Your average fanboy from the early nineties is not much different from today. Their heads are filled with dreams of making movies, writing comics to sell in their own comic store, having action figures of themselves, and getting laid by hot chicks. The only difference nowadays is that we know all those things can really happen, thanks to Kevin Smith. Inspiration for an entire generation was unknowingly included at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival debut of CLERKS. It proved great ideas and perfect dialogue could mean more to a movie than a big budget and a-list actors. It proved wanting something bad enough and having enough credit cards to max out could lead to success. It proved Kevin Smith was a star and that you and I could be one too.

10. THE WIFE

She might be low on this list but if you were to ask Kevin, Jen Schwalbach would be his biggest achievement yet. After interviewing Kevin for a USA Today article something seemed to click. They married in 1999, she got prime roles in JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK, JERSEY GIRL, and CLERKS II while Kev got a baby girl named Harley Quinn. He also got to watch Superman feel her up as he shot the above photograph for Playboy in 2004. Click it for a better look.

9. THE FRIENDS

I imagine it’s hard to remain loyal to your friends when your career takes off so suddenly. Especially when one of your friends is a notorious heroin user who just happens to be starring in all your films. As hard as Smith worked to write, direct, and edit – he worked even harder at getting Jason Mewes clean. He offered his home and his money to do whatever it took to keep his hetero-life-partner at his side. Other names such as Walt Flanagan and Bryan Johnson might not be as recognizable but prove to be just as important in the universe Smith has built around him.

8. THE COMICS

With the dream of becoming a Hollywood director checked off his list it was time to tackle another life-long fantasy. After a few stories involving characters from his movies, Kevin started an eight issue run as the writer on ‘Daredevil’. From there he went to a brilliant stint on ‘Green Arrow’ and the delay plagued ‘Spider-Man/Black Cat’ which took almost three years to complete. His story arcs were as controversial as his movies and critically acclaimed but time constraints have proven frustrating for fans and led him to shy away lately.

7. THE CAMEOS

When given the opportunity – everyone likes to whore themselves out once in a while. Whether it’s on ‘The Tonight Show’ for his ongoing skit, Roadside Attractions, or popping up in his personal guilty pleasure, ‘Degrassi: The Next Generation’, Kev tends to get his face out there. Along with filling in over at ‘Ebert & Roeper he’s appeared on television’s ‘Veronica Mars’ as a clerk, ‘Joey’ and ‘Yes, Dear’ as himself, and on the big screen in SCREAM 3, DRAWING FLIES, and DAREDEVIL. It must be nice to be watching TV one night and say “Hey, I really like this show. I’m going to be on it next week.”

6. THE STORES

To own your own comic store is nice. Owning two is fantastic. Filling them up with shit from your own productions and personally written comics is mind bending. Having never had the opportunity to go to either locations of Jay and Slient Bob’s Secret Stash in Red Bank or Los Angeles I turn to the internet to browse through the amazing collection of goodies they have to offer right here. Most of the merchandise you can get signed for cheap. Almost every shirt, hat, and minor prop you see in his movies are available not to mention the continuously growing collection of Inaction Figures. Very few film makers, if any, offer this type of personalized memorabilia.

A new show on mtvU — that’s MTV for the college kids — pairs director Kevin Smith with a UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television class. The results are actually entertaining and informative, and if you don’t live in a dorm, you can watch the shows online.

Sucks Less, With Kevin Smith features stories produced by students and overseen by Smith. Smith tapes the introductions at his comic-book shop, and new installments appear every Thursday. While they’re definitely aimed for the college crowd (the sex jokes never cease), I think we can all benefit from knowing about things like nerdcore rap, don’t you?