As you well know by now, The 2nd annual New York Comic-Con was last weekend. What happened? Well, I'm here to tell you! So, listen up!
That's Blair Butler of G4TV with your Comic News Insider hosts, Joe and I, at our booth. You know her because she's on the show about once a month anyway. Onto the story!
I've been excited about this convention, to be known as con from henceforth, since last year. Of course, I get sick on Thursday. After work, I go out with Cassaday for one drink and head home. As per usual, I'm up all night. This time, prepping all of the last minute stuff for the con. Finally, I get to sleep and pass out for some time.
Friday arrives, well..it had already arrived...what I mean is....I awaken! The con was closed to the public until 4pm, but trade and press could get in at 10am. Hey, that's us! Joe got there early to set up and I got there around 12. I walked onto the main floor for a minute to say hi to some of the guys at the nearby DC booth. Fletch was there and I thanked him for the donations for the charity raffle. I walked around a bit and couldn't find the entrance or where to get upstairs to the podcast arena or artist's alley. Finally, I called Joe and he told me where to go. I noticed the signs for artist's alley, but not for the podcast arena. Sigh. No respect at all. I go up the escalator and walk through artist alley. Not many of them were there or set up yet, but I saw where most of them were going to be. I arrive at the podcast arena. Barely as the whole con was sans any signs pointing it out. Immediately, I see Joe at our booth. Awesome job of the table! He had put up the banner and skirted the table and made it look hot! We had raffle items displayed and postcards and fliers and much more! I was pretty impressed, though feeling quite crappy due to the sickness. Saw some of the Comic Geek Speak guys I knew and said hi. Indie Spinner Rack too. Chris from Around Comics came over and introduced himself. We had talked a few times in conference calls we had on Skype. He brought me over a lovely 12 year old Elijah Craig. So young and tasty, that Elijah. Succulent and....oh wait. I should probably mention that Elijah Craig is a bourbon. Sorry all of you NAMBLA dudes. I'm not a member. I grabbed some eats and settled into the table for a few.
After a bit, Joe and I decided to take turns walking the floor. I went down and started at one end. So overwhelming. The Marvel Booth was pretty huge, but not much set up. Right next to it was a big Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer booth promoting just that. I walked down the first aisle and immediately ran into Heidi MacDonald, Queen of The Beat, the news blog of comics culture. She was on her laptop attempting to go live to start reporting. She works her ass off! And, if you aren't reading her column....START!
I was running through the much wider aisles and doing a quick preview of what was where and such. As I'm passing down aisle 300, Tiffany Fallon (Playboy's 2005 Playmate of the Year) was still setting her table up. Yep. that's her. Comic-cons always have a random Playmate or model here and there selling pics and magazines. I had seen her at the San Diego Con and always thought she was smoking hot. I remember her being more conservatively dressed in San Diego. Not so here in New York City. She whored it up! She was in a low cut top, tight mini skirt and heels. As I walked by, she kept leaning over to fix her table skirting and tape things. And, she kept popping out. Naturally, I had to just stand there. I pretended to be on the phone so I didn't look like too much of a perv. Hey! I defy any of you, man or woman alike, to look away when this hotness is showing her boobage in public for free! After about 45 minutes of just staring at her and being pulled away by security, I moved on.
Lots of great booths. Much anime and manga stuff. Some movie things. Small press and indies and retailers galore. The crowd wasn't there yet, so it was nice to walk around and be able to get through without any trouble. I headed back up to the CNI booth and sat back down for awhile. Joe and I discussed what we'd be doing and started preparing for the throngs of folk to come in. They opened the doors a bit early and they all started arriving. And boy, did they arrive! Friends came by the booth to exchange salutations. Some creators. Some strange types. And even some friendly strange creators! Hey, it's a comic-con, whaddya expect?
The great Jim Starlin came by to do a signing at 5pm for an hour. We didn't get crazy traffic on that first day, but it was a lot of fun just sitting there with him and talking comics and such. An older gentleman, probably Starlin's age or even older, came by and asked whom he should show his work to. It was sort of an illustrated history of time. Nice idea and the art was okay, but it just wasn't that good. Jim was very pleasant and said, "Hey, why burst his bubble. He obviously researched it and worked real hard on it." We told him to go down to some of the publishers on the main floor, like Dark Horse. The guy says, "What's his name? Mr. Horse?" Seriously. He did. It took us about 5 minutes to explain it to him! Jim finishes up a little after 6pm and headed out.
More friends swing by and a few hang out and sit at our table. Kristin had come in from Pennsylvania to hang. You all remember her and her horse farm. Ryan caused a ruckus with Charlito of Indie Spinner Rack by sitting at our table. They even had a fight in the middle of the arena! Suddenly, I get a frantic call from my friend, Priscilla. She is downstairs and is clearly upset. She took a bus or train in from Pennsylvania and was staying the weekend. Somehow...she lost her weekend pass to the con. I knew I could get her in that night, so I ran down to do so and figure something out later. I suggest that we go over the one of the con ticket booths and explain the situation. I explained it to the guy behind the counter and he thought for a second. And gave her a weekend pass! I'd like to think it was my smoothness that did it, but it's more likely it was Priscilla's cuteness. Problem solved and back to the table. I was ailing, so I just chilled for awhile. Joe had run off to see the Alison Bechdel panel. She of Fun Home fame. One of the best graphic novels of 2006. All of the sudden, right before 9pm (when the con was closing that night), security starts lowering lights and telling us we had to get out. I quickly call Joe to get him up here because I had no idea what to do with the mics and stuff. He makes it up and we pack it all in. Some of them were heading out to dinner, but I was beat and ailing so I went home. And crashed.
Around 11 or so, I meet up with Cassaday at a party. Saw a ton of the industry folk. Some I knew like Jimmy Palmiotti, John Lucas and John Layman. Crowded as hell, but we hung for a few beers. We split off from the party and went to get some eats at one of our local haunts. Good to catch up with Layman. He's good friends with Cass and we had become buds at San Diego Comic-Con last year and stayed in touch. He's writing a few books out there and has a huge zombie one coming out! Finally, I had to go home around 2am. Yeah, you know I'm sick if I'm going home that early.
Saturday arrives and though sick, I'm very excited! My sis, Marsha, is coming in from New Jersey with her fiance', Bob. Love them both and always have an awesome time. Joe got there early to start things up. Sis arrives at my place around 10:30am and we head off to the convention center. Though I had bought them each a weekend pass, I didn't want them to wait in the line outside. It stretched many a block! I was able to get them in as guests since they were helping at the booth! Sweet! We go straight to the booth. Bob and I are all fly in our CNI t-shirts! Joe was wearing his as well. Sis would have worn one, but she was worried about not looking cute in it. Pretty sneaky sis! I had wanted to hit the Battlestar Galactica Panel at 11am, but figured the line was already crazy long for it. And besides, we had Greg Pak signing at 11am. We had just interviewed him and I really wanted to meet him. Awesome dude.
I sent my sis and Bob out with fliers to announce his signing and the raffle and such. Greg comes running up, a few minutes late. How cool is that? He was running because he was late! He actually cared about being at our booth on time! Other creators might be aloof or cavalier about it. But not Mr. Pak! Talk about nice. He arrives with one of our yellow fliers in hand. "Someone gave this to me and said Greg Pak was signing soon." Pretty funny! Yeah, that's us up there with my sis and Bob in the background. Greg is a genuinely nice guy. Smart and personable. So, while I was a bit upset for missing the BSG panel, I was glad I got to chill with him for an hour. From the research I did for our interview last week, I guessed he was at least of some Asian descent since he really focused on that theme in his film work. After my sis ran off, I asked, "My sister wants to know if you're a halfsie like us!" He laughed as I explained we were Filipino and American. He said he was Korean and American. I briefly explained our story and he seemed fascinated. Maybe I'll get him to do the foreword! Many of his fans came by. Some, saw the sign that said, "Greg Pak signing, 11am-12pm" and asked where he was. It's funny and makes sense. Most creators are not known by face. It's a comic book. And unless you read any of the comic blogs or magazines, you may never see a picture of said artist. Greg ended up hanging out an extra half hour just to chill and sign some more. Have I mentioned what a great guy he is?
After Greg bounced, it was time for the first raffle! We had several things donated from creators and businesses alike to raffle off. We sold tickets for $1 or 6 for $5. What a bargain! Strange though. People would see the signed books on the table and ask how much. Willing to pay probably $25-50 for something. Yet, when you say it's for a raffle and you need to buy tickets, it turns them off. Weird. We started yelling out to buy tickets right before it started and gathered a small crowd about. Joe did most of the yelling since my voice was going. Though, I did add in! My sis and Bob and a few friends joined in too. First one, success! Next one at 5:30pm.
Back to chilling at the table. I walked around to see a few people in artist's alley, but stayed away from the main floor. Saturday was the sold out day and was crazy. Lines were being stopped for crowd control. But, with my exhibitor badge and press pass, I was able to just go up front and pass everyone. Priscilla comes up to the booth and I almost didn't recognize her! Normally, she has long, curly brown hair and is not big on too much make up or piercings. She threw on this multi-colored wig and fishnets and black clothes. Nose ring, lip ring, red lipstick, etc. Serious hotness! Check her out! She was dressed as some random character from The Dresden Files. Not the new TV series, but the actual book series. The author was there that day and she wanted to meet him like that. Which she did. And he loved it.
Blair Butler had swung by a couple of times, but I was always away. I saw her run by and caught up with her. She was rushing over to try to get Hayden Panettiere for an interview. We chatted for a bit and she promised to swing by the booth later to chat with us and record something. She was lamenting over how she couldn't find a copy of a certain comic book, Werewolf by Night. No one on the show floor had a copy. No one. But I did! I had brought my weekly stack with me to read at down times. Not realizing that there wouldn't be any down times. She says to me,"If you lend that to me I'll give you a really long hug." What? I look like that much of a lonely nerd that a hug from Miss Butler would make my day?! Sigh...okay. Yes, it would.
As I'm heading back to the table, I see Gary Coleman signing. Well, not really. No one was going up to him. Poor guy. I've said it before, I just don't get why a celeb like him is at these cons. Nothing to do with comic books or sci fi or anime or anything like that. Next to him was Ray Park. Now that made sense. He was "Darth Maul" in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and "The Toad" in X-Men. Next to him was Daniel Logan who played the young Boba Fett in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones.
And next to him? CHEWBACCA!!!! Peter Mayhew that is. I kind of wish they had put Gary Coleman and Peter Mayhew right next to each other, but that would have just been too perfect. Each day, I would see them walking by on the way to their table. Gary ran by late one day. Like a little kid late for school complete with backpack. Peter is over 7' tall and walks very slowly with a limp. And look at that crazy hair! He embraces his inner Chewie!
Blair comes by to get the book and I stay at the table. Still ailing hard. Various people came around and offered to work the table, but I just hung out. I wanted to see the Kevin Smith panel, so went down with sis and Bob to get in around 2:30. It wasn't starting until 3:30, so we wanted good seats. Priscilla found us and joined in. Typically, he was tardy. But, he got started right into his Q & A. Funny stuff right off the bat. Someone talked about naming celebrity kid names and how he named his daughter Harley Quinn, after the Batman character. He was then asked if Warner Brothers ever took issue with that name. He says, "What? Like a cease and desist? I would love that! Warner Brothers calling me and telling me to cease and desist my daughter." He then motions a gun and pretends he's shooting her, "Alright. Done." Hysterical. After about 30 minutes, Joe calls and says Blair is at the table and ready to interview. Sadly, I have to leave. I loves me some Kevin Smith but I heart Blair.
So, I run upstairs and she's already chilling in the booth with Joe. We end up just chatting a bit and then decide to record a "Con Wrap-up." As we are talking, I get a text from Cassaday. Blair probably thought I was being rude for paying attention and replying, but I had ulterior motives! I knew she wanted to meet him and he was letting me know he had just arrived. I texted back that she was at the booth and to come up right away. As we were talking with her, mind you...recording!...he walks up. She looks up and says, "Sorry. I'm totally nerding out right now. John Cassaday just walked up." So damn cute! If only I could have gotten my boy, Paul Pope, to show up, she would have freaked even more. She's always so great to have on and has been a big friend of the show since last summer at San Diego. We wrap it up and I get my big, long hug and a few pictures. People kept coming up and stopping after recognizing her. The power of Blair! Next time, we'll get her to do an autograph session. Hopefully, she'll give us a shout on Attack of the Show this week during her segments. Hard for her to get that to happen since her producers are such sticklers for time and what self pimpage. She got it mentioned once awhile back though. We'll see!
More raffle action! This time, I got my bud, Unemployed Skeletor, to help out. We just improved with the gathered crowd and they seemed to be entertained. We funny! Another successful raffle! Some disappointed ticket buyers. Kind of annoyed me and made me laugh at the same time. A listener and forum member, Raphael, bought about $50 in tickets. Priscilla did the same. We didn't sell that many tickets, so their chances were huge. And they won! Quite a few different folk won stuff, so I thought it was cool. All of you who bought 1 ticket....sorry! OH, and if I didn't mention. All proceeds are for Get Caught Reading, a youth literacy program. So, if ya didn't win, you at least helped out a great charity.
Ailing and beat as all get out, I decided to leave early. Wanted to leave around 6pm, but people kept coming up that we were talking to and stuff. Cass shows up and we decide to head out around 7pm with my sis and Bob. They back to the hotel they had gotten for the night and me to my home for a nap. The big dinner party that Joe had organized and pub crawl after that I had put together was that night. About 70+ people were signed up for the dinner. I was so tired, I figured I'd get there at the middle of it. Around 9 or so. I passed out at 7:30 and woke up at 10:30. I could easily have stayed in bed. But, I ran to the diner. Many had left already but there was still about 40 people there. Many of my friends wondering when I was coming. We hung for a few and then I walked everyone on down to O'flaherty's. Ended up being about 20+ or so coming in. We had a few drinks there and we're having a blast. Cass shows up and we head down to another local haunt, Deacon Brodie's. I come down for one drink and am just not feeling it, so I bounce off home. Again, around 2am. On my way home, I decide to stop back into O'flaherty's to see if anyone was left. Sure enough, a small group was there. I got a shot of bourbon and suddenly I felt better. The group dwindled down to 3. I'll leave out the other 2 names so I don't incriminate them. It wasn't Peter and Charlito. Not at all. Never! Anyway, we were chatting about how people had wanted to go to a club that gentleman frequent. And suddenly...it hit us. BOOBIES!!! And off we went. To quote my boy, Jay-Z, "I'm a hustler, homie!" We had a blast!
Later, we went back to meet up with Cass and a few other showed up for after hours. I got to meet and have a beer with Garth Ennis! One of my favorite comic book writers. Didn't get a chance to talk to him much, but it was cool meeting him. Fucking Ennis!!! I get home around 6am and crash hard.
Sunday, sis and Bob come over at 11:30 and we head over to the con. Emily came by to help out that day. Priscilla was around in her wig again. With Em, Pris and my sis, suffice it to say, many a drooling fan boy came by to say "hi." At one point, I was standing between Em and Pris. Right between them! Some dude comes up and shakes their hands and passes me right over! Hey! It's my show! But, I get it. They've never seen a real girl in person before and had to touch to see if they really existed. One fat Jedi relentlessly kept hitting on Pris. Being the nice girl she is, she just chatted with him. Naively not realizing that with every word, he was falling more and more in love. Suddenly, his light saber turned on accidentally and made a sound and lit up. Premature light saber action! He refused to leave.
Even when her (and many others) crush, Cassaday shows up.
That's balls of steel. Well, since he was a Jedi, I guess it's midichlorians of steel? Still, he was harmless, besides his premature light saber, so I wasn't concerned that she was being turned to the dark side. I don't think she was either since she was all googly-eyed for a certain someone. Yeah, yeah. I'm cake. He's icing. Sigh...
First raffle of the day is at 12:30. We attract a huge crowd. Of course, Raph and Pris start winning again since they bought so many. But, many people also didn't show back up. Their loss. Literally! A guy who was hard of hearing had mentioned it to me. I noticed his hearing aid. I told him to stand close by to hear. He asked if I would hold his tickets and help him out. He had the best attitude! He had only bought a few tickets and didn't win anything. A few in the crowd griped how Raph and Pris kept winning. I apologized to him for not winning, but he says, "Hey, no problem. It was fun!" Now that's the kind of attitude you should have! Besides...good cause and all,folks!
There's Raph and Pris with a bunch of their winning swag. Yeah, they won a lot! The last raffle was at 4:30 and we attracted an even bigger crowd. A bunch of our podcast friends won stuff too. Peter, Jamie D., Charlito, Chris and others. And it was good to see friends win as well.
Funny moment. A fellow podcaster's young son won the poster of a scantily clad Red Sonja. Yikes! I told him to just put it on his wall and lock the door. Gotta grow up some time! I mean, that's how I learned. Except mine was a poster of Wonder Woman. MMmm.....Amazonians.
A successful raffle over all. We raised over $400 for Get Caught Reading. Not a lot, but something. Hey, tickets were only $1! That's me with sis and Em. My raffle helpers. I had them pull the tickets out so people wouldn't get mad if the same people kept winning. Yeah, that's right. I'm a genius.
After the raffle, I ran down to chat with Amanda Conner. Artist extraordinaire. My good Welsh buddy, Rich, wanted a certain sketch and I queried about it. She said, "Wow. That would take some time. But it would be fun to draw!" And most likely very expensive! Also, I wanted to get her on the show and she promised! Sweet!
5pm rolls around and the con ends. We pack up and head out. As sick as I was, I still had a blast. I'm sure I'm leaving stuff out, but we all know I'll just add it later in another post. I saw a bunch of costumed folk. Some that shouldn't have been in them. Like the pregnant or fat Supergirl. Fat Anakin or Fanakin. Old Aqualad. Tight pants Northstar. I'll post more pics in an album later. I didn't buy much. A few sketch books here and there. Some of those great old time radio shows on CD from Radio Spirits. We got given a lot of free comics. Mostly from independent comic people looking to get some free press. Unfortunately, a lot of them aren't that good. But, there are a few of them that shine, so look for a mention in upcoming episodes.
I end up going to dinner with Joe, Cass, Pris, and Em. Just decompressing. Nice steak and wine. Though, with the sinuses, couldn't taste much of it. Joe got mistaken for someone homeless so we kept calling him a hobo throughout dinner. It entertained us.
End of NYCC 07. Next year they moved it to April for warmer weather. Wise move. It was freaking cold as a mother! And, we got a lovely thank you letter from the Con people saying that they would be doing the Podcast Arena again next year! Let's hope they weren't drunk.
Til next year.
Comic News Insider: Episode 78 is available for free download! Click on the link or get it through iTunes!
