AU REVOIR, MONSIEUR LE DHARBIN!
Hey guys, it’s me, Dustin Harbin! I know we’ve been quiet lately, since HeroesCon and last week’s awesome Adam Hughes release party and signing. I’ve been going through this very site, slowly but surely and changing over everything to reflect HeroesCon 2011. While we haven’t nailed down exact dates, Shelton is working hard on it, and even though I don’t know the dates yet, I do know the 2011 part, so I went ahead and stuck that up there! I’m most of the way done sprucing things up, but I’m sure there are a few little bits I’ve missed, so I’ll be cruising back over it next week to clean it up just so.
The other thing I’ll be doing next week is teaching other people how to do the stuff I do, although they know most of it already. Once again, and for what must surely be the last time, I’m going to go paddle out alone into the world of freelance cartooning, and thus end nearly 15 years of working for good ol’ Shelton Drum, who has been like a second father to me all these years, and under whose employment I’ve learned pretty much every professional lesson of my adult life. I mean, I’ve worked here since I was 21, way back in 1996, when Marvel was getting ready to go bankrupt and Kyle Rankin was the new Green Lantern and everyone was complaining that the price of an issue of same had gone up to a buck-fifty.
While I’ll still be around, especially as we switch things around for a new era of awesomeness for the store and HeroesCon, it’ll be more as a cheerleader and occasional helper-outer than a member of the paid staff. If you need anything, I would direct you to Shelton or Shawn Daughhetee, who will be handling a lot of the con gruntwork I have for so long. Shawn is about as nice a person as you could ask for, way nicer than I am, so be nice to her too okay?
Okay, I gotta go and write the Hotline, so I’ll cut this short. But just let me say thank you very much to the staff who have endured my persnickety peculiarness and control-freakitude for so long, and also who have been awesome co-workers. Also thank you to my man Andy Mansell, who’s just amazing all over and who did a lot more than anyone gave him credit for on HeroesCon this year–a lot of why it went so smooth you can lay directly at his doorstep. If every comics shop had a customer like Andy Mansell, the direct market would be a lot healthier; or at least super friendly.
And thanks most of all to Shelton, who hired me when I was barely an adult, and who’s been patient with my stubborn refusal to become any more adult, and who has let me run with a lot of ideas that others might have balked at. A good dude, that Shelton, the rest of you could do a lot worse in a boss like him. Ha! Suckers! To the rest of you guys, I’ll see you occasionally browsing the racks at Heroes Aren’t Hard To Find. And with luck next year as a guest at HeroesCon, provided my nascent cartooning career goes somewhere. Wish me luck!
We will miss you! You have taught me a lot over the past four years. I hope that I will one day be as well regarded as you are. Thank you for the kind words!
Good luck, Dustin.
It’s always been a pleasure.
Happy Trails, Amigo!
It’s clear that HeroesCon wouldn’t be as magical and friendly without you, especially Indie Island. Good luck and hopefully we’ll still be seeing you around town!
Dustin, I believe the Green Lantern you are thinking of is Kyle Rayner. You really didn’t learn anything about superheroes your whole time there, did you?
Good luck in the next phase, man. See you on the Twitters!
Looking forward to what the Shawn regime brings…
All of us Indie Island folks are for sure gonna miss you… but best of luck with your endevors from here on out. (“Freelance cartoonist”?! You’re gonna be poor like me soon!)
Dusty, the store/show won’t be the same without you in a driver’s seat, but if anyone has the chops to tear up the world of cartoonin’, it’s you. Can’t wait to see all the great stuff you knock out.
What did I say, Kyle Rankin? Is one of them a zombie now? I don’t know, I don’t read that stuff!
Also, thanks a ton you guys, you are super duper sweet.
Thank so much for such a kind sentiment.
For once I am at a loss for words.
So I will quote one of my favorite movies:
“The place won’t be the same without you….padre”
–Sean Thornton from The Quiet Man
and my favorite comic character:
“Thank you too much; you are the gem of humanity”
–J.Wellington Wimpy
Knock ’em dead!!!!
You always took care of us at the shows, we’ll miss ya!
All of us here at The Event Magazine want to thank you and wish you nothing but the best
Dusty,
Good Luck. Shawn will have a tough time filling your southern gentlmen shoes. She’ll just bring her on Special shoes. Good luck on your new endevour. I’ll be taking notes.
Vaya con dios, my friend. Everybody’s rootin’ for ya, and we expect great things. 🙂
Best of luck on the fulltime cartooning path Dusty. I look forward to still seeing you at the shows but just on a different side of the tables. Your humor and hardwork will be missed inside the Heroes Con family and I think Shawn is a great choice to continuine to keep Heroes Con the fantastic event that it always is.
Brian
*SOB*!
Best of luck, my brother. I’ll tell ’em to just go ahead and start engraving your name on those Eisners.
Best of luck in your professional efforts and thanks for all that you’ve done for the local comics scene during your tenure at Heroes.
Good Luck Dustin, you will do well, as you always have! Shawn is a natural, she’s got Heroes back, just like you did. Best of luck in your future, I’m sure it will be bright! Best, Paul.
Best o’ luck to you, Dustin!
Best of luck, Dusty. See you in Casanova.
Dustin, I owe you one for making me tear-up (just a bit) as I read your farewell. You will be missed…
Peace and Prosperity, Amigo
Heroes memories! Robert I was just telling someone on Monday about back when you were a minister and I asked you about coming a Muslim temple meeting and you were very politely like “aahhh, I’m not sure our temple is the umm, best place for a casual visit.” Hilarious!
And…you deftly change the tearing of sadness to a hearty laugh.
BTW, just picked up Casanova. No one letters like my bud…