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'Y: THE LAST MAN' WRAP PARTY IS A BASH TO REMEMBER | | Event to celebrate end of comics legacy raises over $11,000 for CBLDF | | | By Mel Caylo (story and photos) | | Posted February 9, 2008 | |  | |  Several of comics’ finest luminaries, a few hundred lucky fans and one lively Capuchin monkey converged on Meltdown Comics in Los Angeles on Friday night, Feb. 8 for an intimate event to honor the conclusion of the critically acclaimed Vertigo series Y: The Last Man and to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.
On hand to celebrate the achievement of writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Pia Guerra were the likes of Joss Whedon (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), who also delivered the keynote speech; Mark Waid (52); Geoff Johns (Green Lantern) and Grant Morrison (Batman).
The sold-out event, which prior to the evening had raised $8,000 in ticket sales for the CBLDF was created by MySpace Comic Books and Meltdown Comics, and sponsored by Vertigo Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Image Comics, Top Cow Productions, and Monster. It marked the Jan. 30 release of the 60th and final issue of Vaughan and Guerra’s storied run on one of the most celebrated works in comics history. When a mysterious plague wipes out every mammal on Earth with a Y chromosome, the lone survivor, Yorick Brown, and his pet monkey, Ampersand, are the only two males to survive. Together with a bodyguard assigned by his congresswoman
| |  The evening began with an open bar, which was sponsored by the Japanese brewers of Asahi beer. Meltdown also hired a local gentleman, Tony Barbato, and his pet Capuchin monkey of 15 years, Zunie, to be on hand for photo ops and just plain novelty. People lined up to tip the monkey liberally for the privilege of having their picture taken with the Ampersand “impersonator” (or is it im-monkey-nator?), and one young woman in particular proved to be Zunie’s favorite as he screeched and wouldn’t let her finger go.
Mingling in the crowd and perusing the various displays of Y: The Last Man products and art was producer Don Murphy (“Transformers”) and his wife, Susan Montford, also a producer (“Shoot ’Em Up”). Local comics creators Jim Mahfood (Stupid Comics) and Mark Sable (Grounded, Heroes graphic novel) were also on hand, as well as Top Cow President Matt Hawkins, MySpace Marketing Manager Sam Humphries, BOOM! Studios Publisher Ross Richie and Fox Atomic Comics Editor-in-Chief Eric Lieb. The remainder of the room was populated with journalists and fans who were lucky enough to score tickets to the event.
| |  After one of Meltdown’s managers, Matt Gagnon, quieted the room (a daunting task since everyone by that time had enjoyed at least three drinks apiece), Sam Humphries of MySpace introduced Vertigo Editor Will Dennis, who has edited Y: The Last Man since issue #15. Dennis recounted an anecdote in which he told 100 Bullets creator Brian Azzarello the news of his appointment on the book, to which Azzarello simply replied, “Great book. Yorick needs some p---y. Don’t f--- it up.” Dennis also read a brief congratulatory statement from original Y editor Heidi MacDonald, then graciously thanked everyone on the DC staff who had a hand in the book’s monthly production. Lastly, he thanked the readers, particularly Vertigo fans. “We really consider you a different breed of fan,” he said. “I am nothing without you.”
Next on the podium was keynote speaker Joss Whedon, whom Vaughan befriended several years ago at San Diego Comic-Con by having one of his friends give Whedon a copy of the first Y: The Last Man trade paperback along with a note that proclaimed Whedon his hero. Whedon related that when he finally got around to reading the book, he immediately dispatched an e-mail to Vaughan, proclaiming him “my new best friend.” Whedon gushed on about his love for the series, including giving praise to artist Pia Guerra and her invaluable contributions to the work. “The beauty and the clarity of her art is matched only by Brian’s ability to shut up and just let it happen,” Whedon proclaimed.
| |  Lastly, Vaughan took the microphone and humbly thanked DC, the fans and everyone involved with the event. He saved his biggest thanks for Whedon: “Joss is the whole reason why I became a writer.” Vaughan, clad sharply in all black, was very brief in his statement but was obviously grateful for all the accolades, especially when the floor was opened up for questions from the audience and one young lady took the opportunity to announce she wasn’t a comics fan until she read Y: The Last Man. Guerra, who had flown in from Vancouver for the event, replied that she loves it every time she hears that. Other questions included what was 355’s real name (“Some things are best left unanswered,” replied Vaughan), what Guerra’s next work was going to be (a “Dr. Who” comic series with writer Tony Lee for IDW) and where the “Y” movie stands (“My focus was on putting issue #60 out, so everything else is gravy.” informed Vaughan. “[Movie rights holder] New Line has been very good to us, but I honestly don’t care what happens with the movie.”) Guerra took a more proprietary stance and hoped that when the movie gets made, it’s something she could be proud of.
The night’s programming was capped off by the auctioning of an original page of Y: The Last Man art by Guerra and a customized, regulation straitjacket that Vaughan had made as a gift for people who helped put the series out—only nine exist. The bidding for the original art started at $100 and quickly rose to $1,000 from a bid by BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Mark Waid. Vaughan then upped it to $1,200, Top Cow President Matt Hawkins countered with a $1,300 bid but was then topped by Waid’s $1,500. Hawkins finally won out with an emphatic, final bid of $2,000, much to the delight of the crowd and CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein, whose organization would benefit from the auction’s proceeds. When asked later, Hawkins admitted he’s a big Y fan and showed off Vaughan’s inscription on the art: “To Matt, the REAL last man. Brian K. Vaughan.”
| |  The auction for the straitjacket turned into a bidding war between a female fan and Fox Atomics Comics Editor-in-Chief Eric Lieb, who ultimately won out with a $1,200 bid. Upon winning, he bounded to the stage and was promptly strapped into the jacket by Vaughan himself. “I’m going to get a mannequin and proudly display this in my office,” Lieb said later.
After the last thank yous were made, the crowd milled around for autographs and pictures while others retreated to the still open bar. The event raised a grand total of $11,200 for the CBLDF and provided a special evening for the creators behind a true comics legacy. Special kudos have to be given to all the sponsors and especially Meltdown Comics, which did a fantastic job of setting up and running the event. Hopefully, Y: The Last Party isn’t the last party to be held there.
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Many Congratulations to BKV and Pia on Y's conclusion from all of us here at Wizard Universe! | | | |
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