Dallas Fantasy Fair.  It was the biggest con that ever came near my hometown of Marshall Texas, and when I was a young teen... we would make the summer trip there every year. A staple guest at that convention was none other than Al Williamson, always seemed to be seated next to Sergio Aragones (if you don't know Groo, shame on you).  It was at my very first DFF that I took some samples of my artwork (I'm being charitable to myself as a youth to define it as that) to be evaluated.  I got a lot of, "That's good, kid... keep practicing" and other polite responses, but it was Mr. Williamson who took one look at my notebook pages, grabbed a pen and told me to come sit beside him.

I didn't know who he was at the time, but he was sitting in artist alley (which if memory serves, was actually OUTSIDE of the actual entrance that year) so I knew he was "a pro."  All the same, I did as he demanded.  He then proceeded to point out that my pencilling was crap, but my inking showed promise.  I didn't exactly even know WHAT inking was.  All I knew was, I liked the shady bits.  He then, using his pens, began FIXING things on my character pages and explaining why he was doing what he was doing, about light sources, etc.

This continued until I heard someone with a thick accent tell me, "Hey kid, get outta my chair before I break you face."  I was sitting in Sergio Aragones' seat.  Him I knew.  I fell out of the chair trying to keep my face intact.  He and Al (and several others) burst out into laughter.  Al put his hand on my shoulder and said for me to keep working and to come back whenever he was "around" and show him how I had progressed.

So, for YEARS I would meet him at conventions -- DFF and a few others.  He always laughed, because he always remembered me.  I learned a lot, and the free art lessons stuck with me.  I devoured every word he ever said. 

I did get to work with him a few times, on a few projects... and he was even tapped to ink Warrior's Way (my previous comic).  That would have been a dream come true.  But alas, that never happened.  I had hoped to meet up with him again at a convention (I still have that blue binder somewhere in storage) and catch up.  He was the first to see something in me that made him want to take the time to teach me.  I will always owe him a debt I can never fully repay, and now I can't articulate.

Today, I mourned the loss of a mentor.

The best I can hope for, is that perhaps I can pass on the knowledge, the mentorship, and the hope he instilled in me to others.  In so doing, perhaps in some small way I can try to repay the kindness of a truly legendary, kind, god among men.

Rest in Peace, good sir.  Rest in peace.