I've decided that I'm going to celebrate June by celebrating friends. Each day I will tell you a bit about a friend that I love and why they are so awesome. It could be that they are awesome just because they are awesome. I think you'll think the same. No rhyme or reason to which friends I pick. No order. Just random picks. If I leave someone out, it means we broke up and I'd like my pants back.
You knew this one was coming, didn't you? My old best pal John Cassaday! That's us up there with our mutual pal John McCrea in the middle a couple of months back. I first met John back at the very end of the 90's. He was dating a good friend of mine. It was her birthday but through a big mixup with the date/invites/last minute changes or something...the few people she invited out didn't make it. I walked right past her and John at the bar and it was only because she saw me and called out my name that I stayed. She had been waiting to introduce me to him since she knew I was a comic book nerd. Of course, I knew of him as I was reading Planetary (the comic he was drawing that was written by Warren Ellis) and it was still in the early issues. We hit it off right away and he told me to "shoot him an email". Which I did. And we've been pals since. A lot of you have met him and know him so you know he's such an awesome person. For those that don't...prepare ye!
- Not many people I could contact during an extremely bad time that would drop everything and say, "Let's meet to chat over a drink". I've had a few tragedies (as we all have) over the years. Deaths, gravely ill niece, financial woes, etc. And each time I contacted him he was right there. Immediately. That's a real friend.
- He's one of most humble people I know. He is arguably...no, fuck that...he IS one of the best cartoonists alive and always in high demand. Yet is still so dedicated to the craft. Whether he's working on a series or covers or other special projects. I've invited him out to some cool stuff and he has had to stay in to finish something or even leave early if we are out so he can go home to finish.
- He went to school for TV/Film and worked in it for quite a bit before getting into comics. He's had many leads to work in that arena and even directed an episode of Dollhouse for his pal Joss Whedon. As widely reported back in 2006, he was even supposed to direct the movie version of a comic he did called I Am Legion until it got stuck in development hell.
- I know I'm silly about my birthday party and expect everyone to drop everything. He's been at every one whether there were 5 people or 75 because he knows it's important to me. His birthday is a few days after mine but he always makes time for mine.
- Speaking of birthdays. One year, our pal Nick, invited John to spend his birthday in Philly. Since ours are so close, he suggested we spend ours together there. We were sent out a limo and everything. John paid for my hotel as my bday present (The effin Waldorf Astoria). It was one of the most fun weekends I ever had.
- He's been a huge supporter of my podcast COMIC NEWS INSIDER since back in the beginning. Not just coming on when he could but introducing me to TONS of people in the industry. It was mainly because of him that I've met/interviewed/sometimes befriended the likes of Joss Whedon, Jim Lee, Nathan Fillion, Darwyn Cooke, and so many others in the comic book and entertainment industry. He still does to this day.
- He's just a big supporter of me as well. When I was doing sketch comedy, he came to every show. When I was toying with the idea of turning the story of finding/meeting my sister into a graphic novel, he said he'd do the cover. So much more. Though he's not a sycophant. If he thinks I need some tough love, he'll give it. And he's usually right.
- He's one of those people that everyone wants to know. And when they meet him, they just like him all the more. It's not a disappointment like when you meet some people you admire. Especially to comic book fans, he'll sit and chat with them for quite a bit.
- I can say, secure in my heterosexuality, that he's a pretty motherfucker. Ladies LOVE him and I witness it often. Once, some super hot yet drunk girl was hitting on him relentlessly. When she wasn't getting anywhere, she started to verbally attack me as if I was the reason she was failing. He immediately defended me and asked her to move along and leave us alone. He'd rather spend quality time with his friends than worry about having his ego stroked.
- Like me, he's fiercely loyal to his friends. If someone is being a jerk to me (as in the example above), he'll stick up for me. I've seen him do it for several friends. And he just goes out of his way to help friends when they need it. Heck, he'll go out of his way to help strangers!
- He's a really generous person and believes in taking care of his friends. I've always appreciated it and reciprocate as well.
- He once asked me to be part of a special project with only a few others. While the plan fell through, it always meant a lot to me that he even considered me and wanted me along for the ride.
John and I used to hang out about 4-5 days a week. No exaggeration. We lived closer to one another at the time and our hangouts were in my neighborhood. We could often convince each other to come out at 1 or 2am because of our proximity. Alas, I moved to East Harlem 6 years ago and then Washington Heights 2 years ago, so I tend to want to get home more. Plus I'm old now. We still hang when we can and are pretty inseparable at San Diego Comic Con. While we don't do the multiple times a week hang, I know I can still count on him if I really need him. Total bro's. I hate that I just typed that. It was either that are Total BFF's. Which I hate even more. But you get the picture. Wait...no, I got it. TOTAL BRO FF'S!
New Year's Eve 2005 at The Slipper Room.
SDCC 2006. We first met Jason Lewis whom introduced us to his then girlfriend Rosario Dawson whom we've become pals with both since.
SDCC with our friend Jenny in the back of a pedicab (do NOT ever do this). The guy was crazy and all over the place and then tried to charge us $60 for traveling about 10 blocks. It was a fun ride thought!
Another SDCC. Not sure what year either. That's our mutual pal Brett Matthews on the left. And some guy named Joss Whedon on the right. He may have a future in TV/Film.
At one of my many birthday parties.
Doing one of our anniversary podcasts live at a bar. That's mutual pal Paul Pope on the left and Producer/old co-host Joe on the far right.
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