Irene and I accomplished many things during our extended weekend trip to New Jersey and New York—she while attending the New Jersey Romance Writers conference, me while recording three new episodes of my Eating the Fantastic podcast—but the most important thing we did was to spend Sunday hanging out with our dear friend Marie Severin.

And as usual when visiting Marvel’s Mirthful One, there was much kibitzing involved.

Did you recognize Marie? No?

Then about about now?

Better?

Whenever we visit, we usually bring her toys depicting some of the characters she’s famous for drawing, often the Hulk, sometimes Doctor Strange, but sadly, never the Submariner. (Seems like toy manufacturers haven’t gotten around to celebrating the wing-footed one yet.)

But we did more than tease each other with toys.

We headed out to an Italian restaurant for lunch, as that’s Marie’s favorite. (Unless her favorite that day happens to be Chinese.)

We talked about how each of us had spent our time since we’d seen each other last, and those we’d both worked with who had died in the interim. We looked at photos on my iPhone of those who hadn’t.

We compared memories of our respective international travels.

And we sat in the sun and we told jokes and we laughed.

Whenever we’re with Marie, whenever anyone’s with Marie, there’s always a lot of laughter. Why else would Stan Lee have nicknamed her “Mirthful” Marie Severin?

I wish you could know her as we know her. She’s the person I love most out of all those I’ve known in comics. (Well, except for my wife, of course!)

We hope to see you again soon, Marie!