This article could also be called “Why I Love the Comic Industry Fanbase” but I went with this solely so that we could get two names out and up front. You would be hard pressed to find another industry, or group of people, that are so dedicated to each other.

This fact was in clear evidence at the Michael Turner Tribute on Sunday afternoon at San Diego Comic Con. Together, a large group of professionals from the comics industry gathered, lining up in two rows upon the stage, in front of a packed room of fans and friends of Michael Turner, to celebrate a life that ended far too abruptly.

I wrote an obituary for Michael when I found out that he had passed away earlier this year. Suffering from chronrosarcoma, Michael was taken from us far too early.

Peter Steigerwald, a longtime colleague of Turner’s, presided over the large group who had come to remember Turner, and in turn many of the biggest names in comics shared their memories of Michael Turner.

DC Comics executive editor Dan DiDio said that Turner “became a person I enjoyed working with and he became a friend”; Jeph Loeb, whose son Sam passed away three years ago to the same disease that Michael was battling, said that “He was inspiration to Sam. He was a mentor. He was a friend. Living in a world where both of them are gone is incredibly unfair. They never, ever gave up.”

More of the tributes can be found over at CBR‘s page dedicated to the memorial.

On a not much lighter note, is the call being put out to comic fans to help support Gene Colan, a comic book artist, who is best known for his work on such titles as Daredevil, Howard the Duck, and more. It was announced back in May that Colan was suffering from health problems, and that due to the lack of pharmaceutical coverage, he and his wife Adrienne were having a tough time affording the medication.

Naturally, a drive to organize support was immediately set up, spearheaded by Clifford Meth, a writer who had worked with Colan. Aardwolf Publishing will be publishing Meth, Colan & Other Theologians, a book containing all that was in Colan’s original Perverts, Pedophiles & Other Theologians that he wrote with Meth, plus two new stories illustrated by Colan. Al proceeds will go directly and immediately to Gene and Adrienne Colan.

In addition, numerous artists, and writers are contributing material to be auctioned off in support of Gene Colan and his wife, including names like Ed Brubaker, Peter David, Neil Gaiman, and many many more.

If you want to help support a comic artist who has done so much for the genre, but comes from a time and place where health coverage is just not an option, then head along to these links: Around Comics | Clifford Meth.

[Photo is of a Michael Turner Tribute button that Empress Eve got at the Con.]