Father Geek here with another report from Comic Con. This one from a female perspective... yes, woman DO attend this event... in very large numbers by the way. I first went to the San Diego Con in 1970 as a dealer of Goldenage comics. I would return every year of that decade dealing Goldenage & Silverage comics, pulp magazines, original comic art and cartoon cel paintings, annnnnnnd vintage motion picture posters, especially ones from the Horror and Science Fiction genres. In the early years Harry's mother, Helen, was one of only a handful of women to attend the mostly fanboy event, but over the years the fangirls started to come out of their CLOSETS. Until now as many as 10,000 attend this event alone. Recently when Harry, Quint and I attended Minn/St. Paul's ConVergence I noted an almost equal number of male and female attendees at that event, the same was true of the most recent LOSCON that Harry and I were guests at, sooooo I decided to post this "Female on the loose in the aisles
of fandom's greatest gathering" report.
And "Greatest" is the correct choice of words my fellow geeks, for NO other event attracts as many fans (up to 60,000 one year), or as many pro artists, or dealers, or... you get the point... this IS Comic Con International. During my hayday as a wheeler-dealer on the show circut I (with Harry in tow) would attend as many as 25-30 of these things a year up and down the West Coast and across the country to shows like The Detriot Triple Fan Fair, to HoustonCon, to D-Con, to The Berkley Underground Comic Con, to Atlanta's wonderful DragonCon, to events in Chicago, Tulsa, Denver, Cleveland, Memphis, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, and on and on. Once you have attended the San Diego version of these events you'll be hooked, all things considered it is the ONE to make if you can go to only one... that's why it gets the coverage on these pages it does...
Now on to our female reporter's adventures in the land of geek...
Now on to our female reporter's adventures in the land of geek...
As I have read some of the posts on the San Diego reports, I have noticed that many have posted how they could find a comic con near them anywhere, anyday. Can I add something to these people who obviously have NO CLUE as to the immense nature of the San Diego Comic Con.
First of all, San Diego provides a beautiful backdrop to the LARGEST comic convention in the world. Yes, this is the largest. The San Diego Convention Center is a striking building of design, but it is also HUGE. And getting larger, they are in the process of adding more square footage to the main floor. The comic con takes advantage of every square foot available right now.
On Wednesday, July 18 a special preview night was being held. From 5 to 8PM, if you had already pre-registered for all four days you could receive your badge and enter the main exhibit hall. Exhibitors were already set up and ready to go to take your money. Well, I had wondered how many people would actually take advantage of this evening. I found out. There were easily 3,000 people in line, waiting to receive their badges and start staking out the main exhibit hall. I had 4 pieces entered into the Art Show and had to also set that up as well as pick up my badge. I was there to network. But, being a loyal consumer, I was there to buy as well. I stayed til 7PM, and was hungry and tired and wanted to plan my attack for portfolio reviews on Thursday. I went to my hotel. BTW: Little Italy in San Diego has awesome italian restaurants - I highly recommend them. And that's where I usually stay at...beer and good pasta after a long day! And just a block to my hotel. AHHHHH!
Thursday- This is where all hell breaks loose. Last year, 48,500 people attended the comic con. This year they expected MORE. I visited the Humanoids Publishing booth for a impromptu portfolio review. I am proud to say, they were impressed. And asked me to send them more samples. Wow, 10:30AM and I was already getting lucky with my work. Next up, Chaos! Comics. Last time I was in San Diego (3-years ago) they liked my stuff and wanted to see more - but I did not pursue it. Nasty divorce and all that....this time, same thing LOVED my work. Wants to see more. I left my card, copies and rec'd a card as well. Next up, in line for Dark Horse. A LONG line - was there until 1:30 and decided that there was no way they were going to see me by 2PM (which was when they were going to review portfolios). Left. But I came back later in afternoon and got to have Randy Stradley, editor of Dark Horse look at my portfolio. Good feedback, I'll be sending them more stuff.........(btw: if they ask for more, then you send them more samples. If they don't, keep working on improvements until next comic con.....).
Let me explain something: As you walk through the main exhibit hall, here
are a few people you're going to see: Lou Ferrigno (yes, he's still BIG),
Stan Lee (cool guy still LOVES the many fans), Bernie Wrigtson (wow, c r e e
p eeeeee art - love it! and nice guy), Joe Quesada (saw him, but didn't say
hi), Dave Dorman (cover artist for many of the Aliens, Predator books by
Dark Horse). I saw "Boomer" from Battlestar Gallatica, Will Wheaton,
Jeanette Goldstein (Vasquez from "Aliens"), June Lockhart - and MANY MANY
MORE (including various Playboy bunnies, even comic geeks appreciate eye
candy.... Friday was about the same as my Thursday. Except I went to the Spotlight on
George Perez and a How to break into Gaming (Illustration) panel.
Saturday was my day to wander and take a gander at the LOTR, POTA, Joss
Whedon, John Carpenter, Spider-Man presentations and the Dark Horse
Portfolio 101 panel.
I also spent Saturday talking to some people that I knew in the biz who had
booths. Apparently all their sales were up by 10% as compared to last year.
Yep, alot of money exchanges hand during the Con. I heard that someone
forked out $50,000 to buy someone's comic book collection. Can you say -
"what the f#%$*??!!!"
Sorry for the long winded message. I am just tired of hearing people
say that this comic book con is no different than any other comic con. YES,
it is. I have been to a few, I know people in the biz who go to all the big
ones. We ALL agree, San Diego is the biggest - and the best to go to. I
am proud to say that my hard work paid off. I had brought down a STACK of
my business cards and displayed them with my work at the Art Show. I have
NO MORE cards left. Just the ones on my person to hand out. And I'm almost
out of those. Besides that, its an exhilerating event - one of which you
appreciate being a "comic book GEEK" - or as Joss Whedon said (correcting
himself), "afficianado". I plan on having a booth or table in Artist Alley
there next year - and my boyfriend will be with me this time. If you'd like
someone to report from that perspective, I will do so.
Harry, get better (your back is bothering you?). Take care,
Smugbug
