Hey guys. I thought I post my story of the Virgin Megastore with you guys for no apparent reason. Anyway I got there at about 10:30. At first I didn’t see anyone. I was really happy to see they had alot of the comics there so I bought all the one’s I didn’t have along with my third copy of Mallrats so I could get a wrist band to wait in line. So me and my friend paid for our shit, and went to the back of the line. After about an hour the line started to move. Kevin came down and a few people shouted some stuff and then he started autographing stuff. When we finally got to Kevin he was mad cool. He signed my friends stuff and then mine and we asked him a few questions. We asked about the Dogmathon and he said he wants anyone to be able to be allowed in as long as they’re dresses as Jay and Silent Bob. They weren’t enforcing the 2 item only rule so I got three things signed. I talked to him for about two minutes (I made him laugh too, my proudest accomplishment in my life) then we let the next people go. We went outside where Jay was having a cigarette and talked to him for a little, with a few other people too. I got all my shit signed by him too. Some girl got him to sign a pack of blunts and a cigarette. After all this I went nextdoor to Circuit City and bought an overpriced disposible camera and got some pics with me and Jay and some of Kevin. So all in all it was the coolest day of my life and both Kev and Jay were fuckin awesome as hell. I guess thats all. If anyone else has stories please post em. Later! – Mike Neuman
Well, ok, first of all, it is (or was, almost, by now) the Union Sq. store, not the Times Square one… Kevin smith was, of course, there signing away on the lower floor, but I didn’t recognize anybody else. I spake with somebody in a View Askew t-shirt (don’t know who he was), and he said that there was no Mallrats laserdisc and there pretty-much never would be… I dunno. That’s all I have to say. I left when I heard that, contrary to previous reports, there were no laserdiscs being released. BLLAAHHHHHHHHHhh. – Werner
Just got back. They had tons o’ copies by noon today. Maybe Kevin will tell us what happened with them. I didn’t ask him about missing Stern, since he probably got asked that a lot. I’m sure he’ll tell us on the board. As of 2:45 he was still signing. He wasn’t limiting people at all. It was supposed to be one copy of Mallrats and one other item, but Kevin didn’t mind signing 3 or 4 other items. Virgin was selling the comics and the scripts for people too. Some people reported that Kevin said Dogma was coming around 1st or 2nd week Oct. I didn’t hear that firsthand so take it with a grain of salt. While Kevin was inside signing (I believe with one of the guys who mastered the special edition), Jay was smoking outside and signing stuff. A bunch of kids were harrassing him and couldn’t understand why people kept getting his autograph. They didn’t believe he was an actor. When he signed my copy of the dvd, he showed them his pic on the cover and said “That’s me.” Kevin is looking into the region coding issue, so that fellow askewers the world round can enjoy the special edition. Kevin was wearing a pin from the hospital that reads “It’s a Girl!” He is still trying to decide whether to put pictures of Harley up or not. I’ll let you know if I think of anything else. He signed my copy to my wife and I saying “This is now communal property.” – Steve Cohn
Thought you might like some views on what it was like. First, due to a friend with no concept of time, we didn’t get to the store until almost 1:30pm. We immediately went downstairs and purchased our copies of Mallrats and were told that the line was capped and no one else could get in it. I was not going to have this so I went over by where Kevin was and asked someone who worked at the store how long the signing was for since they said the line was closed and it didn’t look that long. They guy told us we could wait at the end and if Kevin had time we would get to get an autograph. As time progressed and line moved really slow (Kevin does like to talk), we were told numerous times that the person in front of us was the last person in line and we were not guaranteed an autograph. Then they decided that there would be no standby. Knowing that Kevin will not turn fans away if he can help it we waited in line even though they told us we could not get autographs. Sure enough, at about 2:40 or so, they said we could go up. I got my DVD signed, took a picture with Kevin and asked when we would finally be hearing about a distributor for Dogma. His answer was in the next two weeks once all the loose ends were tied up and it will be released the second week in October. Something to look forward to!!! That about sums it up – Eileen
I just got back from the trip back from The Virgin Megastore. I had a little trouble because one of the clerks at the Times Square store said that he was going to Times Square, that was wrong. I still made it to the Virgin Megastore around 11:45. I was all dressed in my Silent Bob and Jay shirt with my Notre Dame hat on (If anyone saw me). Since NYU was right around the corner I saw some student filmmakers bringing there school cameras and taking pictures and clips of Kevin. There were a lot of groups who got there signature on a lot more then two items, while also giving him some videos of their own. I saw some people pulled off line for not wearing the bracelet to prove that they bought Mallrats, but other then that almost everybody got their autograph. They had many displays with various movies, comics, screenplays, and a lot of Mallrats DVDs. They were even showing Mallrats on all the screens around the store. We were all very pleased when somebody pointed a finger, and then a camera, at Jay. As pleasant as always, was making hilarious remarks just right of Kevin. He just walked in and started shopping for music like any customer, it was kind of funny. Those who were on line at the time still had the chance to see him outside the store. After much time online I brought myself, my Mallrats and my Clerks comics to the king himself. He wrote a funny comment on both and we exchanged a handshake as I asked questions (like everyone else did). I asked about the Distributor of Dogma, and he said it is official that they have one and it should be out the second week in October! I said congrads on the Baby and walked very tall out of the door with my items. Then it got better, Jay was there to sign my stuff and then kind enough to take a picture with me and my friends. As someone said before I saw these two kids harrassing him and talking his ear off. It was my first time seeing Kevin Smith and Jason and I had a good time and hope to do it again soon. – Forest
I was second in line after getting there at 8am. Not too large of a crowd at all…Kevin seemed pissed off. Jason Mewes arrived shortly after and was EXTREMELY cool and gratious with all people who approached him. I had to ask Kevin that (possibly) overasked question “Who’s YOUR favorite New Kid?” to which he replied “I guess I’d have to go with Donnie.” Hey, It’s the Mallrats DVD release date, I had to! Overall, it was a pretty uneventful signing. Virgin was raffling off a palm-sized DVD player that Jay seemed to enjoy playing with. Later, as I talked with him outside he said that he had asked them if they could get him one for free. He said that they had told him that “they would see what they could do” which sounded to me like they were blowing him off! I also took plenty of pictures so I’ll send them ASAP. Very cool day…Thanks Kevin and Jay! – Dan Maksym

sup yall? I had a damn good time at the Virgin Megastore….got there at around 11:30..bought my mallrats dvd….there was a huge line that I didn’t feel like waiting on…so some cool cats decided to save my space….I went upstairs and brother Mewes was outside yappin to a group of people….I gave him the DJ mix that I promised him…we were talking for along time about hiphop and this and that…I went back downstairs to get back in line to get my stuff signed…and Kevin was cool and as down to earth as he always is…I congratulated him on his new baby girl and told him to pay back Howard for acting like a lil bitch even though that’s how he always acts….I went back outside again as it was pretty much completely over and Mewes was outside about to jet with these 3 girls that he knew and he asked me if I wanted to chill with them…..So I went with them to some Bar and Grill type place….we ordered a pitcher of beer and the gals got some food….we played some pool…! .bullshitted….had fun…..then went back to one of the girls place in Manhattan…..Jay and I were damn tired so we caught some zzzzz’s….went out on the town later that night and random people were coming up to jay because they recognized him…..I finally got dropped off at Grand Central and as I got out.. jay said that we should chill again….and I told him only if he promised me anal sex….he agreed…so we’ll see what happens……- DJ Andy

After 3 years I finally got to meet Kevin. He was “mad chill” as my friends and I would say. I was acting like a total fanboy, gawking and oggling. I apologized for my fanboy behavior but he didn’t care. After telling him how I first came across his movies shortly after my father’s death and they made me laugh I thanked him for being an inspiration to me, an aspiring filmmaker. We also had a chance to talk about the Catholic League. He told me how he thinks they have ” No sense of humor. Not only with the movie. They just have no sense of humor.” The point was also brought up that they are neglecting the fact that, regardless how we get our point across, we all believe in the same thing. Not to mention the fact that Kevin has a right, as a Catholic, to say his own thoughts on the religion since Jesus himself said we all have an inherent priesthood. The whole experience was great. There is still so much I would have wanted to talk to him about but I’m not complaining, the 2 minutes I had were one minute and 57 seconds longer than I expected. And Kevin did not dissappoint.- Rolando
Sorry about this being so late…anyway, I was determined to be first online (I was the dude with the Hawaiian shirt with all the ladies in bathing suits on it). So, after judging past experiences with signings, I didn’t sleep the night before and I showed up at 5 am. I stood alone on the corner of 14 and Broadway for the whole morning. The highlight being a dude walking past me at 6:13 am calling me “Fuckface” for no apparent reason. The second person online showed up at 8 am. By 9 am, there was about 10 people online. Anyway, so we got inside the store at 9 am just to find out that they didn’t get our DVD’s in yet and they didn’t know where they were going to set up. And 8 of the 10 people on line behind me had no interest in Kevin, they just wanted their passes to meet the Ramones later that night. So I set up a mock line in the basement next to where some dudes were setting up a stage for the Ramones appearance later that night. By 11:00, there was about 15 people on line. And the finally got some DVD’s in. Six of them. Luckily, since I was first in line, I was the first person to get my DVD. And the first person that found out that they overcharged everyone who pre-ordered the DVD an extra $1.50. So after an inexperienced sales girl figured out how to give me my money back, I finally got my DVD. Kevin showed up at noon and was as kind and gracious as he’s been the last two times I’ve met him. I ask him how he felt about the John Byrne controversy (he doesn’t really care anymore) and I got him sign my rare Mallrats teaser. After telling him I got my poster at the store where I work and telling him that we have the Chasing Amy video posters if he wants to pick up any for the Stash, I’d give him a discount, and slipping him a business card, I was on my way. (in case you want to know, he hasn’t dropped by….yet.) So at 2:30, my friend stopped by my store just to tell me that Jason Mewes showed up later and was signing stuff. And I missed him because I was first in line. How annoying is that? Anyway, all in all, a terrific time was had, and I gained one more crazy experience in my life. – Flack150

i had gotten to the store at about a quarter to twelve and i was pretty shocked. i figured the place would be packed and there would be no dvd’s left. there were about 75 people waiting by kevin’s stage and more then plenty of dvd’s (sorry guys…). i waited about 20 minutes and kev showed up. people clapped and the place got revved up. about ten minutes later, a roar went up and jay was coming down the escalator. other then that i was bored as hell, cause i had gone alone and waited about 2 hours on line in my uncomfy work clothes. i had gone to the stash bash back in march, had there were so many people around then, that i really didn’t get a chance to talk to kevin at all. the cool thing about the megastore signing was that when your chance came to get your stuff signed, the person behind you kinda hung back and let you have your time. i slid kevin my dvd and my vhs copy of mallrats. they really weren’t enforcing the 2 items rule and i could kick myself for not bringing other stuff. anyhow, i asked kevin about vince (or lack-there-of) and the holy roller-protesters (or lack-there-of). kev said he didn’t know where vince was, and that he thought there’d be some protesters, considering the event wasn’t hush-hush or anything like that (and considering the only places the catholic league really sought out dogma info was on the net), and that it goes to show you that the people were only interested in badmouthing a movie haven’t even seen, rather then take advantage of an opportunity to actually have an open dialogue with the guy who made the movie. that was the gist of what he said. then he signed my dvd, ”connie where are all the protesters? kevin smith”. as he was signing my vhs, he asked me who i was on the board, i told him my moniker, and he said ‘oh, that’s you, it’s good to finally meet you’ and he reached out and shook my hand. but i’m pretty sure he doesn’t remember who i am, but it really made my day. oh, yeah. i thought this was funny, but they played mallrats on a continous loop during kevin’s signing and at one point i looked up on the big huge screen and watched topless ivannah in all her tri-nippled glory being played all over the store. i saw a couple of really little kids staring transfixed on the screen while their parents absentmindly thumbing though cd’s. that and i didn’t ask about distribution rights or harley. opps. – conorama
I don’t know if this will reach Kevin or not but I thought I would give it a shot. I have always been a fan of Kevin’s work and when I got offered the opportunity to have him for an in-store appearance I jumped it!! I have done many events for VIRGIN and I have to say that Kevin’s was THE smoothest one I have ever had. It was easy to see that Kevin is a very genuine person. Especially the way he took time out to answer questions and speak to each person in line. Many times, when we have an in-store, we thank the labels or distributors for the success and never actually get to thank the artist themselves. So I wanted to take some time out and thank Kevin for making the in-store one of our most successful. Hope we can do it again sometime. Looking forward to the release of Dogma in October!! Thanks Again, Tom Fornario (Marketing Coordinator For Virgin Megastore NYC)

After creating two hit films, Kevin Smith tries his hand at something really challenging – writing comic books

In the world of American independent cinema, Kevin Smith is a major player. The young writer-director displayed a tremendous gift for dialogue and storytelling in his 1994 debut, “Clerks,” a hilarious study of two unambitious, twentysomething register jockeys. The film garnered awards at the Cannes and Sundance film festivals. Smith flopped with “Mallrats,” a studio-backed teen flick with more budget than brains, but he rebounded big-time in 1997 with “Chasing Amy,” a sharp take of a young man’s quest to win the heart of a lesbian.

In five short years, Smith has gone from film-school dropout working in a convenience store to a cinematic hero. He’s reached a level of success that most film-school wannabes would kill for.

So, what the heck is he doing writing comic books?

Smith has spend most of the last year penning fantastic tales about a Marvel Comics hero named Daredevil who fights crime in a red jumpsuit. He also wrote a few independent books based on the characters from his films.

Some people might think the bright 28-year-old filmmaker is slumming, but not Smith. He has been a comics nut since his teens. He filled “Mallrats” and “Chasing Amy” with comic-book images and references, and now he’s writing his own – a dream shared by millions of comic-book fanatics.

“It is kind of neat,” said the soft-spoken Smith. “I’ve been a reader for such a long time that I always wondered whether I could do it, and what kind of writer I could be.” He doesn’t have to wonder any longer. The reviews for Smith’s run on “Daredevil” have been sensational. Not only has the book become one of comicdom’s best sellers, but Smith regularly tops the list of fan-favorite writers that Wizard, an industry magazine, runs each month.

The storytelling skills Smith has shown in his films carry over to the printed page. Instead of scripting bloody, plotless brawls that are all-too common in today’s superhero comics, Smith has emphasized character development and pacing in “Daredevil.” The stories are so good that the relative lack of cartoonish, over-the-top battles is hardly noticed.

“He comes in with a fresh perspective,” said artist Joe Quesada, who works on the book with Smith. “What Kevin does so well is characters, and that’s what he brings to ‘Daredevil.'”

This weekend, Smith will be the guest of honor at the Wizard World: Chicago’99 comic book convention at the Rosemont Convention Center. The recognition is not only for his work on “Daredevil” but also for the way he’s used his films and fame to shine a respectable spotlight on the comics industry.

“It give our field a little more legitimacy in the real world, and that’s a good thing for all of us,” said Jimmy Palmiotti, another “Daredevil” artist. “He’s able to bring in people who have never read comics before, and once they’re in, hopefully we can hook them and keep them and show them a new art form.”

Films, comics similar

Films and comics, different as they may seem, actually have a lot in common. Both are visual mediums. Both tell stories that often are larger than life. They’re similar in more basic ways, too. For example, the storyboards that filmmakers use to set up their shots greatly resemble the panels in a comic book. Several comic writers have done work in film and TV. Frank Miller, for example, went from drawing and writing the epic comic “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns” to scripting the story for “Robocop 2.” And Dennis O’Neil, a longtime DC Comics writer and editor, has written for the “Batman” animated series.

Few film pros have made names for themselves in the comics biz, however. Smith doesn’t consider the job change a step back or a throw-away effort at self-promotion, a la Michael Jordan’s aborted baseball career.

“It’s definitely something I have a commitment for,” he said.

Smith’s comics gig started last year at the independent Oni Press with a few different black-and-white books about the characters in his films, including Dante Hicks, the main clerk in “Clerks,” and the lovable dope dealers named Jay and Silent Bob.

The Oni Press books, like Smith’s movies, aren’t for the faint of heart. The dialogue tends to be vulgar and laced with profanity, but that doesn’t mean the books aren’t funny. Smith’s films showed he’s a master of satire, and that goes for his conics, too, whether he’s lambasting “Star Wars” figure collectors or poking fun at Santa Claus.

“Kevin’s love of comics is obvious, (and) he’s an amazing writer,” said Oni Press publisher Joe Nozemack. “Really great writers can do great work for different mediums.”

Then came “Daredevil,” and with it a whole new appreciation for Smith’s comic-book abilities. Smith said he expected the Oni books to do reasonably well, but the overwhelming success of “Daredevil” took him by surprise.

“The ‘Daredevil’ stuff was mind-blowing,” he said. “Never in a million years did I dream that it’d be a Top 10 book.”

Smith’s eight-issue run on “Daredevil” will end this summer, but he promises to return to the book late next year. He also has been talking about taking over writing duties on DC’s “Green Arrow,” a proposal that has fans champing at the bit.

“A god upon the earth”

Readers love the fact that Smith – who actually owns his own comic-book store in his New Jersey hometown and who wrote an early script for a new, yet-to-be-filmed “Superman” movie – has embraced a hobby that small-minded adults consider childish.

“Kevin Smith is a god upon the earth to your every day comic fan,” said Wizard senior staff writer Jim McLauchlin. “He’s the geeky kid who grew up and made good and shockingly didn’t turn his back on his past.”

Despite his success in comics, Smith hasn’t given up on Hollywood. Filmmaking is his first passion and will remain his primary source of income for the foreseeable future.

“That’s definitely what pays the bills,” Smith joked.

In fact, Smith’s newest movie, “Dogma,” is due to his theaters this October. Among its stars are Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock and – as usual – Smith himself as the aptly named Silent Bob.

The long-awaited “Dogma,” is about two fallen angels trying to get back into heaven and the heroes who are enlisted to stop them, surely will be one of the topics Smith discusses when he chats with fans this weekend in Rosemont.

Although some snooty film types wouldn’t even consider spending time with the great unwashed at such an event, Smith said he really enjoys talking with people at conventions.

“You get to meet the people who employ you,” he explained. “These are the people who buy your tickets, who buy your books. It’s nice to meet a fan who says he really likes your book. But it’s also good to meet someone who says it’s (bad).”

Smith said he’s really touched by the “guest of honor” recognition.

“I’ve never been the guest of honor at anything,” Smith said. “It’s really nifty, especially in a field I’ve just entered into. It means a lot.”