I met one of my heroes at comic con some years ago and I shyly handed him my first book I had self printed. I asked him if I could get some feedback. He dropped everything he was doing and paid for comic, then spent probably 10-15 minutes going over every page. He gave me really specific advice and told me to come back next year and show him the next book. I waited in line the next year with my second book and he remembered me! He said I really took his advice to heart and gave me a new list of things to work on. That was 6 years ago, and every year since I always search him out. Now when I see him he always introduces me to whoever is around as his friend and he has helped me in so many ways. His only condition for the friendship was that I return the favor to any one who comes up to me and asks for help or advice.
I think I was really lucky, my husband met some big creator names and they were total jerks to him, so that's super sad. Fortunately he got a hug and a selfie from Stan Lee many years ago, and that man was as nice as can be. He told my husband never to give up on his dreams. Super cliche but it meant alot to him.