Part 4: San Diego Comic Con

Saturday!

The day started with Greg and I synching our schedules. We compare notes as to which panels we wanted to see and what exhibitors we wanted to visit. We then found coffee and food, unfortunately at a Starbucks not too far from the convention center.

Our first stop was the Dark Horse booth to get our passes to the Kazuo Koike and Frank Miller signings. Then Greg headed out to the panel on "Lost." I went to the exhibition hall to gather signatures and to look for those items and books that will fill gaps in my collection. Our plan was to meet up at the panel, "Spot light on Kazuo Koike" at 11:30.

I was able to meet and talk with Gary Gianni. His style is that of pulp novel covers and the great illustrators of the early 20th century. He is currently drawing the Prince Valiant daily strip. One of the items missing from my collection was The Sword of Solomon Kane a novel by Robert Howard. Gianni did hundreds of b/w illustrations and full color paintings for the novel. Gianni drew Solomon Kane for me. It is amazing. We had a great chat. He was among the nicest comic book professionals I encountered at the convention.

I also found Doug Tennaple's booth. He is a writer, artist, film maker, designer of video games, and a musician. He was behind Earthworm Jim, Nevermind, Skull Monkeys, Battlebots, Gear, Creature Tech, Earthboy Jacobus, and so much more. He had an amazing poster of Earthworm Jim for sale. I had no place for it so I didn't get one but I had such a nice chat with Doug that I forgot to have him sign my book. He did tell me that he has a new book out called Iron West and that Image is reprinting Gear later this year. I haven't been able to find it so I am glad to hear it.

I searched for the comics missing from my collection: Mignola's run on the Savage Sword of Solomon Kane, Marvel Team Up 141, and an Elfquest book that a friend is looking for. I found nothing. It seems my collection fell into an area the dealers weren't selling. Not Silver or Bronze age and not brand new.

I made it up to the meeting rooms in time to get a great seat for the Koike panel.

The Spotlight on Kazuo Koike began with and introduction and presentation of award by one of the con administrators. We learned that this was Koike's first American convention appearance. The panel was made up of Dark Horse personnel and the staff members of Koike's new representation in the United States, KK Tribe. The highlight of the panel was that Koike is currently working on Lone Wolf and Cub 2. It should be out "soon" Koike said. In the comic world that could mean 3 to 5 years from now. Let's hope not. We left the panel early so we could get in line for the Frank Miller signing at the Dark Horse booth.

It was great to meet Frank Miller. I thanked him for all of his great stories, Daredevil, Electra, Dark Knight, etc. He was very cordial and appreciative of the attention. At the same time he seemed very much in control of the situation. While I was waiting in line Koike came by and he and Frank exchanged hugs. Miller illustrated the covers for First Publishings run of the Lone Wolf and Cub stories. The program for the con had a Miller Lone Wolf image on the cover. This is what I had him sign along with a copy of 300. The signing was in part a promotion for the book and its upcoming movie.

Almost immediately after the Frank Miller signing, Dark Horse hosted a Kazuo Koike signing. This was a true honor to say hello and get his signature. I had him sign a copy of Dark Horse's recent publication Path of the Assassin.

How do you top that? I tell you it was going to be difficult. After a morning like that if I had to go home I would have done so happily. Thank you again Dark Horse.

After the Koike signing we learned that Grant Morrison would be at the DC Booth signing autographs. Greg has brought a copy of the Invisible for just such an occasion. We made our way over there and got in line. DC's staff was poorly organized despite headset communicators. It turned out we were waiting in line for someone else who was at the same table as Morrison. It all worked out in the end as Greg was able to get to Morrison once he was at the table.

Greg wanted to check out a panel on Stargate SG-1. I wasn't interested so we parted ways with the idea that we would hook up either at the Brisco County Jr. panel or a the Brian Bolland signing. I was off for more shopping. I ended up buying a book from Bud Plant and the Lone Wolf movies I was missing from Animego.

On our way we stopped at the Oni Press booth. Much to my surprise and great joy, Chynna Clugston was there and signing autographs. I got into her work through Hopeless Savages and then continued with Blue Monday and Scooter Girl. I would buy anything she writes or illustrates. It is just that good. Most of the stories deal with young people involved in plots of intrigue and music. One great feature is that she lists the song you should be listening to as your read each chapter or page. The music is mod, ska, new apache, and very much what I listened to back in the day (and still do). I was a huge fan of Adam and the Ants and Bow Wow Wow back in the day. Adam is a major plot point in Blue Monday. I was knocked over and star struck once again. She signed my sketchbook and I bought a "Chynna Rocks" pin from her.

The Brisco County Jr. panel had a line miles long. I decided to skip it. It turns out that it doesn't matter if you have no idea why he is there that Bruce Campbell draws a crowd. What we learned: when attending comic con skip anything scheduled in a large hall. I ended up finding Greg in the Autograph hall looking for the Brian Bolland signing. Before I found him I took these photos of the ever present costumed attendees. Someday I want to come back to comic con and take more pictures.

Greg was seventh in line for Brian Bolland's signature. Unfortunately, he was directly behind a guy who brought an illicit rolling suitcase full of comics for him to sign. I am not sure how many got signed before they turned him away but I waited for Greg a bit longer than I thought I would. It was cery cool though. Greg now had an issue of the Invisibles signed by Grant Morrison and Brian Bolland. Very cool indeed.

After this we took another tour of the exhibition hall. We looked for back issues, checked out all of the resellers, visited Artists' Alley, and the Small Press area. Greg found some great prints there. The amount of talent in that one place was staggering. It could be either encouraging or extremely discouraging for anyone wanting to break into comics or illustration. I have to say that I was encouraged. My plan is to only have two jobs next year, one at the museum and the other in my studio.

See a later post for some photos I took at the Gentle Giant booth. This is the company who will be producing a line of toys for the animated Hellboy movies.

Greg and I decided upon Italian for dinner. The concierge suggested Panevino and we were off. It was amazing Italian food. The waitstaff were all Italian, from the Piedmont. I used all the Italian I remembered from the summer that I lived and worked there. We got great service and had a wonderful meal.

We had plans to hook up with the Dark Horse staff at the lounge in their hotel around 10. So we headed over to the convention center for a peek at the Masquerade Contest. It was truly a sight to behold. We had seats at the back of an overflow room. The contest was simulcast on the large screen. The best costumes, and the judges agreed, were Dancing with Celebrities from the Stars.

This is turning into a really long post I am going to stop now and pick up later. Maybe that will mean less scrolling for you.