My friend (and JHM Photographer / Archivist) Jeff Lange has a favorite saying when it comes to describing events that are just a little too crowded, a little too busy, but still fun (Like – say – some concert or a theme park ride opening). When you ask Jeff how things went, he will smile and say: “It was bedlam. Absolute bedlam.”
Well, when Jeff called me this past Wednesday night to find out how things were going here in San Diego, I had to tell him: “This is absolute bedlam squared.”
My apologies for being AWOL this week, folks. I know it must have seemed kind of weird to have JHM rolling out its new look, only to have Jim Hill himself drop from sight for a couple of days. But there’s a logical explanation for my prolonged absence: Nancy & I were trying to get ready to attend this year’s Comic Con International in San Diego.
The only trouble is … The Comic Con vets that I spoke with said that there’s just no way to get ready to attend an event like this. As Ken P. kept telling me:
“Prepare to be frustrated & disappointed. No matter how early you get there, no matter late you stay, you’re never going to be able to see everything. The show’s too big. It’s seven days worth of events crammed into a four day slot.”
And – in a way – Ken was right. It certainly was frustrating on Wednesday afternoon (particularly after that long flight out from New Hampshire) to have to keep circling around the San Diego convention center as we tried to find a place to park. Not to mention those long lines in the lobby that Nancy & I encountered as we tried to get registered for this show.
But all that frustration and disappointment simply melted away once we walked through Entrance D and found what seemed to be a never ending exhibit hall. Row after row, booth after booth filled with truly cool stuff.
Not to mention tons of cool people. To put it bluntly, I was totally blown away by the number of talented artists who have set up shop at this show. Folks who I’m sure will be familiar to JHM readers. Like our own Floyd Norman, who has set up shop down in the “Artist’s Alley” section of the hall. JJ4 in Row 4900, to be exact. Where Floyd will be signing & selling copies of his great new “Son of Faster, Cheaper” book.
But then there are artists that you never ever thought you’d see in person. Like master illustrator Bill Stout and Dave Stevens, the creator of “The Rocketeer.” Who are actually sharing a booth — Booth 4703 – as they kindly commune with their fans.
That’s the thing that has really kind of impressed me (so far) about Comic Con. That – no matter how crazy & crowded the hall may get – the artists & illustrators who are attending this event could not be nicer. These folks genuinely seemed pleased to be out & about. To meet with the people who buy their comic books and/or watch the TV shows that they work on.
Take – for example – Chris Bailey. A longtime Disney vet (I.E. Chris directed that great Mickey Mouse short, “Runaway Brain,” as well as the pilot episode of “Kim Possible”), Bailey’s attending this year’s con to help promote a project that’s rather near & dear to his heart: “Major Damage“. As we chatted at Booth 1873, Chris kept talking about how nice it was to talk with folks who were such fans of his somewhat-inept-but-still-loveable super hero. How supportive these people were being as they quickly purchased copies of “Major Damage” books, comic books & DVDs.
I’ll say this much. It was definitely a buying crowd this past Wednesday night. I watched as people pressed in around Booth 4414, where Tracy Lee’s wonderful “Electric Tiki” merchandise was up for sale. Where folks were “Ooohing” & “Aaahing” at all the amazing maquettes that WDFA vet, Ruben Procopio, had sculpted for this firm.
Speaking of WDFA vets … What a pleasure it was to bump into Tom Bancroft & Rob Corley at this year’s Comic Con. Tom & Rob are in San Diego this year to promote the fourth issue of “Opposite Forces” as well as talk up their new title, “BoyRobo.”
But picking up copies of those two great books isn’t the only reason that you should probably make a point of dropping by Booth 2206. For – over the length of this four-day long convention – some truly talented artists & animators will be stopping in to do signings at the FunnyPages Press booth. People like Tom’s brother, Tony Bancroft (Best known to Disneyana fans as the animator of Pumbaa in “The Lion King” as well as co-director of “Mulan.” Nowadays, Tony’s heading up his own production company, Toonacious Studios). As well as some of the talented folks behind “Veggie Tales”; Chuck Vollmer, Greg Hardin and Paul Conrad.
Of course, I should also probably point out that the Comic Con’s 2200 area is a real hot spot when it becomes to getting face time with some of your favorite artists & illustrators. Take – for example – Booth 2200. Where one of my own personal favorites, Kyle Baker has set up shop. Selling copies of his wonderful new book, “Kyle Baker: Cartoonist” as well as its sequel, “Kyle Baker: Cartoonist – Vol. II.”
Just across the way from Kyle – in Booth 2201 – is Mike Kunkel. Another Disney Feature animation vet who made good in a huge way with his best selling comic book series, “Herobear and the Kid.” Mike’s in San Diego this year – pressing the flesh at the Astonish Factory booth to help promote his latest project, “The Land of Sokmunster.”
You’re going to find lots of great stuff on sale at this booth, folks. Stuff like genuine Sokmunster plush as well as a “Herobear” flipbook that Kunkel personally drew. (Proving – once and for all – that the Mouse made a huge mistake when they let Mike walk out the door). Plus – as a special San Diego Comic Con promotion – the Astonish Factory is giving away free copies of NCSoft’s “City of Heroes” game to those people who buy $50 worth of merchandise.
Mind you, you may still want to save your pennies ’til you get to Booth 2202. Where you’ll find master designer Stephen Silver selling copies of his brand new book, “The Art of Silver.” Some might balk at this handsome hardcover’s $40 asking price. But – when you open the thing up as see all those wonderful sketches that Stephen did for “Clerks” & “Danny Phantom” (As well as that truly funny foreword by Kevin Smith) – you’re still going to find yourself reaching for your wallet.
The same thing’s going to happen when you go around the corner to Booth 1907, where noted effects animator & illustrator Michael Gagne has a wide variety of his beautiful – if somewhat bizarre – books for sale. Like it or not, you’re going to pick up a copy of “Zed: Vol. I” – with its snazzy introduction by Brad Bird – and think: “I’ve got to buy a copy of this.”
Mind you, not all the fun at this year’s Comic Con involves reaching for your wallet. There are some truly fun freebies to be found along the way. Like that Walt Kelly museum that you’ll find at Booth 4501. Where you’ll find this wonderful display of “Pogo” merchandise.
Or – if you’d prefer to learn about some animated characters of a more recent vintage – then head on over to the Dreamworks display at Booth 4321. Where you can flip through detailed presentation books that show you just what the studio’s upcoming animated releases – “SharkTale” (Fall 2004) and “Madagascar” (Summer 2005) will look like.
Or you can head on over to the Disney Comics booth and get yourself a free toy. (That’s right. I actually used the words “Disney” and “free” in the same sentence.)
Of course – this being Disney and all – there is a catch. You CAN get a free Disney toy – a Donald Duck car, if I remember correctly – but ONLY if you drop buy Booth 3945 for four days in a row. As in Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday of this week. Where – each day – Disney Comics reps will hand out one piece of the car.
So – if you go to the Disney Comics booth for all four days of the San Diego Comic Con – you got yourself a free car. If you miss a day … Well, I guess that means that Donald has to walk to work.
Speaking of walking & working … some folks who are taking part in this year’s event really make you sweat in order to qualify for some (admittedly) very cool prize. Take – for example – the folks at Palisades Toys. As this year’s convention exclusive, Palisades is selling a Kermit the Frog action figure, which is dressed as Indiana Jones. (Which – some of you may recall – is an outfit that Kermit actually wore when he & his felt friends starred in that “Wonderful World of Disney” episode from the early 1990s, “The Muppets Go to Walt Disney World”).
Well, as part of this Kermit-dressed-as-Indiana-Jones action figure set, they’ve included a tiny little golden idol – just like the one that Indy was going after in “Raider of the Lost Ark” ‘s opening sequence. Only this version of the statue has a hooked nose and is unmistakably modeled after that inept entertainer, the Great Gonzo.
Which – all by itself – is admittedly pretty cool. But that’s not enough for the folks at Palisades Toys. They have to up the ante. Which why they’ve created a full-size version of the Gonzo-as-golden-idol figure. Which is proudly on display at Booth 3919.
Mind you, this Gonzo-as-golden-idol figure can’t be bought. It only be won … By San Diego Comic Con attendees who A) first drop by the Palisades Toy booth, B) pick up an official entry form and C) then walk around virtually the entire convention center getting this form stamped at 8 separate booths scattered around the hall.
Which is a pretty degrading way to make people earn a chance to win a prize, don’t you think? Which is why I’m now encouraging all you folks attending this year’s Comic Con NOT to take part in this contest. (Which – of course – will improve MY chances of actually snagging the Golden Gonzo.)
Now … If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to get back down to the convention center. As I try to find those eight booths … as well as maybe pick up a copy of Lynne Naylor’s new sketchbook.
Remember that name, folks: Lynne Naylor. She’s the very talented designer behind hot Cartoon Network shows like “Samurai Jack” and “Clone Wars.” And Lynne’s just finished working on a show for a Disney that I’m sure you’ll be hearing about this Fall. If only for its extremely unusual title. Which is:
“Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!”
You know, when I first heard the name for this Jetix show, I did the exact same thing I did four years ago … When a friend – who was working on the yet-to-be-aired “SpongeBob Squarepants” – told me the name of the show that he was working on. I must have made this guy say the name “SpongeBob Squarepants” about 300 times. Because I just couldn’t believe that a TV show could be called that.
Speaking of SpongeBob … You Squarepants fans out there are really going to want to stop by Booth 2813. Where the nice folks at Animated Animations are announcing that they’ve landed the rights to sell really-for-real “SpongeBob Squarepants” production art. As in real “SpongeBob” cels!
Of course, for those of you Disneyana fans who don’t actually care for SpongeBob: Not to worry: Animated Animations also offers some very cool Disney-related stuff. Like limited edition “Nightmare Before Christmas” giclees as well as some “75th Years of Mickey” cels.
Plus there’s all the cool stuff over at Booth 2410, where the staff of Gemstone Publishing is currently hawking their new line of “Disney Comics” reprints. Or – if you’re a serious “Love Bug” fan – then you’re going to want to stop by Booth 4237. Where Playing Mantis is displaying the two Herbie toys – a classic looking “Love Bug” as well as a pretty battered looking VW from “Herbie Goes Bananas”) that this company will soon begin selling.
You want to hear the scary part? I learned all of this info from just 2 ½ hours of blind stumbling around the San Diego convention center during “Preview Night.” So can you imagine how much fun stuff I’ll uncover once I start attending the full-blown version of Comic Con. This four-day long festival of seminars and sales and schmoozing …
Of course, given the crowds that Nancy & I encountered Wednesday, I have to admit that Ken P. is probably right. There’s just no way that you can really do it all, see it all, or experience it all.
But that doesn’t mean that I can’t at least try.
Look for a full report on “absolute bedlam squared” once I get back home to New Hampshire next Monday night. For now … You folks have a great weekend, okay?
jrh
Are you in the San Diego area and would like to get in on this coming weekend’s festivities. Or would you just like to learn more about Comic Con International? Then follow this link.