Friday, June 8th---
Finally, the moment arrived. We parked in the Direct Energy Centre parking lot, and I somehow was mistaken for an exhibitor at one of the shows that was going on in the area and received free parking. Score! I love saving $10 whenever I can.
The setup was the same as last year's efficiently run show. A group of fans formed a pseudo-line against the windows of the outer hallway, waiting for the 3 part ticket kiosk to go into operation. However, there were surprisingly less people waiting at 2:00 than last year. That was fine with me...better chance to get on the big sketch lists earlier. We got in line and I strapped on the baby carrier. I figured if I carried Rowan then I could use his stroller to carry my comics. I had filled three backpacks full of stuff that I wanted to get signed, and planned on bringing one a day. However, in my excitement for the show I had unwisely brought in two for that Friday. We double-checked the map and decided to head for Matt Wagner first, since he was one of my targets and my wife had decided to try and get me a nice commission piece for Father's Day.
By the time 3:00 rolled around the line had gotten bigger, but still didn't quite compare to last year's. A little before 3:00 the booth opened, and the charming two gentlemen who are a staple of the Paradise shows (Mr. Dixon and his colleague) began taking care of the throng of people who had presale tickets. We received our bracelets and badges (reminds me of that old Amalgam comic featuring WW and Punisher) and proceeded onto the con floor. Greeting us, beyond the door, was the Silver Surfer...literally! A life size 3-D movie poster was the first thing that attendees saw as they came through the doors. Way better than a Poseidon Humvee!
Along the way to the back of the con floor I passed David Petersen. Impressively, he was already set up with his stack of
Mouse Guard books to sell, signage advertising his sketching policy, and his drawing materials at 3:00 on the button. Knowing that I wanted a
Mouse Guard book for the low, low price of $20 (or, the price of a 1st print of issue #1 on e-bay, minus an arm and a leg), and afraid that he would sell out I jumped in his line and sent my loving wife on to Matt Wagner alone. I was several people back, and everyone was getting on his list, so I figured that I would take care of that as well. He was advertising inked sketches for $40, but if you've seen a Petersen piece you know that sketch doesn't begin to describe his work. I dropped $60 at his table and got on his list. After seeing some sketches on line of his mice superheroes (such as mouse Batman---rodent redundancy---and mouse Superman) I had initially decided upon a mouse Captain America in my Avengers sketchbook. But, then I saw a Lizard portrait that he had done, and changed to a request for his favorite villain in my Villains sketchbook. I gave it to him and he told me to stop back around the close of the show to get it back.
I went back to Matt Wagner's line and saw that my wife was getting closer. Since Kaare Andrews' line was right next door, and his Reign had been one of my favorite minis since New Frontier, I jumped into his growing line. Good idea, because he seemed to be doing inked sketches for every one in his line! In the meanwhile, my wife had reached Matt and she
awkwardly tried to set up a commission with him. Since he had his daughter along for the trip, due to her summer tennis camp, he didn't want to really book himself with commission style work. However, he was doing his famous free head sketches, so she got me a Q is for Question sketch in Rowan's alphabet book. It was very cute when she asked him if he needed reference for the Question, as she is not really familiar with the character. His response, "A fedora, no face...I can handle it."
She took my spot in Kaare's line, as it wasn't really moving and allowed Rowan and I to check out some other people and get stuff done. Folks, I heartily advise you to bring a significant other who can enjoy comics but doesn't live for them to every convention. It makes the days much more productive! I skipped into Marv Wolfman's line, which was the next one over, and had some of my prized comics signed, including New Teen Titans #1 & 2 (first Deathstroke, and both signed by Perez last year) and the Judas Contract (already signed by Perez and Giordano). I also had him sign my copy of his first Titans story from the '60s (which introduced Red Star) and the 1st appearance of the Black Cat. We chatted for a little while about how his work had really created stuff that I could share with my wife. She loves the Teen Titans cartoons and has read the Judas Contract herself. I picked up a copy of a Teen Titans episode script that he had written and said my goodbyes. Marv, being a writer, really had no line all weekend, but he definitely saw a lot of people, and I know he was a highlight of my con.
Next I saw Mike Oeming, and noticed his sign advertising watercolor sketches for $80. While this was a big part of my budget, it fit perfectly into my wife's Father's Day budget. I had my issues of Powers, Ares, and so on signed and then dropped off my Avengers sketchbook. I explained to him that the painting would be a gift and my wife would drop off the dough, and he was very cool about it. He was also very shocked to see a baby strapped to my chest, and checked with me to make sure that I knew he was there! Funny guy, with a real genuine interest in his fans.
With my wife inching ever closer, I made one more quick run. This time I hit Mike Perkins, the red hot artist of my favorite comic,
Captain America. I checked with him about his sketching policy, and he confirmed my theory that he was not drawing at his table (at least on Friday) but would be drawing at the HERO Initiative booth all weekend. We chatted about his Union Jack mini, and he said that the editors wanted to 'base' the supporting characters on real people in order to further ground the book in a real world setting. Because of that, Naveen Andrews 'played the part' of Arabian Knight, Melina Kanakredes doubled for Sabra, and Angelina Jolie was the inspiration behind the Contessa. Another genuinely caring creator, he not only signed but bagged every one of my comics since I was carrying my son. His art agent offered to do it for him so he could talk to the next person in line, but he was adamant on recapturing his younger days of working in the local comic shop somewhere in the UK.
I finally took over for my wife and let her go and see Mike Oeming and get a mouse sketch in her book from Petersen, as I got to talk to Kaare. I swear, the guy must have an iron hand (or
fist). He was doing great, detailed inked sketches all weekend with very few breaks. It is hard to find people still willing to do free stuff for their fans in the era of e-bay, but in the last two years Kaare and Darwyn, my top 'gets' in '07 and '06, did freebies! Kaare picked W in the alphabet book and added an interesting Wolverine which seemed to look nothing like any of his other work that I saw the rest of the weekend. Because of that uniqueness, I liked it even more.
After a quick break to feed the baby, change his diaper, and empty my bag of some signed stuff, we were back at the grind. We made our way to Tara McPherson and Christine Norrie, two of my favorites on the Women of Comics list, and two targets for sketches. I picked up Tara's art book,
Lonely Heart, and got on her sketch list. It was going to be awhile until she was able to get to it, most likely the following day, but I had already gotten two sketches in my alphabet book so decided to leave the book with her. I had Christine sign my....uhm, I mean my wife's collection of chick friendly books, like Hopeless-Savages and her great digest sized OGN Cheat, and got on her list as well. She and Tara discussed that they would trade the book between the two of them and I made plans to stop back the next day. Christine was bummed that W was taken, as was I since I had wanted a Norrie Wonder Girl, but she settled on a B is for Batgirl. Tara, on the other hand, needed a suggestion. I thought her cool spacey concert posters and toys made her a prime candidate for Adam Strange, but she didn't know the character. I told her that I would find some reference and set her up with a letter early on Saturday.
We continued with the Women of Comics theme and I next went to Gail Simone's desk. After apologizing to her for all of central New York regarding the Rick Olney debacle, we chatted about the upcoming Syracuse convention, her work on B.ofP. and her future work on Wonder Woman. Her husband recognized me from last year, which I thought was very cool. It is always nice when creators who leave a lasting impression on you also take the time to let the fans stay with them.
After Gail, it was on to Nicola Scott and Talent Caldwell. I got some books signed by each and added my name to Nicola's almost full sketch list. At $10 a pop, how could you not get something done by the uber-talented Ms. Scott! I was told to drop off my book on Sunday.
The rest of the day involved us stopping by various creators and getting things signed. Towards the end of the show I stopped by Petersen's table (he told me to come back on Saturday mornings) and Oeming's table and picked up my awesome watercolor.
With only one sketchbook in my possession we made our way to Marcio Takara's area to pick up the original page from our FF family commission. He was also doing sketches for $10 so I asked him to do an Avenger and I would pick it up on Saturday. Lightened by the absence of all 3 sketchbooks, we made our way to the car to head back to the hotel for the night. We had planned a trip to downtown, but were just too tired and needed a bed!
Back in line for Kaare Andrews for an addition to the Villain book; but, while waiting, I noticed
that Tom Grummett's line was non-existent. I hopped over and picked up a Black Knight while looking at preview material for a Black Knight one-shot that he is doing. Looks great!
line and he turned out this awesome looking Venom!
The night before he had to leave for the bus just when we got to see him. So today I went a little earlier. Since everyone was having him do an animal in their Pride of Baghdad books, I had him sign my copy of Pride, and asked for a Black Panther in my Avengers book.
line and, of course, the guy in front asked for a Cap. I asked if he would be bored by doing another Cap and he quipped, "I bloody hope not...I have to draw him everyday of my life!" As he worked we had an interesting chat about hedgehog flavored 'crisps' or potato chips. Apparently they are a British delicacy. Regardless of the odd tastes of the British people regarding their food, they turn out amazing comic creators. He did the Cap's inking entirely with brush, and inkwashed the background, creating a very cool looking image.
