PAD & THE PINI'S SDCC INK ODYSSEY I

[MattBrady]

In perhaps the last and weirdest story to come out of CCI San Diego this year, Peter (Fallen Angel) David has agreed to permanently disfigure himself for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

For real.

Backing up a little – during a signing at the CBLDF booth, Peter David was chatting with Elfquest creators Wendy and Richard Pini. Picking up a Sharpie, Wendy drew Cutter on David’s left forearm. After a moment, David told CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein that if he could find someone to donate $1000 to the Fund, he would get the line art by Pini tattooed on his arm.

Ever the fundraiser, Brownstein went off to find someone who would give $1000 to permanently disfigure the writer.

Yes, Marvel Editor in Chief Joe Quesada was one of Brownstein’s first guesses as well.

At the Marvel booth, the story of David’s challenge was told to Marvel Publisher Dan Buckley, who agreed that, in the spirit of fun and for the good of the Fund, Quesada would put the money up to tattoo the writer. Problem was, Quesada was in the air. Buckley left a message, telling the EIC to call him as soon as he landed – he had an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

In the meantime, David had moved to the Marvel booth to do a signing, and was told by Brownstein that it looked like there would be a taker for the challenge.

That got Richard Pini’s wheels turning. “I don’t really want to give Marvel the PR on this,” Pini said. “These are our characters.”

After further discussion with Wendy, Richard told Brownstein, “You’ve got your donation,” that is – the Pinis would donate $1000 to the fund, pay for the tattoo, and as a result, Peter would get the tattoo.

“This way, it’s in our name, it’s our character,” Richard said. “I’m glad we’re able to do this for the Fund.”

It was suggested that David could continue the offer for more tattoos, perhaps letting Wendy draw a full page of art on his back for $2000. “Nah, my back’s too hairy,” David said.

“We’d have her draw a forest scene,” Richard quipped back.

A discussion was then sparked as to where the tattoo would be, whether or not it would be done immediately (requiring Wendy to re-draw the image on paper if he would get it later), and where it would be. As the discussion was ongoing, a woman with extensive ink on her arms came by, and was quickly recruited as a consultant, explaining the comparative pain David would feel when getting the tattoo on various parts of his arm. The forearm was quickly ruled out as David was concerned about not being able to cover it in a business setting with clothing, and suggested his bicep, and Leetah, so she would shimmy when he flexed his muscle.

The Pinis acquiesced – Leetah on the left bicep.

The decision made, Wendy got to drawing Leetah on David’s left bicep – his bowling arm, with a fine pen. A local tattoo parlor was contacted, and the artist said he could schedule Peter in. As of press time, Wendy was completing the image, and David, together with the Pinis were planning on going to the tattoo parlor after the convention closed at 5:00 pm.

When told of what David was doing, and asked by Newsarama what he had done for the Fund lately, DC Publisher, took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes, paused, and said, “I’m just at a loss for words.”

When last seen by Newsarama, David and the Pinis were headed out of the convention center.

Richard Pini took pictures of the event, and will take pictures of the tattooing. Look for an update as well as the images tomorrow on Newsarama.com.