I bought Cody a slew of the Star Wars titles--he was most intrigued by Darth Vader's standalone series--but the single issue that he most excited about was a variant edition of Star Wars #3, featuring a reproduction of the original Obi-Wan Kenobi action figure. Here it is:
It made me proud to tell him that I had already bought this for him and had it stashed away at home. Father of the year and all that.
Later in the evening I pulled out the Obi-Wan variant of #3 (I've been strategically purchasing some of the more promising variants for future birthday presents) and showed it to Cody. Who immediately asked me to take it out so he could read it. Here's what followed:
JVL: Oh no. We don't read this one.
CJP: Why not?
JVL: Because this is a special, variant edition. It's too expensive.
CJP: I don't understand.
JVL: It costs too much money.
CJP: But you already bought it. Do they make you pay more money every time you read it?
JVL: [laughing gently] No, no. You see, they make different copies of each issue. Some have regular covers, and some have special, variant covers. And these cost more money.
[Here I pulled out the normal copy of Star Wars #3 and handed it to him.]
JVL: See, this comic book is exactly the same on the inside as the one with Obi-Wan on the cover. The only difference is the covers. So you can read the normal one, but we keep the one with Obi-Wan safe. Because it's special.
CJP: So you keep that one in the bag?
JVL: [smiling now] Yes.
CJP: And you never take it out?
JVL: [pleased his instruction is paying off] No. Never.
CJP: That doesn't make any sense.
Shannon would have been so proud of him. What I didn't say--what I couldn't bring myself to say--was that these variant covers are just special. They're too special. Cordelia would understand this intuitively.
Some day Cody will understand, too. I hope.
2 comments:
Hyserical. Too special.
This made me laugh out loud -- Thank you for this!! And yes. Cordelia would understand. Cody's more my speed. :)
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