Canton man plans comic book hall of fame

CANTON — A Canton man working to create a comic book hall of fame recently got some much-needed encouragement by industry heroes at a comics convention in Phoenix, Ariz.

Roger W. Rautio Jr. said he has always believed there should be a hall that pays homage to the creators and artists who invented the popular comic book industry.

To this day, no such hall exists. Mr. Rautio, however, hopes to change that. He has secured the rights and has started his own limited liability partnership, The Comic Book Hall of Fame. He just needs the cash and location to make it happen.

Mr. Rautio was quick to acknowledge that there may be some confusion between his company and a hall of fame associated with the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, named for William E. "Will" Eisner, a pioneering comics artist, writer and entrepreneur. Until his death in 2005 at age 87, Mr. Eisner was a regular participant in the awards ceremony, held each summer since 1987 at the Comic-Con International Convention in San Diego, Calif.

But Mr. Rautio said the West Coast organization is more like the Oscars of the industry, rather than a permanent hall of fame.

Mr. Rautio said he has an extensive collection of rare comics-related materials and has spent the past four years gaining support from the industry.

"We wrapped up our five-year plan in the fourth year and decided it is time to make a new one. We would like to have a location up and going within two years," he said.

Mr. Rautio said he has not decided exactly where to place the hall, but has a few ideas.

"We've been looking for the right place for a long time. New York City is one place we have considered and after our most recent trip. Phoenix is another place we are thinking about," he said.

For now, Mr. Rautio is fundraising and networking to make his dream a reality. For him, traveling to comic book conventions is part of his job and a way to build relationships and support from big names in the industry.

Over the years, Mr. Rautio said, he has met many comic book legends, including Batman artist Neal Adams and Captain America creator Joe Simon. But this year, at the Phoenix Comic Con, Mr. Rautio met the godfather of modern comics, Marvel Comics founder Stan Lee, a writer and editor famed for creating the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, Iron Man and countless other heroes.

"Stan Lee didn't know we were coming, but he met with us and signed our induction award," Mr. Rautio said.

When Mr. Lee saw the other signatures on the award, Mr. Rautio said, his eyes lit up. The Comic Book Hall of Fame has several copies of induction award art, all of which have signatures from various writers and artists in the industry. The one handed to Mr. Lee contained signatures from many of the people Mr. Lee worked with early in his career.

"It was pretty amazing," Mr. Rautio said. "It's hard to describe, but it was great."

While meeting Mr. Lee was easily the highlight of the convention visit, Mr. Rautio said, he also met and talked with Spawn creator Todd McFarlane, whose comic book series became a major motion picture and an animated series on HBO.

"We had a long conversation with Todd McFarlane and told him about our meeting with Stan Lee," he said. "(Mr. McFarlane) considers Stan Lee to be a mentor. I told him none of what I am doing would be possible without Mr. Lee and he said 'that goes for me too.'"

Mr. McFarlane also supported Mr. Rautio's goal of establishing a comic book hall of fame.

"He told us, if you are going to do it, make sure you do a good job," Mr. Rautio said.

With the trip behind him, Mr. Rautio said he is focused on the next part of the plan, which is securing a facility for the hall.

"We're getting closer all of the time," he said.

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