All Things Must Pass

It's appropriate that those words came from my favorite Beatle, George Harrison. Because the time has come to step down. I'm sure when George wrote that, he had a deeper, maybe even graver, meaning. This announcement isn't so dark, however.

As of January 1, I am stepping down as Events Coordinator of Jim Hanley's Universe. I'll still be employed, obviously, but these responsibilities will be handed to someone else. More on that in a second.

When I first started doing signings here, there hadn't been an event since the Warren Ellis tour...about a year and a half to two years apart. I saw Mike Mignola in the store and asked, and the rest, as they say, was history. In the seven years (!) that I've been arranging signings, I've met a lot of people, made a lot of connections, and in some cases, made a few friends. It's the best part of the job, really. You sit at home, reading League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and then one day, you're on the phone with Kevin O'Neill, preparing for the first leg of a signing tour. And what's more fun than being a creator, setting up a signing for your book, and getting to sit next to Stephane Roux, Pete Carlsson, Adam Kubert, and Joe Kubert? Or getting to sit between an artist starting her career (Rachel Freire) and one of your personal heroes (Joe Staton)? I've had a great run with very few, if any, regrets (more like personal embarrassments, but that's not necessarily the same thing).

With the tragic news we've had to deal with this year, I've been given new responsibilities, and as a result, I don't have the ability to focus on events with the same amount of attention needed. So, I'd like to introduce you to your new Event Coordinator:

Steven Norman II (right) is one of our assistant managers and has been working here for a while and has actually been involved in a few signings...mostly as my back-up. Steven is beginning to make his abilities known in the comic industry, as a penciller and inker, and this is just a natural fit for him.

So...

If you are a creator or editor, and you are looking to schedule an appearance or an event, please contact Steven at events [at] jhuniverse [dot] com.

Thanks for seven years of fun, comic industry! See you at the store!

-Vito Delsante, Store Manager