Countdown to Final Crisis 5 page 9 by Starlin

So if I asked you about art, you'd probably give me the skinny on every comic art book ever written. Jim Starlin, you know a lot about him. Life's work, comic book aspirations, him and Rod Ramos, Countdown to Final Crisis, the whole works, right? But I'll bet you can't tell me what it smells like under that sink. You've never actually stood there and opened up that cupboard to find the boy; seen that.

If I ask you about women, you'd probably show me a portfolio your personal pin up art favorites. You may have even got a Legion commission few times. But you can't tell me what it feels like to wake up next to Una and feel truly happy. You're a tough kid. And I'd ask you about war, you'd probably throw Lucas at me, right, "May the force be with you." But you've never been near one. You've never held your Anakin's head in your lap, watch him gasp his last breath and look upon you with his own eyes for once.

I'd ask you about love, you'd probably quote me Archie comics. But you've never looked at a Betty and been totally Dan DeCarlo. Known Veronica who could level you with her thighs, feeling Paul Dini put a Triplicate Girl just for you. Who could rescue you from the depths of hell. And you wouldn't know what it's like to be her angel, to have that love for her, be there with her animal infection, through anything, through Crisis. 

And you wouldn't know about reading the issues of Countdown to the Final Crisis for two months, holding Una's hand, because the doctors could see in your eyes, that the terms "visiting hours" don't apply to you. You don't know about real loss, 'cause it only occurs when you've sold artwork for less than you bought it yourself.  And I doubt you've ever dared to love any artwork that much. And look at you... I don't see an intelligent, comic art fan... I see a cocky, scared shitless kid. But you're a genius Miki. No one denies that. No one could possibly understand the depths of you. But you presume to know everything about me because you saw a Crotch Goblin painting of mine, and you ripped my fucking life apart. You're an art collector right?

You think I know the first thing about how hard your life has been, how you feel, who you are, because I read DC New 52? Does that encapsulate you? Personally... I don't give a shit about all that, because you know what, I can't learn anything from you, I can't read in some comic book. Unless you want to talk about you, and your art. Then I'm fascinated. I'm in. But you don't want to do that do you sport? You're terrified of what you might say.

Your move, chief.

Freakin' awesome!

A Great One!!!!