Some HeroesCon 2011 Photos

I go to HeroesCon every year with the intention of taking more photos. And every year, I get so caught up chatting with people, buying art, looking at toys, and digging through boxes of comics that I pretty much forget I even have a camera on me. I did manage to take a few pictures this year, which you can see in my HeroesCon 2011 Flickr set. When I say I took a few photos, though, that's exactly what I mean.

14 Days Until HeroesCon 2010

HeroesCon 2010 begins two weeks from today. With fourteen days to go:

• A Google search for HeroesCon still takes you to the old location on the web site. I mentioned this in September, and there's still no redirect.
  
  
• A list of exhibitors for this year's convention has not been published. In fact, only late last night was it announced that this would be coming, "pretty soon."
  
  
• On the "promotional" page of the convention site, there's a note that reads, "Coming soon--we'll be building a number of 2010 banners! Stay tuned!" All you'll find on the page are 2009 banners, though. So if you're a creator, independent artist, or exhibitor who wanted to promote the fact that you'll be at HeroesCon this year on your own site, I hope you were able to make your own banner. I don't know how long you're supposed to, "stay tuned."

I know that it takes a lot of work to put on an event like this. I realize everyone involved is busy. This stuff comes across as amateurish, though, and they've done a better job in years past. Admission prices were increased last year, and vendors are charged $700-$850 for a booth on the convention floor. A small press table is $300. These are not insignificant sums of money. In addition to the $30 for a weekend pass, you also want attendees to spend plenty of loot while they're inside. Looking at all of this, though, one is left with the impression that the organizers aren't doing everything they could in the way of promotion. Whipping up a few banners isn't exactly tantamount to moving mountains.

Considering the state of our economy, shouldn't there be an emphasis on extra promotion? One of every ten people here in Charlotte is out of work, and lots of people are cutting back what they spend on luxury items. Not only should the organizers have created and uploaded more promotional material, but they should be sending it to every writer, artist, publisher, and vendor who's coming to the show, asking them to plug it on their sites. All they have is the banner on their sidebar, which I've added to the right here on the blog. It doesn't exactly grab your attention, though, does it?

Update: On second thought, I just decided to make a banner myself, using the Mike Mignola art for the incentive print. Since it's gone now, this is the one I mentioned earlier.

HeroesCon 2010: G.I. JOE Roll Call

I did this last year, and I figured I would do it again for anyone planning to attend HeroesCon 2010, our local convention here in Charlotte. Some of the bigger guests include Mark Bagley, Cliff Chiang, Frank Cho, Tommy Lee Edwards, Cully Hamner, Adam Hughes, Steve Niles, Tim Sale, Ben Templesmith, Ethan Van Sciver, and Hellboy creator Mike Mignola.

Superheroes dominate the scene, but for G.I. JOE fans, here's some of the talent associated with the property over the years:

• Robert Atkins - Artist on IDW's 2009 G.I. JOE reboot.
• Jeremy Dale - Artist on several of the comics released in 25th Anniversary two-packs.
• Marc Deering - Inker on G.I. JOE: Snake-Eyes.
• Tom Feister - Cover artist on IDW's G.I. JOE Origins.
• Christos Gage - Cowriter of G.I. JOE: Cobra.
• S.L. Gallant - Artist on IDW's G.I. JOE and the movie prequel books.
• Michael Golden - Artist behind the incredible cover of G.I. JOE Yearbook #2 (which he signed for me last year).
• Merrill Hagan - Writer on IDW's G.I. JOE Origins.
• Rick Ketcham - Inker on IDW's G.I. JOE.
• Eric Layton - Inker in DDP run.
• Chris Stevens - Artist on G.I. JOE: Master & Apprentice II.
• Rod Whigham - Artist on about two dozen issues of Marvel's G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero.
• David Wohl - Editor on several of the later issues in Marvel's G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero.
• John 'Waki' Wycough - Inker on IDW's G.I. JOE.

Unlike last year, it doesn't look like any of the larger publishers are going to have much of a presence this time. Check out the complete HeroesCon guest list, and get ready to enjoy one of the best weekends Charlotte has to offer all year.

Con Not Found

If you've searched for "HeroesCon" on Google for the last month or so, you found this page as the first result. Why? Because someone at Heroes decided it would be a good idea to move the page from /heroescon.html to a directory named /heroescon. Apparently, no one ever explained anything about the workings of search engines to the individual responsible for this decision. I'd wager there are thousands upon thousands of pages linking to the old URL, and maybe a handful linking to the new one. I've updated the last year's worth of posts here to reflect the change, but most people won't notice or even realize what's happened for some time. That means the convention's official presence on the internet is now buried with no PageRank behind a "File Not Found" page.

So here it is, the new HeroesCon URL. Remember, kids, consult someone with a working knowledge of search engine optimization before you go making changes to the structure of your web site.

Sign Here, Please: Rod Whigham

Up next for me on Friday was Rod Whigham, artist on issues 31, 34-36, and 38-56 of Marvel Comics' 1980s G.I. JOE title. This was a great period for the book, and Mr. Whigham's art was a big influence on my ideas of what the property should be. While chatting with him, he mentioned wishing he'd done a better job with these books, but I loved every panel of every page. In fact, my display of loose 25th Anniversary/Modern Era G.I. JOE figures is going to consist mostly of a large diorama inspired by his artwork and Larry Hama's stories. I took a couple of my favorite issues, #45 and #46, to HeroesCon to have him sign.




It was a real treat to meet Mr. Whigham after so many years of enjoying his contributions to the G.I. JOE universe, especially when he was so friendly and outgoing with his fans.

Sign Here, Please: Rod Whigham

Sign Here, Please: Michael Golden

Looking back to the earlier days of G.I. JOE comics, my next stop was at the table of Michael Golden, artist of the legendary G.I. JOE Yearbook #2 cover. My best friend had given me a copy of that book, so I took it with me to have it signed:


Mr. Golden was very friendly, and he took the time to discuss his upcoming project, a rerelease of Yearbook #2 for IDW. He's already redone the cover, and he's adding several pages of artwork to the story. Hearing him talk about it made me want to see it right away, but he said to expect a late 2009 or early 2010 release. Mr. Golden also had prints available for sale, including this Cobra print which I absolutely had to buy:


As you can see, most of my Friday was spent collecting artwork and signatures on books. I'll have another classic G.I. JOE artist for my next entry.

Sign Here, Please: Michael Golden

Sign Here, Please: Tom Feister

Next on my list to track down at HeroesCon 2009 was Tom Feister, one of the artists on IDW's G.I. JOE: Origins, written by Larry Hama. He also worked on DDP's G.I. JOE: Frontline earlier this decade. Of all the writers and artists I've met from the comic industry, this was one of the coolest, friendliest guys of the bunch. And not only is his artwork fantastic, but he has a real familiarity with the original Marvel title, and a great Larry Hama story to go along with it. In addition to talking JOE, he really dug Jennifer's Question plush, which she was carrying around in her bag on Friday. In fact, he sent us over to Cully Hamner's table so she could show it to him. He was equally impressed with her Etrigan plush and Rorschach plush, which she had on Saturday and Sunday respectively. We really enjoyed meeting and talking with him, and I hope he makes it back to Charlotte next year.

I took my copy of Origins #1 with the Tom Feister cover to the convention center on Friday:


I also had to pick up one of the prints he had for sale, and it wasn't difficult to choose this one, featuring Snake-Eyes from the cover of G.I. JOE: Origins #5. I mean, it's Snake-Eyes.


Like I said, I hope to see him again at next year's convention.

Sign Here, Please: Tom Feister

Sign Here, Please: Jeremy Dale

With so many people who've contributed to G.I. JOE comics over the years at HeroesCon 2009, I had a stash of books to get signed. The first artist I located Friday morning was Jeremy Dale, artist on six of the twelve books that were included in the 25th Anniversary comic two-packs. There are no credits in the books, which were written by Larry Hama, but he recently posted a list of which ones he drew here. I was armed with issue #36½ (featuring Tomax and Xamot) and issue #7 (featuring Destro, Baroness, and Iron Grenadiers).




Not only was Mr. Dale kind enough to sign those books (and seemingly surprised that they were in as good condition as they are), but he also had G.I. JOE prints for sale. How could I resist? The guy's artwork is fantastic, so I had to add these to my collection.




Jeremy Dale is currently offering original artwork from his G.I. JOE comics, so be sure to check out his site.

Sign Here, Please: Jeremy Dale

HeroesCon 2009 In (Very Few) Pictures

Okay, so I know I said I was going to take more photos at HeroesCon this year. I really intended to do it, too. The best laid plans, and all that. Of course, I'm usually shopping for action figures, busts, statues, and various other collectibles at least as much as I'm shopping for books, but that wasn't the case this year. I only came home with seven or so action figures this time, which is less than I usually buy the first day. It wasn't for a lack of trying, either. The selection of stuff I didn't already have just wasn't there. No, I spent most of this year with my face buried in boxes of books, coming home with a dozen or so trade paperbacks and hardcovers and around 400 single issues. Sorting through all those books is a big part of why I haven't updated the blog yet. I did manage to snap a few photos, though, but I'll have many more pics of what I brought home than from the con itself. Anyway, here's what I managed to get:

This is the con floor from the seating area over near the concessions. That crowded booth in the background under the "Aisle 200" sign had just dropped from ½ price trades to $5 trades, so they were having a busy Sunday.


Here's the Sci-Fi Genre booth. I visited their store in Durham last year, and I've ordered from their online store several times. What a great, friendly group of people they are. Looking back, maybe I should have bought that $6 Supernova figure hanging there.


These next two photos are of The Outer Rim Collectibles' booth. He had a good selection of 25th Anniversary and "Modern Era" G.I. JOE figures available.




This guy was walking around in a Storm Shadow costume, so when he was standing next to me at the DC Comics booth, I decided to take a photo.


And here's a shot of Jennifer with a guy in a Cobra Commander costume. She's 5'6", by the way.


You can see larger HeroesCon 2009 photos on my Flickr, but that's pretty much it. As I mentioned, I'll have plenty of photos of stuff I brought home from the convention to post throughout the week, but those were the only photos of the actual con I managed to take. From what I've seen on the web, there were several attendees in recognizable costumes, but I didn't see many of them. I guess I was too busy digging through $1, fifty-cent, and even ten-cent comic boxes and wondering why no one had any recent DC Direct releases (or Marvel Universe, or JLU, or any of the pricey G.I. JOE variants). Where I failed, though, others succeeded. Here's the official Heroes Aren't Hard To Find convention set on Flickr. Seriously, I never even saw this Cobra Commander & Baroness or any of these guys. Here's some more HeroesCon costumers on ComicBook.com, too. While I did see the GL from a distance, I never caught so much as a glimpse of Wonder Woman, Cassie Hack, Renee Montoya, or that Batman. I've seen that Harley before, though, and I hope to never, ever see her again.

Twenty-, Twenty-, Twenty-Four Hours To Go

HeroesCon 2009 officially kicks of in twenty-four hours, at least for those of us shrewd enough to purchase a three-day advance pass. I'm happy to see that Sci-Fi Genre is on the list of exhibitors. Unfortunately, I don't see many of the vendors from the Northeast who used to set up shop at HeroesCon up until a few years ago. I was hoping that with gas prices down from what they were last year, some of those guys might make the trip again, but it looks like mostly regional dealers from the Southeast. That's how it's been for the last few years, and the prices and selection suffer for it. There will still be plenty to buy and lots of great deals to be had, but the days of $5 DC Direct figures and $30 long boxes full of comics seem to be gone for good.

I always take my camera with me to the convention, but I never end up taking many photos. I'm going to make an effort to do better with that this year, so I'm hoping to have plenty of pictures to share here and on Flickr. I'll try to get shots of comics and toys at dealer booths, the DC and Marvel setups, some of the talent, and some of the costumers. And of course, I'll have images of whatever figures, books, and other goodies I bring home from the con.

Seven Days in Sunny June

With just one week to go until HeroesCon 2009, the Event Schedule has been released, and here's a look at the DC Comics panels:

From the HeroesCon 2009 Event Schedule Friday, June 19 2:00 PM DC UNIVERSE | Room 213BCD Join DC's Senior Story Editor Ian Sattler, Editor Brian Cunningham and countless DCU talent for a panel that's not to be missed. With "Blackest Night" looming, what lies ahead for your favorite universe? Find out here! Saturday, June 20 1:00 PM DC NATION | Room 213BCD The NATION calls out once more to the DC Faithful! DC's Senior Story Editor Ian Sattler and Editor Brian Cunningham lead a list of A-list talent to talk all things DC. Come one, come all, the DC NATION welcomes you!

For anyone who may prefer an inferior universe, here's a look at the Marvel panels:

From the HeroesCon 2009 Event Schedule Friday, June 19 1:00 PM MARVEL COMICS :: PINT O' C.B. | Room 217BCD He’s one of the most recognized persons in the comic industry, at the center of many things Marvel. He’s C.B. Cebulski, Writer and Marvel Talent Liaison, and he’s joined by the top writers in the industry to take on all questions and drop a few surprise announcements! Join Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Spider-Man), Matt Fraction (Invincible Iron Man), Ed Brubaker (Captain America), Mark Waid (Amazing Spider-Man) and more! Saturday, June 20 2:00 PM MARVEL: DARK REIGN | Room 217BCD He lost, they won. They are the new Masters of the Marvel Universe, and they are NOT nice people. The villains finally have their day, now hear from the folks pulling the strings what happens next. This panel will have the announcement of the next big chapter in Marvel history, so be there for it! Featuring Brian Michael Bendis (Dark Avengers, New Avengers), Matt Fraction (Dark Avengers/X-Men), Jonathan Hickman (Secret Warriors), and editor Jeanine Schaefer.

And on the G.I. JOE front, Herbe Trimpe was added to the guest list on Tuesday. Mr. Trimpe was the artist on issues #1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 of the original Marvel series.

And while you're at the show, be sure to stop by booth #145 and check out the local Charlotte artists of the God City crew.

The Milestone Mission

Two weeks and counting until HeroesCon '09, and I'm going through books and making lists of what I need to complete titles, or even just stories in some cases. In addition to supplementing my Marvel and DDP G.I. JOE collections, a big priority this year will be trying to finish off runs of several Milestone Media titles. I'm specifically trying to pick up the few issues of Blood Syndicate, Hardware, Icon, and Static that I'm still missing. I'd like to pick up some Xombi and Shadow Cabinet books, too, but I'm very close to full sets of the other four, so they'll be the focus of my search efforts.


With Static and other characters from the Milestone Dakotaverse making their way into the DCU, I'd like to get reacquainted with them, so I'll be looking to fill out the holes in my collection when the convention starts on June 19. I've gone through all of my single issues, so now it's on to my hardcovers and trade paperbacks to see what else I'll be trying to acquire.

21 Days

With just three weeks to go before HeroesCon 2009, here's a breakdown of some of the guests who'll be at this year's convention:

• Mark Bagley
• Brian Michael Bendis
• Ed Brubaker
• Cliff Chiang
• Frank Cho
• Tommy Lee Edwards
• Matt Fraction
• Cully Hamner
• Adam Hughes
• Jamal Igle
• Steve Niles
• George Pérez
• Karl Story
• Ethan Van Sciver
• Dexter Vines
• Mark Waid

You can check out some of what Steve Niles and Ethan Van Sciver were kind enough to do at last year's HeroesCon.

Both of the Big Two publishers will have a presence there, and hopefully lots of information and goodies for everyone.

• DC Comics
• Marvel Comics

And for G.I. JOE fans, this year's convention is going to be fully stocked with talent who've contributed to the property over the years:

• Robert Atkins - Artist on IDW's 2009 G.I. JOE reboot.
• Jeremy Dale - Artist on several of the comics released in 25th Anniversary two-packs.
• Marc Deering
• Tom Feister - Cover artist on IDW's G.I. JOE Origins.
• S.L. Gallant - Artist on IDW's G.I. JOE and the movie prequel books.
• Michael Golden - Artist behind the incredible cover of G.I. JOE Yearbook #2 (which I can't wait to get signed).
• Rick Ketcham - Inker on IDW's G.I. JOE.
• Eric Layton - Inker in DDP run.
• Pat Quinn - Artist on G.I. JOE Declassified.
• Rod Whigham - Artist on about two dozen issues of Marvel's G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero.
• John 'Waki' Wycough - Inker on IDW's G.I. JOE.

And that's just a sample of who will be there. See the complete guest list for yourself, and start making plans to attend.

One Month And Counting

Sign Here, Please: Matt Wagner

One of my favorite artists to draw Batman in the last decade also happens to be one of my favorite writers to script his adventures. Matt Wagner's Batman and the Monster Men and Batman and the Mad Monk are modernizations of Golden Age Batman stories, reaching back to the Dark Knight's early career with two tales that occur during the timeline of Batman: Year One. The former depicts Batman's first confrontation with Hugo Strange, while the latter involves the Caped Crusader's first encounter with the supernatural. Both are equally fantastic, but perhaps even better is 2003's Trinity, which covers the first meeting of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. The story is terrific, and Mr. Wagner provides what is probably the most beautiful artwork in superhero comics today.

I am always impressed with the successful execution of a writer/director in movies, a filmmaker who crafts the story from start to finish. The same is true for a writer/artist in comics. Not that collaborative efforts don't result in great books, but one person handling both tasks ensures that there is no disconnect between the intent of the author and the interpretation of the artist. When I had a chance to meet Mr. Wagner at HeroesCon last year, I brought my Trinity hardcover to have signed. Like Ethan Van Sciver, he did more than simply sign the book. See for yourself:



The few extra seconds Mr. Wagner took to sketch out the Big Three put this book near the top of all my collectibles. I enjoyed meeting him, and it's always nice to find out someone so talented is also very down-to-earth and friendly.

One more installment left for tomorrow, and I've saved the most important for last.

Sign Here, Please: Matt Wagner

Sign Here, Please: Steve Niles

I've only covered illustrators thus far, so I'm going to change it up this time with the best horror writer in comics today, Steve Niles. 30 Days Of Night is one of my favorite vampire stories of all time, regardless of the medium. When I saw the film at a local theater, I was hoping it would live up to the comics, and it did not disappoint. I'm sure it didn't hurt that Mr. Niles was involved in the process of adapting his story into the movie's script. We were fortunate enough to have Mr. Niles as a guest here in Charlotte for last year's HeroesCon, so I armed myself with my 30 Days Of Night DVD. Yeah, I know, I've been posting about my signed comics, but bear with me. I'm getting to that.



Not only is Mr. Niles a master of horror, but he's also penned some of the most chilling Batman stories you'll ever read. Batman: Gotham County Line, a three-part miniseries with art by Scott Hampton, wasn't your typical DCU reading. A serial killer mystery, Batman finding it difficult to see beyond that in which he believes, an appearance by Boston Brand, and... zombies? If you haven't read it, it's topnotch Dark Knight, and something any fan of Mr. Niles or the Bat will want to acquire. His Batman: Gotham After Midnight series is in comic stores now, and it has been every bit as enjoyable as his first trip to Gotham. I felt compelled to take one of his Batman books to be signed, too, so here's book two, page one of Batman: Gotham County Line, signed by Steve Niles.



I said previously that I'm not one to set a stack in front of anyone to have signed, and I'm really not! I do, however, like to buy something from an artist or writer when he/she has something available for sale. I picked up a copy of Mr. Niles' Wake The Dead, which he was also kind enough to sign. I can't say enough about this story, which is next in line for the motion picture treatment (hopefully to be released next year?). I just hate that I waited so long to read it.



In addition to being at the top of the horror game and having a real knack for writing Batman, Mr. Niles is also an incredibly friendly individual. It was a pleasure to meet him and have a discussion about his work, and I hope he'll return to HeroesCon in the near future. I think I'll bring my Creeper #1 with me when he does.

Sign Here, Please: Steve Niles

Sign Here, Please: Ethan Van Sciver

Next on my Superman/Batman list is Ethan Van Sciver, the man behind all the fantastic Green Lantern art of the last four years. After seeing what he did with Hal Jordan, my curiosity was obviously piqued when he was announced for a brief run on Superman/Batman. His work on the first three issues of the "Enemies Among Us" story is simply astounding. Not that Matthew Clark's pages in the second half the story were subpar, or anything, but Van Sciver's drawings just jump right off the page at you. He's definitely among my top ten favorites in the industry today, so I was happy for the chance to have him sign my "Enemies Among Us" hardcover at HeroesCon 2008. What really got me, though, was how he autographed the book:



What I found so impressive was how quickly and casually he sketched the Dark Knight. I realize it's something he does just about every day, but for someone without a shred of artistic ability like me, it's really fun to watch. Seriously, I can't even draw a stick figure. I also bought a wicked Black Lightning print from Mr. Van Sciver, but the guys who sell the top-loading print holders had sold out of the size it requires, so I have it put away for safe keeping until this year's con. Anyway, there's more to come from last year's HeroesCon, including another incredible sketch-o-graph.

Sign Here, Please: Ethan Van Sciver

Sign Here, Please: Ed McGuinness & Dexter Vines

Going back to what I said in the previous post about the significance of meeting creators, I'm not one to chase down an artist or writer's signature just for the sake of having it. I'm not one to set a stack of fifty comics in front of a guy and expect him to sign all of them, either, but I digress. There are plenty of names from comics I've truly enjoyed over the years, but never thought to have them sign anything, even when they were a guest at an event I attended. For me, it's my core favorites that motivate me to seek an autograph. Near the top of those favorites is Ed McGuinness; in fact, I have the cover art from Superman/Batman Secret Files & Origins 2003 permanently inked on my right arm.

Getting my Superman/Batman Volume 1 hardcover signed was a priority in 2006, when both Mr. McGuinness and inker Dexter Vines were appearing in Charlotte. Mr. Vines was first, as he was signing and doing sketches at Heroes Aren't Hard To Find on Free Comic Book Day in 2006. After being forced to cancel in '05, Mr. McGuinness was a guest at HeroesCon in 2006, giving me the opportunity to add his signature to the book and pick up a signed print, too. I love the exaggerated style he brings to superhero comics, and I'm a big fan of the Superman/Batman series in general, so this was a nice score. I can't say the pleasure was all mine, either, as Mr. McGuinness got a real kick out of seeing my tattoo, even pulling other artists away from their signing tables to gloat. At some point, I'm hoping to complete the hat-trick by adding Jeph Loeb's signature to the cover.



Warren Ellis was signing at HeroesCon that same year, but the line was unreal. I just didn't feel like spending a whole day of the con waiting around in it, but maybe I should have. I don't know that I'll ever get another chance to have Ellis sign something. Live and learn!

Sign Here, Please: Ed McGuinness & Dexter Vines

another site update

So after sorting through my haul from HeroesCon '08, mounting a third bookcase in the living room (using drywall anchors and 2.5" corner braces like this one), installing corner shelves against the side of that, and mounting a hidden-bracket shelf above the couch, I've updated the site with new pics from the living room. These photos basically provide a virtual tour of the room. The books in the first photo and busts in the second one are on shelves in a closet, which is directly in front of you when entering the house. I cleaned out all the stuff that was being stored in there, removed the door, stashed it away, and attached LED lights to both sides of the interior.

There's more of an update than I realized I would have. The page has gone from 27 to 89 photos, most of which are now larger in size.

HeroesCon '08 In One Week

Heroes Aren't Hard To Find revealed the exclusive signed and numbered HeroesCon 2008 Advance Ticket Incentive Print on the HeroesOnline blog today. Darwyn Cooke provided the artwork for this year's print, based on his DC: The New Frontier. Cooke will be at the show this year, so in addition to the print, I'm hoping to get my copy of The New Frontier (both the TPB and the animated DVD based on his work) signed next weekend.