PCS: RHC's NYC COMIC CON 2006 REPORT

I never experienced problems getting in and out or any of that, suffice to say I also never got to any panels or screenings, spare one. I have many of the same complaints over space to volume many other reports have had, but I survived unscathed.

I suffered a few indemnities, annoyances, etc. that come with a con, but I shall ignore those. They were insignificant to the sheer personal enjoyment I got from the inaugural NYC Comic-Con.

I left work at 2:30 on Friday in anticipation and my hedge bet was right on the money. Since I’d already bought a weekend pass at Hanley’s (it would be much later that I discovered a press pass would’ve been fairly easy to obtain) I just went over to pre-registration, which went quick. Then I hung out around the BIG LEGO Batman talking to a fellow fan. That’s what so good about cons, people are usually looking for kinship for a buit. It wasn’t until about an hour later we discovered the line to actually get IN the con was downstairs.

The line was actually wrapped all the around to the other end of the center. Not as crazy as it was Saturday or Sunday, but wild.

Once the doors opened though, getting in wasn’t as big a deal. I had decided I wanted to do a wraparound of the horseshoe Artist’s Alley before hitting up the rest of the show and then from there on I’d just walk around randomly.

The first person I got to see was Josh Neufeld at the Alternative booth. I let him know my offer to help at the booth still stood. “Lucikly” enough Alternative artists had already stepped up to the plate, would be interesting though.

I made my way down aisle 600 taking in the sights and sounds. There were some Star Wars babes at DH booth promoting Monarch of the Moon.

I made my way past Slave Labor and Tokyopop for short stops past the retailers and various things finally “landing” at Jack Briglio. We had a nice conversation about Growing Up Enchanted, Craig Tailefer, etc. I then did a quick hello and chat with Dan & John (Green & Roman)

Then I discovered Atomik Mike. I had another good conversation, this time with Stephen Nillson and got a sketch from Izzy Cruz.

Then I noticed Peter Scolari. To a bunch of folks he is “that other guy from Bosom Buddies”. The thing is, Peter’s character Henry was almost more important during the first season than Hanks’ Kip (IMHO). Scolari has had quite a good career, with Newhart, a shre of vocal work, and Broadway. It was a pleasure to meet him. He let me know that he’d back on Broadway in the spring with “The Bottom Line” starring Chevy Chase at The Schubert Theatre.

Moving on I came upon the Mirage booth, where I got more sketches and convo and a purchase. After that was the first of many fun times with Tim Kelly.

Steve Troop and the rest of Blank Label, the SVA booth, saying helot o Steve Ellis, Mike Cavallavaro and MANY others and meeting and seeing new stuff, followed that including Coleen Doran and talking to JM Dematteis for a bit. Then I just started meandering completing my first run through of Artist Alley.

The rest of the Friday in terms of con is a bit of blur. I remember getting in the VIZ Media money machine. Then somewhere along the way after 8 I bumped into Rich and I left the show with him and the PCS crew (Guy, Howard, Kay, John, etc.).

Guy went home, John, Howard, et al. went to China town, leaving me, Rich & Kay. After a bit of walking we found a nice Chinese joint.

When dinner was done it was about 10:30 PM and we all still had a full day of the con the next day, so home we went.

I had planned to get up as early as possible to try and score tickets for Milla Jovovich. I didn’t get out of the house till 9 though. I got to the con around 9:50 and the various lines were wrapped AROUND the convention center inside AND out.

I found the end of the get into the show floor line after giving up on the tickets (which were already “sold out”) and ended up having another nice convo with fellow fans, which I would continue to do. When the floor opened I was inside shortly after 11. I didn’t really know that I would not see the outside again till 6:30 PM.

I can’t recall everything or the order of them and every booth and person I spoke to, but I know I started by going up the 400 aisle first and got super excited when I discovered the Pocket Books booth were giving away tons of books for free. Those books weren’t the only things I got for free, along with sketches and other purchases though they serve as memory builders when I want to look back. A list of my con haul as well as a link to a page with the all the sketches are at the end of this report.

One of the best booths I upon, although I was also looking for it was Terminal Press. I wanted a copy of Phoney Baloney and was hoping to get SEEN to sign my black book from Marc Ecko’s GETTING UP. I ended up getting that, as well as FUTURA at another booth. The best part of the TP booth was the co-publisher Jessica Ferrera. She’s awesomely cool and adorable, too bad she’s married, but at least it’s to the other publisher and writer of Phoney Baloney, Brian, a very cool guy.

Saturday also included more catching up with people, getting sketches, meeting new folks, buying con exclusives, and it was ALL awesome.

I made a specific point of getting over to Tokyopop for Rivkah and over to Pocket Books for pro-wrestler, KANE.

My bag was heavy as all let out, so when 7 PM rolled around I started making my way home to drop it off and have some dinner before heading out again for the Pop Culture Shock party at BPC.

It was a very subdued but nice event. Really nice giveaways, good people, GREAT DJ and all around well done. I got to Nate Bellegarde and he let me know that HECTOR PLASM will be a regular series based on the sales of the one-shot.

At around 12:40, Rich and I headed back to Queens.

I got to the con around 10:20 and instead of getting inline I headed for the Kappa Mikey panel. I got to see some of the show and there was a fabulous speaking engagement by the cast & crew afterwards. Kappa Mikey is currently only on NICKToons (so if you don’t get it call your cable provider… Nyers with TW? REALLY CALL!!). Luckily if TWC continues to screw us Nyers on this one thing Kappa will begin on NICK in September.

That would be get any many sketches, give out as many business cards, talk to as many folks as possible and my full $35 worth of convention. Boy did I! Plenty more free books, connections and fun was had.

Rich and I went over to Pocket Books for Michael Jan Friedman, then parted again. The sketches show a bit of the fun I had. I also went back to Artist’s Alley and aisle 400 for more fun.

By 5:30 PM I had had more then my share, so Rich and I met up at the PSC booth and headed home.

Before that though is MOCCAFest. Also if somehow I can swing it SPX. I’d love to go there again. Someday I want to do San Diego again too. Maybe next year.