Dragon Lady Birthday Surprise by Jordi Bernet

As I turn 55 today, July 16th, I post this piece for you viewing.

I love Jordi's work and over the years we have become friends. Over 10 years ago now, my wife Jane and I visited with Jordi at his house and studio in Barcelona and then went out for a Michelin starred dinner. It was one of our first trips together when the kids were old enough to be left with family and help. It was also one of the first times I really got to know one of my comic art heroes outside of conventions. That relationship continues with Jordi and we got to see him in 2024 again at the Lake Como Comic Festival. We were back this year again and got to see him again which was nice. Such a nice man and of course one of the most important comic creators alive.

This year at Lake Como I spent a bit of time on the floor but spent a lot of the time with Jane and a friend on the lake and in some of the smaller towns. I had also spent way too much on a brilliant Corto Maltese piece and was not looking for anything to potentially tempt me. I am not a big commission guy anymore and most of the artists I want art from or want to meet, I've been able to do both already. So the show is really to just look around and reconnect with friends. It is a great social scene.

This year, while I was doing other things, Jane and Jordi conspired to surprise me with a Dragon lady piece. I had no idea. Jane asked Jordi to do it. He wanted to do it for free apparently but Jane insisted on paying him so she did and our friend Joe Dragunas brought it back to North America for us. Joe was up for a visit this week and brought the piece with him. It was a total surprise. I was so busy focusing on the Corto Maltese I brought home from Italy and friends that I was completely oblivious to the machinations that were ongoing. Needless to say, this is one of the best birthday presents I have or could have gotten.

I think Jordi did a fantastic job as always. I have some pretty cool Dragon Lady pieces by Jordi already in my collection but those were all planned. Our shared love of comic art, strip art and in particular Milton Caniff has no bounds.