Just look for the fumigation tent
Can't miss it.
I managed to finagle a day off from watching the munchkins. It happens from time to time. Just that I'm silly and geek enough to take that time off and drive a couple of hours to comic shows. In this case, to the San Jose Super-Con, which takes place in pleasant downtown San Jose. I'm not lying here. San Jose is a relaxed, nice little place to have a show. Plenty of places to eat within a short walk of the convention center, pleasant weather, nearby Pleasanton to complete the pleasant trifecta.
The funny thing was, they didn't hold the Super Con inside the Convention Center. Well, technically, they did hold it in the South Hall. But as it turns out, the South Hall was basically a big circus tent on a bigger concrete slab, with miles of blue and white plastic sheeting held up by a network of metal ribs. Yeah, I didn't get it either. Maybe the convention folks decided that it was eaiser to take down the tent and wash it out than to clean the hall year after year. Who knows?
In terms of scale, the show was perhaps a bit smaller than the last Wizard World LA that I attended, only the size of the venue actually made it feel bigger, rather than holding a show in a ridiculously oversized hall, making it feel empty no matter how many people showed up. Lots of places to spend money, including a pretty brazen bootlegger who had copies of Spider-Man 3 on DVD in plain sight. I thought that sort of thing didn't happen in the open anymore, but what do I know. Lots and lots of discount graphic novel sellers, but my reading list is so backlogged that I can't even go to those anymore. I'll just come out with a foot of books that I won't be able to read for another six months, wondering why I spent money on those instead of being able to buy clothes for the kids.
Though I did drop a few dollars over at Ryan Higgins' unnamed bargain comics booth (mostly on TANGLED WEB OF SPIDER-MAN issues by artists that I really love). Oh, and Lee's Comics spinner rack claimed a victim as I dropped eight dollars on books that I could have had for a dollar, back in the day. But I did manage to find a copy of the WHAT THE? issue of WHAT IF (the assistant editors struck hard and fast in those days.) I'll probably write up a bit on that bit of pure awesomeness. Of course, whenever I say I'm going to write about something I never do, so scratch that.
And yes, Jane Wiedlin (spelling -- I'm too damn lazy to look it up) was there. Hers was the only panel that I sat through on Sunday, mostly her telling stories about the Crazy Eighties in Los Angeles and why she's pissed off that she doesn't have a jet pack or rocket car. But her stories of her sci-fi-inspired interior decor makes me wish she'd post a gallery of it online.
Talked a bit with Michael Golden, who I'm glad to see making a reappearance in comics. Apparently he's illustrating a Spirit story, which should be good fun. Other than that, he assured me that he was still busy in comics and adapting to the changing marketplace. I don't know why he's not parked on a monthly book, though. Maybe he's not manga enough. I hear the kids love that there manga these days.
Chatted with some Sacramento-area guys who are launching a new superhero universe in a miniseries format. I guess they're talking to Diamond right now. I wish 'em the best of luck with it. May even talk about their book here, once I get through the Pile. Though I will say right off the bat that black and white superhero books (while cheap) are going to be an uphill battle at best. But maybe they'll buck the trend.
Was hoping to run into Paul Smith there (especially after being reminded of how good his work was after reading Parker's X-MEN: FIRST CLASS SPECIAL). But I guess I was out of luck as I didn't see him at his table the whole time. Same with Jim Lee, though, and Douglas Rushkoff, who'd been advertised as coming. Perhaps next time.
While there, I also ran into James and Kirsten from The Isotope and had a grand time watching James rummage through the .10 boxes. That's right. TEN CENT COMICS. Damn straight. Had a lovely time chatting comics with them over Patrón Margaritas (actually not a waste of perfectly good Tequila, either, though it's even better straight.) A lovely afternoon of light geekery if I do say so.
Back to work, though.