Hello Chums,
Okay, last year I went to the Comic-Con and lost my cell phone early on, that was a major bummer. With the lack of pay phones available these days, a cell phone at a big con is a necessity. After that fiasco last year, I decided to (as they say at the conventions) "Have a good con". A good con? No way! I was going to have a great con. Did I? Read on.
Wednesday 7-22:
Up at 0400, airport by 0515 and flight out at 0710. After about an hour lay over in Denver, we arrive in San Diego at 0930 (west coast time). By 1030 we're checked into the hotel and then get lunch at a sandwich shop. At 1430 I'm in line at the convention center for my credentials. Then we have dinner at the Rockin' Baja Lobster, fish tacos! At 1730 the doors opened for Preview Night!
Preview Night. This is one of the best parts of the show. The huge dealers room is open for business. And what a room it is. Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse they all have booths. There are plenty of smaller publishers also like Drawn and Quarterly, Heavy Metal, IDW and my personal favorite Top Shelf. There is a golden and silver age pavilion of comics dealers. Mile High comics and Bud Plant books also have big displays. There are many smaller booths selling comics, trades, action figures, statues, posters, you name it. And that's just the comics end of the building. The media side has super size booths featuring things like Lucas Film (showing a sweeeet animated Star Wars trailer), Disney, Heroes, Sony and Mattel. Once you make your way through all that mess, artist alley sets by itself in a somewhat forgotten corner (why isn't it next to the comic books?) This night is a good time to look for one of a kind items and talk to creators that will be busy during the rest of the show. [I gave Chris Staros, publisher at Top Shelf, one of my mini-comics.] At 2100 Preview Night was over. Bummer that it was over so soon, but I purchased numerous books at great prices! After that busy day, I returned back to the hotel room and went to bed after midnight. Now that's a big first day.
Thursday 7-23:
Up at 0715 and down to the bus stop at 0845. All of the buses appear full so we walk the mile to the convention center. As we approach the con, the amount of cars, buses and foot traffic steadily increase to grid lock. There are just so many people trying to get into too small a building, it's ridicules. Did I call this building small? It's huge (about 7 blocks long, a block wide and three stories tall), but too small for this amount of people. By 0930 we make it to the doors and walk right in.
First up, I check out some of the half cover price nick and dent trades. Why pay full price? These books are usually in pretty good shape. At 1100 I met Jeffery Brown at the Top Shelf booth. He signed the five books of his I brought, did a sketch in each and did a sketch in my sketch book. I also bought his new book and a limited edition con pack. Very Cool! Then I gave him one of my mini-comics. From 1245 till 1400 I take a brake from the con for lunch and to lighten my backpack. Then it's a bus ride back to the con for more browsing in the dealers room. Although there are 15 rooms of simultaneous programming, I spent the whole day on the con floor, but that's usually what I do on the first day. At 1830 I ride the bus back to room. This is important because after a whole day at the show, carrying that backpack any longer is not an option. By 2000 back to The Gas Lamp Quarter for dinner. After being closed the last couple of years, I was pleasantly surprised to find their Spaghetti Warehouse back open. Even though it was cool and breezy, we ate dinner on the patio. Then it was back to the con for some late night programming. At the con after the con-floor (dealer's room) closes, there are movies to watch or games to play. We went to a room showing action/fight scenes from various Japanese Karate movies that I'd never heard of. Cool. After that back to the hotel room at around midnight.
Friday 7-24:
After waking up way too early (0630), we grab breakfast at a train themed restaurant, then we walk the rest of the way to the con. The weather is amazingly cool this morning, low 70's with clear skies. Since it had been over 100 degrees in OKC, this walk feels very nice. We arrive at the con with all the masses at 0925.
I hit the con floor looking for deals until 1045, then I go to the DC panel in room 4 (already in progress.) I find a good seat and wait for the Darrick Robertson spotlight panel at 1100. The Darrick Robertson panel was pretty good. He talked about current projects (The Boys), past projects (Punisher) and whats up next.
At 1200 I stay in this room for the next panel. It's the Radical Comics panel with all their creators. Now I really wanted to see Jim Steranko who I've never seen at a con, but I was really surprised when Gene Simmons walked in with four very large security guards. He set down on the front row, (I moved up to the third row behind him) He didn't set up on the stage (which was surprising). I know his book comes out through IDW but why was he here? Well when Gene's son Nick Simmons joined all of the creators on the stage, all was apparent. A
ll of the creators talked about their books during a power point presentation. When it was Nick's turn to talk about his own written and drawn book, I was thinking that he got that gig because his dad is Gene Simmons. But I have to tell you that I was mildly impressed by his level of artwork.
At 1300 I bolt from room 4 across the sails pavilion (autograph signing area) to ballroom 20. Unlike room 4 which will seat 250 -300 people, this huge room can seat something like 5000 people, but it will fill up easily if you don't get there early. I do get a seat for The Big Bang Theory panel. Hosted by Mike Mignola, this panel featured all the cast and the show creator. This panel is always a lot of fun. They show funny comic book related clips, then talk about the show, then take question from the audience. It was during this panel last year that I dropped my cell phone. Luckily I held on to it this year.
At 1400 I go back to room 4 for the Darwyn Cooke spotlight panel. Since I'd never seen Darwyn before (and being a big fan), this panel was a must. He talked a little about his DC work (New Frontier / Solo / Catwoman). But mostly this panel featured his new IDW book Parker. After this panel I head directly down to the IDW table and have Darwyn sign my Batman Ego prestige book I brought from home and a Parker poster that they were giving out at the booth.
At 1500 I brake from the con for awhile, the weather is great outside and I want to lighten my back pack. By 1630 back to the con for 2 hours and then Sammy's Woodfired Pizza for dinner (sun dried tomato with pine seeds!)
At 2000 we head over to the Indigo Room at the new Hilton Bayfront hotel (next door to the convention center) for the Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards. The Eisner awards are another must do of the show. A lot of the nominated creators are there and can be met before or after the awards. When the awards are finished, it's back to the hotel via bus at 2330. Another big day.
Saturday 7-25:
Again up at 0630 without an alarm. I ride the bus to the con at 1000 and walk right in. From 1000-1130 I roam around the show floor.
By 1140 I'm in the very large room 6 A, at the Marvel comics Dark Reign panel. This panel features Joe Quesada, Jason Aaron, Matt Fraction and many more. They talk all things Dark Reign and show up coming cover images. Questions are asked but not much is revealed. The usual response from Joey Q. is "keep reading".
At 1230 I head back over to room 4 for the Gary Gianni spotlight. This panel also featured Mike Mignola and Geoff Darrow. This panel had Gianni using a power point presentation commenting on various drawings or paintings he's done and their inspiration. This was a fun panel with Mignola and Darrow poking some fun at Gianni whenever possible.
At 1330 I head over to room 8 for the last half of the Will Eisner's New York panel. This was a depressing panel featuring Eisner's friends and editors talking about how much they still miss him and what he meant to them and the comics industry. There were plenty of slides shown of New York City and Eisner's art.
At 1400 I stay in this room for the Webcomics Bootcamp panel. The panel featured Scott Kurtz, Brad Guigar, Kris Straub and Dave Kellett writers of the book "How To Make Web Comics". If I would have known they were going to be there, I would have brought my book to have them sign it. This panel was not just informative, but was a lot of fun.
I stay in this room for the next panel: Spotlight on Seth. Seth (if your unfamiliar) is a dapperly dressed (20's era, 30's era?) odd fellow who has written and drawn a few books for Drawn and Quarterly. One of his books is very good Wimbledon Green. (I wish I would have brought my copy to get it signed.) Anyways, Seth read from his notes of various occurrences and stories from his life, broken up into twelve chapters. At each chapter break he would ring a bell. During the reading he had a running power point presentation of his art and model building constructs. Although subject matter was at times funny, his voice and the fact that the lights were dimmed made it too easy for me to zone out for a little nap in the middle. Bummer.
From 1530-1715 I hit the show floor for more buying and browsing. Then it's back upstairs to ballroom 20 and the True Blood panel, if I can get in.
I do make it in to the True Blood panel (just barely.) The room is packed and people are standing around the walls. Moderated by some LA Times reporter, almost all the cast is present along with the show creator Alan Ball and author of the books Charlaine Harris. During the panel they show a teaser trailer of scenes from the up coming episodes, the cast talks about the show and fans can ask questions. From the fan reaction in the room and what was said from the shows producer, there should be quite a few more seasons. Yes!
From 1815-1900 I hit the show floor. Then bus ride back to the room and dinner at Elephant and Castle (an English Pub type restaurant-with good food). Then it's back to ballroom 20 for the masquerade ball at 2100.
Hosted by Phil Foglio, the Masquerade / Costume Competition is another must of the show. Okay some of the costumes are not that great, but some are fantastic. Most of the 40 or so competitors come out to music and do some sort of dance or skit which is usually funny or entertaining.
After seeing the various costumes up close after the show, we head over to the dance at the sails pavilion. I'm not a dancer so I don't stay here long. We get back to our room by 0100. Another huge day.
Sunday 7-26:
Up at 0730 and to the con by 0935. After seeing people lined up on the sidewalk last night at 0030 for the Dr. Who panel the next day, I decide maybe I should try to go (if I can get into ballroom 20 again.) I mean when am I ever going to get a chance to see my favorite doctor again?
After fighting a huge influx of people coming up the back stairs (kind of li
ke a salmon swimming up stream), I just do make it into the very full room! Then sure enough David Tennant is announced. He makes his way to his chair with thousands of fans yelling for him (almost like a rock star.) Some of the show producers then join him on the stage. There is plenty of talk about the show, some fan questions and a sweet teaser trailer of David Tennant's last four episodes. Although I'm not a huge Dr. Who fan, I find Tennant's doctor very entertaining and I will be sorry to see him leave. This panel was another high light of my comic-con this year.
