Look, Up In The Corner!

Yes, check out that lovely photo of me. It was taken at Wizard World, the big comic book con held each year out in Rosemont, many years ago.

Courtesy of a friend of mine, who made superhero costumes not only as a hobby, but for DC Comics and Alex Ross, among other clients, I am dressed as Tempest. (I had to wear a dance belt in that get-up. Never again.)

Anyway, the creator of Tempest*, an openly gay artist working for DC, was at the convention, and my friend made sure we stopped by the DC booth. He introduced us and the artist politely complimented me on what fun it was to see his creation come to life.

Fast forward to the next day. There I am, dressed in normal clothes, standing in the men's room... well, doing what one does when one is standing in the men's room. When all of a sudden there's a voice over my left shoulder: "You looked really hot yesterday in the costume."

I turned my head. It was all I could turn. I was busy.

Yes. It was the artist.

It was an awkward moment. I couldn't really turn to face him, but I felt I had to respond. Two things occured to at almost the same moment: artist would not approach someone who looked really hot dressed as his creation in the bathroom unless he wanted a little somethin'-somethin', if you know what I mean. And artist didn't seem to have much common sense. If you're gonna approach someone in the men's room, wait until their hands are free.

(This reminds me of another awkward moment involving gay men. Many, many years ago, back in Grand Rapids, I was at the cast party for Blood Brothers, starring a perennial favorite of mine, Petula Clark. I was busily cruising an attractive young chorus boy, we were engaged in witty conversation, when all of a sudden he says, "Oh, I want you to meet somone." He grabbed me by the elbow and spun me around, and there was Petula Clark. Understand this: I LOVE Petula Clark. "Petula," he says, "this is one of our presenters." Pet looks me up. Pet looks me down. Pet says: "Where's dessert." Not even a question. Pet wanted dessert. "Um," I cleverly responded, "I think they're bringing it out now." Not only did I blow the one chance in my life to impress Petula Clark with my wit and charm, I didn't get the chorus boy either.)

*Fellow comic geeks: Yes, I know Tempest was a revamp of Aqualad. I didn't want to confuse the non-fans.