Common civility -- which is as often as not uncommon -- may be demanded of any interaction.

But a fan shouldn't expect that a comic book artist is obligated in any way to be respectful and courteous either online or at a convention or anywhere. It's nice, but there's no entitlement.

Brandon,

I too am grateful thast JB takes the time to respond to out questions, however I take exception to you calling "us" lowlifes.  I realize that you included yourself in that categorty, but the term reinforces the belief that comic fans are inadequate

I think that if you have to do a signing for whatever reason you should treat people as if they were customers in your shop,which if you are signing in a book shop is about right.I hate going into a shop and the assistant is yacking to someone they work with and treat the customer like an inconvenience. Which is what it seems happened to Dave. A bit of eye contact is good manners too.  I also think that the person who wants their item signed should treat the writer/artist with respect and remember there are other customers in line.If the person hates meeting the public they should not do signings,no matter what the publisher says,as offended customers won`t be buying again anyway.So the publisher gains nothing except ill will.

"All I did was ask him to sign a few {{twenty-five}} of my books {{at the end of the day, when the Pro was all packed up and heading for the door}}, and he told me to f*ck off {{politely informed the fan that he would be back signing tomorrow}}!!"

But a fan shouldn't expect that a comic book artist is obligated in any way to be respectful and courteous either online or at a convention or anywhere. It's nice, but there's no entitlement.

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Likewise, the artist has no entitlement to expect fans to support his or her work, particularly if they treat the paying customer in a shabby manner.

Again, one man's bending over backwards to accomodate is another man's treating someone in a shabby manner. It's all about the expectation, and there are too many fans who expect not mere civility, but preferential treatment. "I pay your salary!" Everyone who has been to a convention, especially in the last 20 years or so, have seen these people in operation.

the artist has no entitlement to expect fans to support his or her work

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I would just stop your statement right there, Bruce. A comic book artist tries to create work that will sell. That's the only "support" that's courted in the profession. Whether she or he is a jerk, or is perceived as such, is irrelevant. If a comic book artist's interaction with fans becomes problematic in terms of sales, then the company employing her or him can intervene. But there's still no mutual entitlement for anything at all between comic book artist and readership.