Comic Con 2008 Report

Danger · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:24 pm Post subject: Comic Con 2008 Report

Hey guys, trying to make this quick.

As of right now we're San Diego with some of the members of the board and just trying to enjoy Comic-Con. The floor is as crazy as ever with most of the big name Hollywood and video game companies just over taking the floor from all the smaller comic/ illustrator tables.

I could try and hit you guys with some 'fresh' news from all the con stuff goings, but i think Newsarama and CBR would probably have better reporting. Instead i'll just try to let you guys in on how my day went.

Wednesday: Preview Night.

We get at the con about 3:00 pm and end up waiting 3 hours to get into the show, and once we get in its just MADNESS! For anyone who hasn't been to the big show before, its just pretty overwhelming. It's a giant 'open' space that is suddenly filled up with booths and different displays. Its a sensory overload and you just don't know where to direct your eyes first. After the initial blast, your next reaction is to just run around and figure out where you want to go first.

I, myself, decided to go to the Artist Alley and try to get on as many lists as possible. Luckily I got onto the J. Scott Campbell line and may or may not leave San Diego this year with a commission. After that I went and walked around the rest of the Artist Alley and tried to find some artists to get in my sketchbook. Most of them weren't in town yet, so there wasn't really much to do.

The rest of the night was pretty much a blur of meeting new artists, trying to get new sketches, and buying a lot (almost 200$ worth) of sketchbooks in the first day. Brandpress studios seems to be the company this year for sketchbooks, as almost all the big name guys has a book with them.

9:00 hits, and its time to go to sleep, and a lot of us are still buzzing to get to Thursday.

cult_queen · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:41 pm Post subject:

I hate you all fiercely.
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Danger · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:55 pm Post subject:

Thursday: Day One

I woke up and tried to get to the 'Hasbro Sales booth' this morning @9:00 am with some of the guys and found a giant ass line before us. Apparently, everyone is still crazy nuts for G.I. Joes and other con exclusive toys, because you have to go and get a specific ticket with a specific time and you have to get into a line at the Hasbro booth later on to try (and i stress this) to get exclusive figures.

Looking back on this, I was pretty fortunate to get in the place where I did, as I heard that some people had been turned around time and time again at the line entrances to try and get their con-exclusives. I was in this line from 10-12 trying to get my exclusives. Worth it? Maybe not.

Afterwards I hooked up with one of my friends and fellow member (Jonchan) and we went back to our hotel room. We were both very bagged from the trying times at Hasbro. Rejuvenated from our 'trek' we went back onto the con floor, and on our way to meet the Natural Randy Couture. Randy was a great sport, and i'll post our pics when i get the chance.

Next we decided to check out artist alley where we both met Mr. Michael Ryan, the latest artist on our favourite book the Runaways. We both got hooked up with some awesome pages (again, i will provide pics at a later date), and then we proceeded to walk around the con again. I separated and went off to the THQ booth, were Joe Madureira was signing. Surprised, i hopped in line and tried to get a sketch, but was shied away only 2 people away. Disheveled, I walked around where I hooked up with John again and we went to try and relax summore from the con with some PINK BERRY. If you've never had any, you need to try some when your out to the California coast.

We scarfed down our frozen yogurt treats and headed back inside to the belly of the beast. I managed to say hi again to some old friends like Sean 'Cheeks' Galloway, Jonboy Meyers, Gary Ham, Camilla D'errico and Erwin Haya. Feeling all bushed from the days works, we headed back for good as the con was about to end at 7.

Stay tuned for more....

Maverick · Post-Crisis Member Joined: 23 Aug 2007 Posts: 36

Cool update, Danger! Did any of you guys make it to the BSG panel? Man, Kevin Smith was just hilarious as a moderator. And Katee and Trisha looked so hot.

Danger · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:36 pm Post subject:

cult_queen · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:49 pm Post subject:

Jeez, is the entire board there except me?

Someone find Eric Powell and *glomp* him for me.
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Danger · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:55 pm Post subject:

Friday: Day Two

Woke up around 10 and then headed to the con. I tried to get onto the Amanda Connor sketch list but it already filled up as soon a the doors open. Took my lumps, but she's a very lovely lady and I will try to get one eventually down the line.

Around 11 I tried to get in line for the Power Puff Girl/Foster's Home cartoon panel, but soon found out that I had gotten into the line too late and was already lining up for another panel that would start afterwards. Rather than staying in a line for a panel that I didn't want to see I went back down to the con floor and ended up at the Aspen booth. I saw a familiar face as i landed at the booth and managed to chat up Francis Manapul for a while. He helped me out with some very inspiring advice, and gave me that 'energy' to keep going with my choice to go back to school.

Next I jumped into the Joe Madureria line again to see if i can score a sketch of of him. After being so close the other day, I was hoping to score big this time. Unfortunately he wouldn't do it but he did say to come see him at another booth that he was going to be signing at. Luckily for me he was willing to do the sketch over at the other table and commented on my persistence. (WOOHOO!)

Feeling kinda tired on my feet, I tried to get into another panel. This time I was trying to get into the Venture Brothers panel. I've got to learn to get there earlier in these lines, because as soon as I got there it was already snaking outside into the street. Got a text message from the rest of the guys and went down to Hall H and decided to hang out to check out the Kevin Smith panel where he was going to talk about his new movie, "Zack and Miri Mark a Porno". (Its going to be a f8cking hilarious movie)

After finishing the Kevin Smith panel, we headed straight to Hall 6 for Joss Whedon's Dr. Horrible panel. We ended up getting there way too early and they sat us anyway and we got to watch an enjoyable episode of Eureka, but a mind numbingly boring episode of Stargate Atlantis. (sorry stargate fans, i just don't like the show). A bonus though was meeting two very cool ladies from Phoenix (HEY DASHA AND MARISSA!) who were kind of to share some conversation and some Pringles when we were deathly hungry. The Dr. Horrible panel was pretty freakin sweet, and the show itself is amazing. I like it a lot, and can't wait to see more.

With the panel now done, we were done for the day. Headed outside for some amazing Pinkberry, and met up with some cool ladies from LA. They're just good times. The boys went back to the room, and then later on went out for some food. I stayed behind to try and get my drink on with some people but found myself drinking for one Sad

(Hopefully tonight will be different.) I got super hungry and then decided to walk around downtown San Diego, quite inebriated and by myself. Bad idea, cause when i got down the block a fight started to break out which I almost walked into. Quickly, I crossed the street to avoid being pulled into the mess.

Found some pizza, went back to the room and conked out. That was pretty much the rest of the night for me.

Danger · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:02 pm Post subject:

Saturday: Day Three

This was the day that I got to sleep in a bit. With the con being 3 days in already, I had pretty much accomplished much of the things that I had wanted to do. With no real agenda I could walk around freely.

To start the day off I went back to Jonboy Meyers, to go and pick up my sketchbook that I had dropped off with him the day before. He was super cool, and he hooked up a very cool Catwoman sketch. THANKS JONBOY!

Afterwards, i just walked around the floor and tried to really get a look at some of the booths that I haven't really gotten a look at. I walked all the way down to the independents and got to meet some real cool Canadian people. They were all illustrators and I got to get some useful information from all of them.

Next, I walked around the con again just drinking in the atmosphere. I will say one thing, the con did well to schedule all the panels that people would really want to go to like Heroes, Lost, and BSG all on Saturday to keep the floor uncongested. Decided to head over to Hall H again and spent the rest of the con there. Underworld : Rise of the Lycans and Pineapple Express both look really cool and will definitely be watched by yours truly sometime down the line.

After the panels ended, so did my Saturday and the rest of the guys and I went over to Joe's crab shack for eats. After dinner we came back to our rooms and here I am updating you guys on how my day went.

Hopefully tonight turns out better than last night, I wanna go over to the Hyatt and see if i can rub elbows with some of the industry's greats. Wish me luck folks Smile

Danger · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:04 pm Post subject:

Ed-Dust · Post-Crisis Member Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 33

what would you say was your favorite announcement that came out at the con? and did u get to meet Ed Brubaker?

Maverick · Post-Crisis Member Joined: 23 Aug 2007 Posts: 36

Finally saw Danger on the exhibit hall floor on the last day (assuming Danger is who I think he is). Sorry couldn't meet with you guys Sunday night.. my friends were all dog tired and we still had to pack for our flight home the next day. Hopefully, I'll have a chance to chat with you about the con at the ol' comicshop this wednesday.

Man, the con was an awesome experience. I saw and did so many things.. and yet there were still so many things left unseen and undone. I managed to meet the awesome J. Scott Campbell.. what an awesome guy! I got a hardcover artbook, a sketchbook and a print from him! I'm so jealous that Danger got a sketch from Joe Mad.. I didn't even know he was going to be there! Dollhouse was a fun panel.. so was the BSG panel. I also got a Mark Brooks artbook, Marc Silvestri artbook, 2 Jim Lee sketchbooks, an Adam Hughes artbook, the Street Fighter tribute book (also got to talk to Joe Ng, Udon artist for a while on thurs morning and I got a film of him sketching).. and a whole lot more!

-J.

cult_queen · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:14 pm Post subject:

Danger · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:29 am Post subject:

Jason Copland · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 2:12 pm Post subject:

Sounds like you had a great time! Thanks for the play-by-play, it was a fun read.
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ComicSpace

Danger · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:37 am Post subject:

Sunday: Final Day

Woke up, washed up, and finally hit the con at around noonish. Hung out around the floor for a bit until I bumped into the Ragnar table and picked up his latest book and scored a sweet sketch for the book. Later on I dropped off a Mighty Mugg Movie Iron Man for a friend and said some goodbyes.

By this time it was almost time for the Michael Turner tribute panel, which I absolutely had to go to. There was a super crazy line-up, and I was lucky enough to get in. The panel started and it was very touching to say the least. Mike loved and was loved by many, and he will be greatly missed.

After the panel i went back down to the con floor to say more goodbyes. I was fortunate enough to meet Justin Copeland down at Hero's con last year in North Carolina, and I didn't suspect him to be at SDCC this year. Sadly I hadn't found this out until Saturday night when I had spotted him sharing drinks with the people at Top Cow, where he has an upcoming book coming out. I tried to hop on over to the booth, but sadly he had already left for his flight back home. DAAMMMNNN.

Went to round it out by visiting some other people who I've met over the weekend. Big shot outs to Camilla D'errico, Erwin Haya , Gary Ham , Robin Mitchell , Matthew Stewart , Sean 'Cheeks' Galloway, Jonboy Meyers, and so many others. And with that, my San Diego Comic-Con 2008 experience was over. I miss it already and I look forward to maybe going next year.

However there was still Sunday night to look forward too, and well that's for another thread.... Check it out.