A Vancouver time travelogue brought to you by Past Tense.
Reid Fleming has been a classic in the comic book world since it debuted in the Georgia Straight in 1978. Here he is wreaking havoc on some Vancouver landmarks in the mid-'80s. The bottom photos show Fleming's real world doppelganger.
David Boswell created the badass Fleming character before moving to Vancouver, but was frequently asked if he was inspired by a guy who worked at the Only Seafood Cafe on Hastings Street. On his website Boswell tells us that
I was intrigued by the frequency of this query, and one day in September 1983, quite by chance, found myself very near The Only. Camera in hand (as ever), I approached the restaurant and was amazed when, at that exact moment, the man himself—it had to have been he—emerged woozily and paused to light a cigarette. His movements suggested the recent intake of several refreshing libations.Quickly and surreptitiously, I took two photographs, the second of which was shot blind. (That is to say, the camera was aimed without looking through the finder.) And they weren't too bad! The guy reallydid resemble Reid Fleming!
You can read/watch the first Reid Fleming comic book on youtube.
Source: ReidFleming.com
