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Underground > Comic Books >

comicbook conventions?

  
 
kid coagulant
09:24 / 22.03.02
OK, anyone admit to having gone to one of these? There's one in NYC at the end of this month and I'm kind of interested in seeing what these things are like. Will I need to bring my Klingon/English dictionary?
http://www.bigapplecon.com/

Butch Patrick and the Iron Sheik? Now those are some celebrities!
 
 
moriarty
04:25 / 24.03.02
Sorry to keep you hanging, invix.

My friends and I make a point of attending the Big Toronto Comic Con every year, and I've been to a few others on the side. Generally the group splits up according to interest. My brother joins my friend Hays to hassle minor sci-fi celebrities like Warwick Davis and the cast of Earth:Final Conflict. K. gets in the big lineups to meet the big stars, some of whom are pretty cool. On the other end of the spectrum, HMC chats it up with the guys in Artist's Alley, usually local talent and kids with zines. It's really great to be able to talk with Chester Brown, Seth, Joe Matt, Jay Stephens and the like, without the dreaded lineups of the big guests. Sometimes Golden Age artists even pop up. One of my friends likes to collect the anime, and is usually $500 in debt within the first hour. We all end up meeting later on to get our pictures taken with people in bad Sailor Scout uniforms.

There's alot of neat stuff around, if you look hard. Bootleg videos, original art, fanzines, etc. Geek Paradise. However, the smell is rank, the promoters get stingier every year, the food is very expensive, and nobody understands the concept of personal space, so be prepared.

My favourite part of a convention? The boxes and boxes of comics under a dollar. One table was even selling their comics by the pound. I actually spend about 75% of my comic money at the Toronto convention. I can't even begin to tell you the treasures I've found. If this is something you plan on doing, bring a back pack. But make sure when you wear it you're respectful of the rest of the crowd.

So, my advice to you is to have a primary reason for being there. If you try to do everything, you'll end up doing nothing.

Have fun!
 
 
Sandfarmer
15:11 / 25.03.02
I love the conventions. I always have fun. Here in Atlanta, there is a big freak subculture that goes to these things just to party. Not geek but freak. I guess you could say more Vampire than Klingon.

Its the best way to meet comic pros and network to possibly get your stuff published or get a job. (The best way other than actually moving to the publisher's city and working your way up from the mail room.)

I'll be pedeling my little self-published comic at this year's Atlanta Comicon.
 
 
tSuibhne
15:53 / 25.03.02
quote:Originally posted by moriarty:
It's really great to be able to talk with Chester Brown, Seth, Joe Matt, Jay Stephens and the like, without the dreaded lineups of the big guests.

can I just take a moment to tell you how I loathe you? I was acctually just thinking last night about a letter I wrote to Chester Brown. Only time i've ever written to a comic creator. He wrote back a very nice responce.

And, on topic for a moment, I've acctually been thiking about tracking down a con around here. Haven't been to one in many years. If memory serves, back then the ones around here were small things. Don't even know if they had anything beyond a dealer room. I know a lot of them didn't. Anyone know of a central source to find out about comic book cons?
 
 
kid coagulant
14:11 / 27.06.02
The New York International Sci-Fi & Fantasy Creators Convention is this weekend. Adam Fucking West, Rutger Fucking Hauer and Billy Dee Fucking Williams are going to be there.

Nice list of comicbook people scheduled to attend:
'Jim Aparo- Longtime artist of Batman, Detective Comics and Brave and the Bold
Bob Almond- Inker of Black Panther
Terry Austin- Inker of Fantastic Four, X-men and The Avengers
Dick Ayers- Silver age artist of Sgt. Fury, The Avengers and The Unknown Soldier
Mark Bagley- Penciler of The Ultimate Spiderman and Thunderbolts
Chris Batista- Penciler of Green Lantern and Steel and Tunderbolts
Marcus Boas- Cover Painter of Fantasy Magazines and Novels
Jon Bogdanove- Penciler of Superman and Steel and Superman/Aliens II
Buzz- Penciler of JSA, Vampirella and Horseman
Anthony Caccioppo- Artist of Indestructible Man and President of Kaso Comics
Jim Califiore- Artist of Aquaman
John Cassaday- Penciler of Captain America and Desperados
Rich Carroll- Artist of The Indestructible Man and The Guard
Sean Chen- Penciler of Wolverine and Ironman
Chris Claremont- Writer of Uncanny X-men, Extreme X-men and Fantastic Four
Kirk Colburn- Creator of Samurai Guard
Ed Coutts- Artist of Dark Echoes: Genevolution, Der Vandale and Powerline
Peter David- Writer of Captain Marvel, The Hulk, Supergirl
Mike DeCarlo- Longtime inker of Batman, Batman Death in the Family, Powerpuff Girls
Tom DeFalco- Writer and Editor of Marvel Comics
Stephen DeStephano- Artist of Legion of Superheroes, Bizarro and Dexter’s Laboratory
Colleen Doran- Creator of A Distant Soil and artist of Orbitor
Evan Dorkin/Sarah Dyer- Writers of Batman Beyond and Superman Adventures
Gil Fox- Golden and Silver age illustrator
Jim Fry- Artist of Stone Cold Steve Austin
Jose Luis Garcia Lopez- Artist of Superman and Wonder Woman
Ron Garney- Penciler of Captain America and The Hulk
Keith Giffen- Creator of Lobo and Trencher and writer of Suicide Squad and Justice League
Dick Giordano- Legendary comic artist and illustrator
Craig Hamilton- Artist of Aquaman and The Spectre
Scott Hanna- Inker of Spiderman and Thor
Irwin Hasen- Golden Age artist and creator of Dondi
Damon Hurd- Creator/Writer of Dark Echoes, My Uncle Jeff, BETA
Phil Jimenez- Writer/Artist of Wonder Woman and Upcoming New X-men
Mike Kaluta- Long time industry legend and artist of The Shadow
Joe Kelley- Writer of Superman and JLA
Manon Kelley- Fantasy Actress and Cover Model
Ken Kelly- Master Painter and magazine cover artist
Ray Lago- Comic book and magazine cover painter
Andy Lanning- Writer of Legion and inker of Wonder Woman
Jae Lee- Artist of The Sentry, The Inhumans and creator of Hellshock
Michael Lilly- Artist of Catwoman, The Punisher and Countess Vladimira
Garcia Lopez - Cover artist of Titans and longtime artist of Superman,
Deadman and Hex
Kevin Maguire- Artist of Justice League and Tom Strong
Pablo Marcos- Artist of Crossgen Chronicles, Superman, Contest of
Champions and various Warren magazines
David Mazzuccelli- Artist of Batman: Year One and Daredevil
Tom McCraw- Writer/Colorist of Legion of Superheroes and The Flash
Frank McLaughlin- Longtime DC Comics’ inke
Mike Mignola- Creator of Hellboy
Rags Morales- Artist of Hawkman and JSA
James O’Barr- Creator of The Crow
Michael Avon Oeming- Co-Creator/Artist of Powers, Hammer of the Gods, Bastard Samurai
Dan Parent- Artist of Felix the Cat Comics and Archie Comics
George Perez- Artist of JLA/Avengers, Avengers, Writer/Artist New Teen
Titans and Wonder Woman
Rodney Ramos- Artist of Transmetropolitan and Green Lantern
Gina Going-Raney- Colorist of Mutant X and The Flash
Tom Raney- Penciler of Thor and X-men
Jordan Raskin- Penciler of Batman and Ripclaw and Industry of War
Darick Robertson- Artist of Fury, Transmetropolitan and New Warriors
Anibal Rodriquez- Inker of Captain Marvel and Black Panther
Lou Romano- Writer of The Guard, Fate’s Five and The Legend of Dracula
Craig Rousseau- Penciler of Impulse and Batman Beyond
Prentis Rollins- Inker JLA:Incarnations, Power Company and X-men
John Romita Jr.- Artist of Spiderman, The Hulk. Thor and X-men
John Romita Sr.- Marvel Comics’ legend and premiere artist of Spiderman
Rowena- Fantasy Painter and illustrator
Josef Rubenstein- Inker of Superman, Batman and Marvel Vs. DC
Colin Sheridan- Editor of Innervision Comics
Alex Simmons- Creator of Black Jack
Walter Simonson- Writer/Artist of Orion, Fantastic Four and Thor
Tom Smith- Color Artist of Avengers and JLA/Avengers
Mark Texiera- Artist of Wolverine, Ghost Rider and Black Panther
Trevor Von Eden- Artist of Legends of the Dark Knight and co-creator of Black Lightning
Stacy E. Walker- Model for Fantasy Magazines, Comics and Novels
Bob Wiacek- Inker of Captain America, Avengers and New Gods'

http://www.innervisioncomics.com/convention/convention.htm
 
 
DaveBCooper
14:53 / 27.06.02
As an old fart limey , I remember the days of the old UK Comic Art Conventions in the 1980s, which I attended first as a punter and latterly as a guest, and they were quite a lot of fun (though I do have a photo of Alan Moore at UKCAC88[?] effectively trapped against a pillar by a crowd of fans. When he talks of this in interviews, he’s not kidding, poor chap).

When I’ve been to the Bristol Comics 2001/2 etc conventions, I’ve felt they were somehow less focussed, perhaps because the panels didn’t quite seem to have the same pull (or roomspace). But still fun.

To me, cons are a good way to meet people whose work you admire, try new stuff from the stalls, and meet up with old friends. If you like the medium, it certainly beats hanging around the till in your local comic shop, loudly decrying projects and creators, and stopping other people paying for their stuff (but I digress : just had a bad experience ).

DBC
 
 
The Natural Way
15:21 / 27.06.02
Hate to be a dissenting voice, but I hate comicons. They just depress me.

Went to Bristol a few years back, took mushrooms, nearly wept at the shitness of Bazooka Jules, slapped my forehead at the racism of some Swedish comic creators who gave us half a flatbread and a sip of beer, got skanked by some dodgy video piraters and coined a famous barbeterm.

Not going back.
 
 
unbecoming
17:17 / 16.06.08
Not a convention as such but I'm hoping this thread is suitable for me to mention The Edinburgh Zine Fair.

That's right Scotland's Capital city now has its own celebration of small press and underground publishing. The event is free to attend and it's free to host a table.

We aim to make the event a celebration of all sorts of independant publishing- be it comics, literature, art or other weirdness.

We've got workshops, events, films and readings as well as the usual host of stalls and creators but we're still looking for more, so, if'n you're a creator or publisher and you would like to do something at the event, then please PM me for details.

The Fair is the 25-26th July 12-5pm at the Forest Social Centre, 3 Bristo Place, Edinburgh.

Thanks, I hope this is not an intrusion, Mods, Please move if necessary.
 
 
Axel Lambert
18:43 / 16.06.08
though I do have a photo of Alan Moore at UKCAC88[?]

I'm pretty sure it must have been 87 or 86. I was there 88 and Alan was nowhere to be found. I was there again in 93 and interviewed Jill Thompson and joined Grant Morrison's 'love-in'. Those were the days. UKCAC is gone, right?
 
 
Gunjin Tai
19:06 / 16.06.08
I haven't visited a comic-con, but I think it would be a new experience worth experimenting.
 
 
PatrickMM
15:57 / 18.06.08
I think a comicon's kind of like an amusement park. It's a lot of fun at first, and you wonder why you don't go more often. Everything seems new and exciting and so full of potential. Then you wander around, bleeding money as you go, and by the end, you're feeling kind of sick and just want to go home.

But, I still really enjoyed the New York Comicon earlier this year. I got to talk to a bunch of interesting artists, and got some good deals on a bunch of books. But, by the end, I was definitely done.
 
  
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