My Chemical Romance ll Always Accepting ll

[~Jaded]

Y'all.
I got to see Gerard talk twice last weekend at Wondercon. Once during the Young Animal panel and once for the "Spotlight on Gerard Way." The "Spotlight on Gerard Way" was moderated by the editor of Young Animal which was cool because he's Gerard's friend so they had some interesting stories to tell. I was afraid the moderator would only know mcr stuff but this guy was familiar on the scope of Gerard's courier. If you've read the unofficial mcr biography, you'll be happy to know that Gerard told a lot of the stories in that, so it's not all made up.
It was really rad to get an insight on how he writes comics and music. He talked a lot about how music and art doesn't have to be a choice, you can do them both. All my life I was told I had to pick one or the other and then here is one of the people I look up to telling me I don't. A godsend. He takes such care in developing interesting characters and a purpose-driven plot. He mentioned how on Umbrella Academy he doesn't think of backstories, he looks to where the characters are going to get a feel for their personalities and makes sure he knows them well enough that when he needs background information, he can make it up fast so the story stays in the present. This way, readers who got into comics through mcr, could pick up any issue and not need to Wikipedia information to know what's going on in the story. He also mentioned when talking about Young Animal, how he was making sure he didn't write out any character traits past authors had written in/even referring back to the original 1960's Doom Patrol comics and was taking precautions so that whoever takes over Doom Patrol after him can't willy-nilly kill off characters. (Which was hilarious because the panel before him had the nimrod who killed off Supergirl just because he got bored with his directionless life on it.) Gerard really seems to know what he's doing, even more so than a lot of the big time comic legends. He does his research and cares about making something good, not just his paycheck.
Not going to lie, I was sort of let down when I saw Paramore, Panic!, and Fall Out Boy but Gerard went above and beyond every expectation I had for him as a creator and as a person. He was really kind to the audience (not all the people I listened to that weekend were) and very understanding and considerate to a girl who asked him (in depth) how to deal with sad things. The audience was really nice as well. I thought they were going to ask a bunch of questions about the mcr breakup but they mostly asked comic-relevant questions which was very respectful.
After the Young Animal panel, I went to sit at the end of the hallway in the corner all by myself probably looking really emo and miserable because I was having some breathing issues that day, just trying to not die and there he was. Standing, talking to the lady who writes Shade (I have no idea what her name is, I'm sorry). Ten feet away. We made eye contact and I think he knew that I wanted to come over and talk to him. I had my first print copy of the first issue of the Umbrella Academy with me bc I was going to ask him to sign it earlier that day but I was too sick to go to the signing and I didn't want to ask him when I saw him in the hallway because there was no one else in the hall and I didn't want to attempt conversation and I didn't want to awkwardly ask for an autograph and walk away. He's been one of my heroes for over ten years, how do you tell someone that? Luckily, security quickly escorted him away when a Revenge cosplayer came up to him WEEPING.
I really encourage you guys to try to hear him speak/listen to the recording of him speak at Wondercon. It was really cool. Worth the price of a badge alone. Also, 1. Gerard was wearing beat up high top checkered black and white vans 2. he said he's building a recording studio in his house so he can record more songs

[BatPopsicle]

After the Young Animal panel, I went to sit at the end of the hallway in the corner all by myself probably looking really emo and miserable because I was having some breathing issues that day, just trying to not die and there he was. Standing, talking to the lady who writes Shade (I have no idea what her name is, I'm sorry). Ten feet away. We made eye contact and I think he knew that I wanted to come over and talk to him. I had my first print copy of the first issue of the Umbrella Academy with me bc I was going to ask him to sign it earlier that day but I was too sick to go to the signing and I didn't want to ask him when I saw him in the hallway because there was no one else in the hall and I didn't want to attempt conversation and I didn't want to awkwardly ask for an autograph and walk away. He's been one of my heroes for over ten years, how do you tell someone that?

You should have went up to him and talked. MCR was used to being approached by nervous and awkward fans. The band was awkward too at times. I met MCR at a meet and greet on The Black Parade tour. Gerard was extremely nervous and awkward. Everyone at the meet and greet were waiting in an area of the arena after the show. There was a table and 4 chairs (only 4 chairs because Mikey took a break from the tour). After about 15 minutes they walked in and sat down. They all seemed comfortable except Gerard. He was wearing a hoodie and looked like he was trying to hide under the hood and would nervously peer out from under it. He nervously scribbled on the table and smoked until they allowed us to approach. Once up there, he seemed to be more comfortable. I was extremely nervous. When I met Ray he put out his hand and said "Hi, I'm Ray". My awkward reply was "I know" and then nervous giggling. I wanted to crawl under a rock lol. I was ok by the time I got to Gerard because I knew that he was more nervous than I was.

[~Jaded]

After the Young Animal panel, I went to sit at the end of the hallway in the corner all by myself probably looking really emo and miserable because I was having some breathing issues that day, just trying to not die and there he was. Standing, talking to the lady who writes Shade (I have no idea what her name is, I'm sorry). Ten feet away. We made eye contact and I think he knew that I wanted to come over and talk to him. I had my first print copy of the first issue of the Umbrella Academy with me bc I was going to ask him to sign it earlier that day but I was too sick to go to the signing and I didn't want to ask him when I saw him in the hallway because there was no one else in the hall and I didn't want to attempt conversation and I didn't want to awkwardly ask for an autograph and walk away. He's been one of my heroes for over ten years, how do you tell someone that?

You should have went up to him and talked. MCR was used to being approached by nervous and awkward fans. The band was awkward too at times. I met MCR at a meet and greet on The Black Parade tour. Gerard was extremely nervous and awkward. Everyone at the meet and greet were waiting in an area of the arena after the show. There was a table and 4 chairs (only 4 chairs because Mikey took a break from the tour). After about 15 minutes they walked in and sat down. They all seemed comfortable except Gerard. He was wearing a hoodie and looked like he was trying to hide under the hood and would nervously peer out from under it. He nervously scribbled on the table and smoked until they allowed us to approach. Once up there, he seemed to be more comfortable. I was extremely nervous. When I met Ray he put out his hand and said "Hi, I'm Ray". My awkward reply was "I know" and then nervous giggling. I wanted to crawl under a rock lol. I was ok by the time I got to Gerard because I knew that he was more nervous than I was.

Yeah, he looked really nervous and uncomfortable at Wondercon too, so many years later. I think next time I see him, I'll go up and talk to him. We'd actually probably be friends because we have the same hobbies and also are perpetually on edge. I was just sort of baffled that I was able to get so close to him. I just froze. I'm working on my illustration certifications now and he's so deep into DC and Dark Horse, and it's really strange because since Wondercon, I'm starting to hear stories and know people who work with/under him. It's wild because he's technically my peer now.

[ewbluey]

Hey guys! I'm terribly inactive on here but I always come here to check what's going on! This fan club was my baby in its earlier versions and I still love it dearly now that it's under new ownership and now that I'm much older. I would love to get our club as active as it once was because it was such a huge part of my life growing up and I made so many wonderful friends in memories, I would just love to extend that to all of the current members. Sorry if some of you aren't aware of who I am! I'm Blue, I'm the co-owner of this club and owned all versions of the MCR fan club before.

That being said, @Jaded, I love hearing stories about people being able to meet the guys because I hope they know that a lot of die-hard MCR fans followed them to what they're pursuing now. It also must be such a weird feeling to basically be amongst Gerard's peers. I hear so many stories of really sweet and interesting interactions between fans and the guys, especially now that they're not the globe-trotting, chart-topping members of MCR anymore. Some of my favorite stories come from some of the people I follow on tumblr that get to see Frank at his Patience shows, it's very cool how a majority of them are close friends with him now because he's so welcoming of the kids that come see him play. MY DREAM is to meet Mikey one day because I've always had such a deep love for him and I am very happy to see him healthy and loving his new job as dad.

If some of you didn't know, Mikey's wife, Kristin had their first daughter Rowan Louise in May. She's precious.

[GhoulishDes]

Hey Guys! I wanted to pop in and see if any of you have heard about what Gerard went through during the Danger Days Era! It's so sad. So basically during that era he starved himself, which really bums me out, ya know? He's been my idol since I was a little kid and to hear that he did something like genuinely breaks my heart.

So I thought I'd reach out to you guys and let you know how important you are. Each and every one of us are special and important. I hope you're all doing well. You deserve to know how beautiful you are regardless of what your appearance is. We Killjoys gotta stick together, alright!


On a more positive note! Mikey's daughter!! I'm so happy for them!

[ᴅɪʟᴜᴄ .]

ＵＳＥＲＮＡＭＥ;; awgaskarths
ＫＩＬＬＪＯＹ ＮＡＭＥ;; flash wave
ＦＡＶＯＵＲＩＴＥ ＳＯＮＧ;; destroya or vampire money
ＦＡＶＯＵＲＩＴＥ ＢＡＮＤ ＭＥＭＢＥＲ;; frank iero
ＦＩＲＳＴ ＳＯＮＧ ＹＯＵ ＨＥＡＲＤ;; teenagers
ＦＡＶＯＲＩＴＥ ＱＵＯＴＥ;; don't really have one, honestly.

[Pudd;]

Wowser Bowser...

I haven't posted on here for like two years? I don't know.

Anyways, my old username was "I don't love you" so hopefully I don't need
to re enter a form, lol.
Anyways, yes Mikey's daughter is so cute, and I am so proud
how all the guys have grown. They're all so great and always been.

Also, I never knew Gerard went through that, he did look
so skinny then :c. I suspected him of it then, sadly. Makes me feel bad.

[ewbluey]

Hey Guys! I wanted to pop in and see if any of you have heard about what Gerard went through during the Danger Days Era! It's so sad. So basically during that era he starved himself, which really bums me out, ya know? He's been my idol since I was a little kid and to hear that he did something like genuinely breaks my heart.

So I thought I'd reach out to you guys and let you know how important you are. Each and every one of us are special and important. I hope you're all doing well. You deserve to know how beautiful you are regardless of what your appearance is. We Killjoys gotta stick together, alright!


On a more positive note! Mikey's daughter!! I'm so happy for them!

:U I heard about this a couple of months ago. From what I remember (please don't quote me on this because I might not be 100% correct), Gerard felt the need to fit into the "hot rocker" image since MCR had kind of gotten big again and magazines/the media were portraying him as the super-sexy frontman so he started starving himself to fit that image. I think that might've gotten into his head a bit and he wasn't taking care of himself physically or mentally. This is one of the things that resulted in MCR breaking up. Gerard had actually relapsed months before MCR broke up. For those of you who don't know, Gerard used to struggle with alcohol/drug abuse. As far as I know, he relapsed on alcohol but I can't be totally sure. The band broke up because of Gerard (and Mikey's) mental health issues, among other things. A lot of people like to comment (mostly on Tumblr/Twitter) how "great" Gerard looked during DD. Just remember that he achieved that "look" through some very unhealthy means and it shouldn't be condoned or encouraged. Very sad to think about all the things that the guys went through before the band broke up and honestly, I'd rather have them happy and healthy and never have MCR back instead of having my favorite band back together but have them sacrifice their mental and physical health.

[Ice580]

ＵＳＥＲＮＡＭＥ;; Ice580
ＫＩＬＬＪＯＹ ＮＡＭＥ;; Frostbite
ＦＡＶＯＵＲＩＴＥ ＳＯＮＧ;; That's a very difficult question and the more I think about it the more I don't know
ＦＡＶＯＵＲＩＴＥ ＢＡＮＤ ＭＥＭＢＥＲ;; Mikey is a smol cinnamon roll and I love him
ＦＩＲＳＴ ＳＯＮＧ ＹＯＵ ＨＥＡＲＤ;; Welcome to the Black Parade
ＦＡＶＯＲＩＴＥ ＱＵＯＴＥ;; "Look alive, sunshine." I don't know why, don't ask.

[Anza]

ＵＳＥＲＮＡＭＥ;; Anza
ＫＩＬＬＪＯＹ ＮＡＭＥ;; Adrenaline Star
ＦＡＶＯＵＲＩＴＥ ＳＯＮＧ;; The question is...from which album? Ok, its probably Summertime, Bulletproof Heart, and Sharpest Lives
ＦＡＶＯＵＲＩＴＥ ＢＡＮＤ ＭＥＭＢＥＲ;; The Gerard Way
ＦＩＲＳＴ ＳＯＮＧ ＹＯＵ ＨＥＡＲＤ;; Teenagers
ＦＡＶＯＲＩＴＥ ＱＵＯＴＥ;; "Would you destroy something perfect in order to make it more beautiful?"