Here’s a quick rundown on some of the other things I did at Comic-Con International in San Diego starting out with some photos. Here we’ve got some shots of the con, the Heroes panel, the Pop Candy Meetup, Jennifer Daydreamer, Henry Chamberlain, Popcultour, Paul Pope, and live art by Jim Mahfood, Josh Blaylock and Scott Morse:
Here is a lineup of stuff including things to come and look out for:
Anthony Zuiker Presents The Digi-Novel, Level 26: The creator of the CSI franchise was very kind to take some time to speak with me about his new project, Level 26. I will have that interview for you to check out later.
Lucky Man At Heroes Panel: I think the very best moment was towards the end of the Q&A when a quite smitten young man asked if he could see Hayden Panettiere up close after a quest to meet her that began four years ago. Hayden smiled and said, “When this is adjourned, will you meet me over there?” This was immediately followed by a warning not to get any ideas. “Too many brothers up here,” quipped Hayden.
Whitney Matheson’s Pop Candy Meetup: Talk about a very mellow and fun get-together Saturday evening. Whitney was totally charming and accessible. I highly recommend Whitney’s coverage of Comic-Con among other pop candy treats. I enjoyed a cocktail with my sweetie, Jennifer Daydreamer, as we took in the view and later on got into a comics discussion with James Sime.
James Sime’s Favorite Geek Out Moment: JamesSime, the proprietor and driving force behind Isotope Comics, had this to say: “It was during the Eisner Awards ceremony. Suddenly, there’s Leonard Starr at the podium making a presentation. He’s well known for his legendary comic strip, Mary Perkins, On Stage. It hasn’t been in print for so long. So, it was a deer in the headlights moment for me to see him.”
Paul Pope at Popcultour: I think the theme of the night was “accessible” since, after Whitney’s party, it was also great to see Paul Pope later that night at another party. Paul was open to do a little meet and greet as the opening DJ for an event to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. A live art performance featured Jim Mahfood, Josh Blaylock and Scott Morse.
Alfonso Ruiz: Cartoonist Alfonso Ruiz, a very talented young man is well on his way. I bought one of his original pages and I will need to keep my eye on what he’s up to. He loves the fact that he’s involved with a lot of great comics talent which includes a lot of great Mexican artists. We’ll hear more from him soon.
Rum For Comics: I was speaking with someone waiting in line for the Popcultour event. He said he never spends money on comics. He simply trades it for some of the best rum you’re ever going to find. I believe that would be Puerto Rican but I didn’t catch the name. Email if you read this!
DC Comics Talent Search: As many of you are aware, SDCC is a great place to try your luck at being discovered by DC Comics. The best advice I can offer, having gone through the orientation process but sadly not chosen for a portfolio review, is to take this very seriously and go in with your best work. That said, keep in mind that this is highly competitive and only five or six of the hundreds who submit each day are chosen for a closer look. It really doesn’t hurt to go through the process and you will learn something about your work.
Lark Pien Debuts New Book: A big name in the small press is Lark Pien. So, to see her first published book, Long Tail Kitty, is such a beautiful thing. She’s published by Blue Apple Books and distributed by Chronicle Books. Keep an eye out for it or ask for it at your local bookseller. I’ll have a review and more info about it later.
Be Good And This Won’t Happen To You: I will leave you with a disturbing image to ponder. We were waiting near the train tracks overlooking the Gaslamp District as we were about to walk over to Comic-Con, when a police officer asked us all to stop. Well, this guy, probably about fifteen, really wanted to join his friends who had already gotten across. In a panic or just plain stupid, he began to push his way past the officer. Maybe he figured since this was a female officer that he’d get away with it. Wasn’t long before two fellow officers frog marched our little friend back to the curb. They did an excellent job of it too. I know I was inspired to be extra courteous to everyone around me after that scene.