DC Comics artist from Streamwood wins another Eisner
Streamwood comic book artist Art Baltazar didn't feel like sticking around for the red carpet premiere of the movie "Cowboys and Aliens" last weekend at the San Diego Comic-Con.
He did stay around long enough, however, to pick up his second Eisner Award for his work on the DC Comics' title "Tiny Titans." The duo of Baltazar and collaborator Franco Aureliani won in the best publication for kids category, the same award they grabbed two years ago.
"I didn't have the confidence this year; I thought we weren't going to win," Baltazar said, complimenting the strength of his fellow nominees.
Baltazar and Aureliani rode the wave from "Tiny Titans," the adventures of pint-size versions of popular DC characters like Wonder Woman, Robin and the Flash.
The Eisners are named after Will Eisner, who created the revered comic book character the Spirit and who died in 2005. It's the comic book industry's highest honor, with awards given in a variety of categories, including best continuing comic series, best writer and best lettering. The Eisners are often called the Oscars of comics books.
Aside from winning an Eisner, Baltazar also served as a reporter for 7-Eleven, interviewing celebrities and snapping photos for the convenient store chain's social media websites.
Part of his assignment was to attend the "Cowboys and Aliens" premiere, as the movie is directed by Jon Favreau, who also directed the two "Iron Man" films based on the comic book superhero.
He stayed around long enough to meet "Cowboys and Aliens" stars Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde, but the pre-screening event took so much time, Baltazar and his wife Rose didn't stay for the movie.
"We went to dinner; we were starving," Baltazar said. They got to the carpet at 4 p.m., but the actors didn't show up until 7 p.m.
Baltazar said he had several meetings at Comic-Con about future comic book work, but wasn't ready to divulge what it might lead to, except to say: "Let's put it this way, I'll be around for a while."