In addition to writing commentary on the comic book industry and the creators involved, I would like to offer reviews on some of the comics being produced. I would like to hear some of your thoughts as well. Reviews and opinions shared by other readers could introduce you to an enjoyable book you might not otherwise pick up.
I had never attended a large convention. Sure, I have been to small local shows where there was one creator or sometimes none at all. Those were a good way to pick up on comics to fill a want list, or to purchase comics that really weren't worth much, but were cheap.
I decided that I would begin going to some of the larger shows this year to meet creators and get a better feel for upcoming events in the industry. I thought of attending DragonCon, which I still might do, although the guest list really didn't impress me much. While reading an issue of Wizard, I noticed MegaCon 2000 in Orlando. The guest list was huge and they were names that I knew! With some digging, I was able to find a webpage listing all of the guests. I was looking into the possibility of going. It would be fun to get away for a weekend anyway.
While I was still considering the trip, I logged onto stanleemedia.com (which by the way I highly recommend). It would be great to meet Stan one day I though. I sent an email to the site asking if he would be doing any conventions in my area this year. I received a response from a lady stating that he would be appearing this year at MegaCon 2000. That sealed it for me!
Before I knew it, it was time for my trip. I wasn't really sure how to prepare for it. This was the first time that I had attended a show that had so many guests. The website claimed over 200 would be attending. I took the list of guests and searched through my comic book database to see what comics I had that could be signed. In no time at all, I had a small box filled with comics to be signed. I filed them alphabettically and typed up a list by creator listing what I had. I thought I would look at the list, then could sort through the box and find the issues.
I was a little nervous about carrying a box of comics into the expo center. I parked about thirty minutes before the show opened on Friday, and most of the people sitting outside didn't have anything more than maybe a backpack. I was thinking what a huge dork I was going to look like. I decided to go in and leave the comics in the car. The line was already long. I had to pick up my wrist bands at the will call window. As I looked at others in line, there were not only people with small boxes, but people with long boxes, and even carts. Not feeling so bad, I went back to get my box.
I wasn't sure where to start once inside. There were booths every where. Companies promoting upcoming events, new creators trying to get noticed and stores selling comics. At the smaller shows I had attended, there were a lot of recent comics, usually around $1 each. That was a good way to get caught up on issues I missed on my favorite titles. At this show, I didn't see as many regular recent issues. The retailers were mainly offering gold or silver age books. If there were recent issues, it was usually the dreaded variant or premium editions.
There were a few creators scattered around the main lobby. The biggest booth and definite theme of the show was CrossGen comics. They were giving away free t-shirts promoting their titles. For $5 you could purchase a CrossGen sampler that included a free CrossGen preview that had been included in an earlier edition of Wizard. All of the CrossGen creators were there. I am definitely looking forward to checking out these titles when they arrive. Mystic, Sigil, Meridian, Scion and CrossGen Chronicles have some of the biggest names in the industry working on them including Ron Marz, Brandon Peterson, Barabara Kesel, Jim Cheung and Dexter Vines to name only a few. With the talent on these books and the publicity they were giving it at the show, I think a lot of people will be curious if nothing else in the titles.
Another booth that I enjoyed visiting was the Black Bull booth. The only book they are putting out so far is Gate Crasher by Mark Waid, Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti. Glenn Herdling was there also. He is the editor of this book, and probably unfortunately for him, I remember him working on Marvel's Beavis and Butthead. Mark Waid was not in attendance, but the other three were very nice and Amanda took the time to do a Vampirella sketch for me.
I found all of the creators there to be very nice and most of the artists would take the time to do a free sketch. The folks at Hurrican comics were there showing off their title Chassis, which has now been picked up by Image Comics. Artist Tone Rodriguez did a great sketch for me promoting their upcoming title Violent Messiahs, which should see print this summer. Shi creator Billy Tucci, Crimson's Humberto Ramos, Gear Station's Dan Fraga and Dawn's J. Michael Linsner also did sketches.
While there were a few scattered creators in the first room, the majoritity of them were in the back room. I thought this was convenient because it separated those wanting to buy comics from those wanting to get autographs. Additionally, if you were looking for autographs, it was easy to find them.
The diversity of people that I saw at the show was also good. At the stores I have purchased comics at before, the customers have almost always been guys. I think one time I saw a female collector. Usually they are always white too. There were a few black guys, but not many. I was amazed at how many women were in attendance at this show. Most of them were in fact collectors and not just bored companions accompanying their boyfriends or spouses. There were several people of various races there as well. From what I saw, there are more creators and characters available for them to relate to. That diversity only helps the industry, in my opinion.
The mix of fan favorites such as Georges Perez, Ron Marz, Bill Tucci, Amanda Conner and Michael Turner and legendary creators such as Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Harlan Ellison, Barry Windsor Smith, John Romita, Sr., Dick Ayers and Sheldon Moldoff with new creators trying to make a name for themselves such as Hurrican Comics, Arcane Comics, and Acetylene Comics was good. It is a great forum for newcomers to get noticed and make a name for themselves. The mixing of comic books, fantasy art, gaming, sci-fi, astronaut Rick Searfoss, Playboy bunnies, child-hood actors and B movie films by director Lloyd Kaufman proved to have something for most everyone.
Like with most things, there are bad things as well as good. This show was no different. There were a lot of guests - more than I actually talked to, but there were a few no shows. I didn't find out the reasons, but Ian Churchill, Jeph Loeb and Rob Liefeld didn't make it. Magic Johnson, who was only supposed to be there on Sunday was stuck in Michigan and didn't show either.
I am not sure if I should list this as a Bad or not. Stan Lee is a huge legend in the comic book world. He has created most of the characters people outside of the hobby have heard of. He was on the cover of the show's program. When I called the convention area before making the trip down, I asked if he would be there all weekend. I was told he was going to be there all three days. What he was signing would be up to him. The program stated that he would be there all three days, but only for one hour per day. That was a little dissapointing. I was thinking of the crowds that would be there over the weekend, and the scene of the crowd for him in the movie Mallrats. I had imagined that he would be there longer than an hour. I was there all day on Friday and didn't see him. I overheard other fans saying that he was just coming Saturday and Sunday. I arrived early Saturday to make sure that I would at least get to see him. I had a stack of maybe 10 books that I wanted to have signed, including one for my best friend and one for his son. A worker arrived soon after the line formed and informed us that he should be on time, but he would only sign one item per person. That was really disappointing. I know that it is only fair so that everyone has a chance to meet with him and get their items signed. If he were there for more than an hour, maybe everyone could have their items signed. Saturday you could have a personal photo taken with Stan if you wanted, but Sunday there was no time for that. Maybe I shouldn't complain because I did get to meet him and have an old issue of Spider-Man signed my its creator.
There were a few ugly things too. One of which was my system of filing the comics I wanted to have signed. As I looked around at other fans, the were definitely more prepared than I was. I am sure they had been to more shows than I had. One person with a comic book box like mine had their comics sorted by creator with a divider for each. That made it very easy for them to get into a line and remove all the books for that creator. Where it sometimes took me a while to riffle through everything (and having multiple people sign the same book sometimes confused the systems of signed vs non signed books), I think I will adopt this fans system for my next show.
Probably the uglist part of the weekend was one vendor who had a huge sale. He had tons of long boxes. A small section had $5 books, a slightly larger section had $1 books. The majority of the booth was composed of countless boxes filled with comics that were 10 cents each or you could put together a long box for $25. Saturday I passed up his booth. Even though you know there isn't going to be anything too exciting in there, who can pass up comics that cheap? The place was a zoo! The space between the shelves left little room to maneuver, and there were several people trying to get in there and claim their stake at the treasure. There is no way I was going in there! Sunday morning, after waiting an hour to get in, then waiting an hour to see Stan Lee again, I decided to go for it. I don't know how long I was in the mayhem! It seemed like an eternity. I picked up a long box and started in the only corner I could sneak into. There were three rows of about five boxes per shelf. While you were looking in the middle row, someone was between your feet at the bottom and you had to duck from the person on a chair leaning over you to get to the top shelf. I was thankful when I was finally free. One thing that I heard while in the dogpile, and I am going to wait and see what happens, is that there were a lot of people looking for Transformers. I don't know if there is an anniversary coming up or what, but at least five different people were stalking every box looking for transformer items.
This being my first regional show, I am not sure if this was a large one or not. I heard some people saying no, and some claiming this to be the third largest in the country. Either way, I had a good time overall. It was nice to meet several of the creators I enjoyed as a young kid as well as those I enjoy today. I purchased a series from one of the smaller companies to give it a try. The review of that will be forthcoming.
I also enjoyed seeing the creators when fans would give them a stack of comics to sign. They would sign them and move to the next issue in the stack, but occassionally they would come to an issue they hadn't seen in a while and would pause to flip through it and remember. I was in line for John Romita when a young girl in front of me presented him with Daredevil #16 for him to sign. It featured Spider-Man and Daredevil on the cover. She had her mom in line for Stan Lee and was going to have both signatures on this issue. John looked at it for a moment and asked her where she got this. It was an issue that he had been missing from his personal collection and had been trying to find one. He did later get a copy from a retailer. This girl also impressed me by pulling out an original copy of Uncanny X-Men #1.
All in all, I had a really good time at this convention and I would give it high reviews. I haven't done so yet, but I intend to make plans to attend this show again next year!
I would be interested in hearing from you on some conventions you have attended, how you sort your comics to be signed and maybe some interesting observations or stories involving some of the creators.
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