CEDAR FALLS - Chris Sharp walked into Limited Edition Comics Saturday afternoon touting copies of "The Darkness," "Golly!," and "FireBreather" for writer/artist Phil Hester to sign.

The Parkersburg man left the College Street store with a promise of a special delivery from the industry veteran.

As the two chatted, Sharp mentioned he'd been unable to find a copy of issue No. 4 of Hester's "Deep Sleeper" series for sale or trade. The writer asked for the fan's address, saying he'd mail Sharp the comic.

"He's a nice guy," the collector remarked as he left the autograph table. "It's fun to get a chance to talk with someone whose stuff you've read or seen."

The excitement goes both ways, said Hester, who spent the afternoon signing autographs, debating plot points and posing for pictures with Cedar Valley comic collectors.

"The best part of this job is you get to meet the people that follow your work and hear feedback from them," said the North English resident. "This industry isn't all that lucrative, but when you go out and meet the fans, it reminds you why you do it."

Hester, a University of Iowa graduate, has been writing and drawing comics for the past 15 years. He worked with "Clerks" creator Kevin Smithon "Green Arrow" and recently penciled "Superman Confidential" issues. One of his own comics, "FireBreather" is scheduled to be made into an animated movie by Cartoon Network.

Several Limited Edition customers collect Hester's work, said Robert Rodgers, sales manager.

"People who know comics know Phil Hester," he said. "We were so excited to bring him here because it allows those people to sit down and talk with an (Iowa) artist who has really done some terrific things."

Contact Mary Stegmeir at

(319) 291-1482 or

mary.stegmeir@wcfcourier.com.