Ma, Simon :: Comic Art

Convention sketch 1996 – Moebius

Artist: Jean Giraud (All)

5 Comments - 552 Views - 3 Likes

Convention sketch 1996 – Moebius Comic Art

Click Image to View Full Size

Additional Images:

"Why is this chap standing in front of me with his mouth open?" – Moebius at UKCAC 1996

Previous Item:
Zombie – Alain Voss

Artwork Details

Title:	Convention sketch 1996 – Moebius
Artist:	Jean Giraud (All)
Media Type:	Colored Pencils
Art Type:	Remarked Item
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	552
Likes on CAF:	3 4
Comments:	5
Added to Site:	9/20/2021
Comic Art Archive:

Description

35 years may seem an arbitrary span of time to commemorate but today is the coral anniversary of the first time I ever attended a comic convention: the second day of UKComicArtConvention 86. I was a Johnny-come-lately in missing not only the first day of the con (I thought I was indispensably needed at work that Saturday; on reflection, I certainly was not) but the first ever UKCAC the previous year. (Similarly, before you ask, I was tardy in my appreciation of original comic art so I did not go wild buying twice-up silver and golden age OA for three-figure-and-under sums of money. Apart from a handful of exceptions, OA just did not register with me so I may have passed tables groaning with prime examples of comic art but I have no such recollection.) I did however attend both days of every subsequent UKCAC until they came to an end in 1998. Did they transform my life? Not in any immediately noticeable way – I did not find a job in the industry – but they did allow me to meet some of my all-time favourite creators and they also gave me many happy memories to look back on and bring a smile to my face as I get older and more decrepit with each passing year, and for that I owe both Hassan and Frank, the organisers, an enormous debt of gratitude – thank you, guys! One of the things they did from time to time was spring a surprise on us by having a guest who, even though they featured in the programme and schedule of events, did not feature in the pre-booking publicity. One such occasion happened in 1996 (silver anniversary!) when the great Moebius made an appearance. Because I was not aware he was going to be there I could not delve into my heavily-laden holdall to bring out some comics for signing that I had brought with me. Instead I had to go back into the dealers’ rooms and get a couple (“two items maximum per signing”) of Moebius comics. One was a copy of Parable 1, cheap enough for me not to mind having a duplicate copy; and the other was a shop-soiled and therefore heavily discounted copy of Chaos, which I had balked at when it came out because it was so expensive. When I passed the comics over to be signed by Moebius instead of him just scribbling his name in them and returning them he turned to a blank page near the front of Chaos and started to draw an unerringly perfect outline, before breaking out some coloured pencils to add depth and definition to the drawing before sliding the book back to me. I would like to think that I thanked him profusely but I may have just stared at him open-mouthed. I would never have had the audacity to ask he-who-was-generally-considered-the-greatest-living-comics-artist-at-the-time to do a convention sketch for me, but for him to do it unsolicited just bowled me over. He must have asked me my name so as to personalise it (and typical of pupils who attended a boys-only school in the 70s I gave my surname only). I understand this is common practice by artists so as to render the artwork less re-sellable. Well, he needn’t have worried; this one is a keeper. In fact, if you ever see this copy of Chaos in a second-hand bookshop, on eBay, or, horror of horrors, in a skip/dumpster then you will know I have gone away. Perhaps I will be queueing up for another pair of items to be signed by the Master. Merci beaucoup, Monsieur Giraud! (And thanks to Bill for setting this up.)

Social/Sharing

About the Owner

	Simon Ma ( 2 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	April 2013
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED KINGDOM
On CAF:	Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

Contact the Owner

Use can use a contact form to send an email to this gallery owner,
but, you must be logged in to use this feature.

Comments on this Artwork

You must be logged in to make comments.

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

Posted on 9/21/2021

A gift by the one of the greats to be cherished with sentimental memories attached. Moebius' inspiration at that moment bottled in this drawing.

Simon Ma
Member Since 2013

1 - Posted on 9/21/2021

Marcus Wai wrote:

A gift by the one of the greats to be cherished with sentimental memories attached. Moebius' inspiration at that moment bottled in this drawing.

Honoured to have my maiden upload graced with a succinctly well-phrased comment by a renowned and esteemed CAF presence. And you, sir, have one well groovy collection.

Kristian Pedersen
Member Since 2008

Posted on 11/13/2022

Great story! I never met Moebius, unfortunately. But I did find a copy of "Le bandard fou" with a tiny drawing, practically a doodle, from his hand.

Simon Ma
Member Since 2013

Posted on 11/15/2022

Kristian Pedersen wrote:

Great story! I never met Moebius, unfortunately. But I did find a copy of "Le bandard fou" with a tiny drawing, practically a doodle, from his hand.

Hey, if you like it then you must post it. "Sharing is caring." as Bill likes to quote. Always nice to see a Moebius if one does not have the stamina to read any of his longform works which need complete concentration. Thanks for your comment. I was very lucky that day.

Kristian Pedersen
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 11/15/2022

Simon Ma wrote:

Thanks - I've posted it now - you can check it on my profile :)

All
	Abraham Martinez 9/5/2025 9:33:00 PM
	Chris Johnson 9/5/2025 9:08:00 PM
	Dave Kopecki 9/5/2025 9:07:00 PM
	Alan E 9/5/2025 8:55:00 PM
	Paul P Spiderversity 9/5/2025 8:26:00 PM
View All