DC Conspiracy[dots pattern]

7.24.2006

SDCC Wrap-up

Another SDCC come and gone. Last year I worked the booth the entire time, I didn’t even get to walk the entire floor. This year I was a free spirit, doing whatever I wanted, and it was hands-down the most fun I’ve ever had at a show. So, day-by-day, shall we?

Wednesday

I had a 7AM flight with a two-hour stop-over in Phoenix. Someone on my first flight was going to the con as well and during our stop over we had some beers together (around 8:30AM PST) and talked comics – he was familiar with Elk’s Run from the Steve Niles board and was excited about Postcards so we had a lot to talk about – namely me. (I’m kidding.)

The Phoenix to San Diego leg was filled with people who looked familiar from various small press and artist alley booths – Tony Moore was on the plane but in the back – I was a bit buzzed and not sure if he remembered me from last year so I decided to hang back on that one. Early-AM drunks don’t leave good impressions, ever.

The plane lands in San Diego, the cell phones go on, and the name dropping begins. Only at Comic-Con, people leaving messages that sound like, “Hey Joe Quesada, my plane just landed and I was thinking we can meet for lunch sometime,” as if anyone outside of the folks on that plane know who he’s talking to. It’s ok, I’ll be name-dropping in my wrap-up, too – I guess we all do it.

At the bottom of the escalator there’s a driver with a sign that reads “Kirkman”. Fanboys are giggling and looking around, pulling out their cameras as if the sign read “Jolie”.

Only at Comic-Con.

Take a cab to the hotel; I’m staying with Josh Fialkov for the first night. While waiting for Josh and his crew I’m having some more beers and a sandwich – the bar’s empty, by the time evening rolls around every bar in San Diego will be packed with people.

Josh shows up, we hang for a bit and make our way to the convention center to get our badges. We run into Dave Hopkins of Viper Comics' Karma Incorporated on the way – we talk about the book market vs. the comic market, a conversation I’ll end up having with almost everyone I talk to all weekend.

We get to the convention center – I got my registration in too late so I needed to get on the pro-reg line. I was on that line for an hour only to discover that I needed to register on Thursday – apparently I was really late with my application, so late that they couldn’t handle my registration on Wednesday. They gave me a sticker that was good for preview night. It was embarrassing, being the guy with the sticker. The good news was that I got to talk to Azad while on line, after some chit-chat I told him about Postcards and he was interested in contributing to future volumes – again, this will happen a lot this weekend. I’m already seeing my line-up for the next two volumes.

Josh, his friend Gary, and Noel Tuazon get some appetizers and some drinks at a nearby bar. It was our first time meeting Noel – Josh and I must have thanked him for all his work a hundred times.

Preview night was good fun – no pressure, walked around and saw what everyone was selling. We started at the Random House booth – I met Dallas Middaugh, the acquiring editor for Elk’s Run, face-to-face for the first time – great guy. I pitched a couple of folks on Postcards, including Carla Speed McNeil (whom, some of you know, I love), and once again everyone seemed to be really into it. Obviously no firm commitments - who knows if they’ll even be future volumes - but it’s just nice to hear people get excited over it.

After Preview night we went to dinner. It was Josh, Gary, Greg Matiasevich (the original editor for Western Tales and Elk’s Run), Mark Wheaton, and Kody Chamberlain with his entourage. There were 12 of us total and the only joint that would seat us was this posh Mediterranean place – great food but a bit expensive.

Rolled to the Hyatt bar afterwards. We all hung out, drank and smoked – I spent some time talking to Tony Lee and his friends about my theories on publishing. Tony’s a great guy – accent is a bit of a climb for me but that just makes me the stupid American and takes nothing away from him.

Left the Hyatt at 2AM and passed out in Josh’s hotel by 2:30AM – I was awake for a little over 27 hours.

Thursday

Got my badge early in the AM. Walked the floor a little bit with Josh, met Gia-Bao Tran for the first time, he was the find of the show, hands down. Such a phenomenal artist – I want him on every project I produce. He gave me copies of Contents, his Xeric winning comic and follow-up graphic novel.

Met up with James Powell for the first time. James is the coeditor for Postcards and he’s been doing a lot of great work for me – it was nice to finally meet him. I gave him some brochures and sent him on his way – Robin’s plane just got into town and I was going to hang with the lady a bit. We were all going to reconvene at the Random House panel.

Robin and I went shopping, got some lunch – went back to the hotel and took a nap. We got back to the show in time for the Random House panel – it was Josh Fialkov, Kazu Kabuishi (Flight), Chris Schluep (Dark Wraith of Shannara adaptation), and RHPG editors Dallas Middaugh and Robert Napton. The panel went well – a big audience and lots of great questions being thrown around. At one point Dallas asked Josh about assembling his own team, even “going to great lengths to get your own editor.” The question led to about a five minute discussion on how instrumental I’ve been to the project and was a nice little ego-boost for me.

After the panel Josh had to go to the Random House dinner which was assigned seating, invite only, so I was left to fend for myself. I got to speak to my manager first – I had a lot of meeting coming up Friday and Saturday so he was coaching me on what to say and gave me some business cards in the event anyone wanted to talk business.

Dinner was attended by Robin, Gary, Greg, James, Caleb Monroe and his entourage, Jason Copland, and Michael May – we went to Dick’s last resort where Robin got a kick out of chucking napkins at people – usually dipped in beer. Afterwards it was back to the Hyatt where I got to meet Tony Fleecs – one of my favorite young artists who art is featured on the Postcards pamphlet (outside and the (inside).

Chatted with a bunch of other folks, stayed until last call and then headed back to the hotel. We were at the Sheraton Suites now, a nice set-up with a separate bedroom, pull-out couch and a spacious work area. James Powell was staying with us for two nights; his hotel reservation got screwed up. Hit the bed and got ready for the big Friday.

Friday

Friday was meetings all day. My Friday report is kind of lame because of that, I really can’t talk about any of it yet. I did get to troll the floor a little bit – chatted with some artists – shook Eddie Campbell’s hand and flaked on pitching him Postcards – he’s the kind of guy you need to come at guns blazing and all your information in hand, not, “Hey, we may be doing a second volume sometime in the future.” Talked with Kyle Baker for about five minutes but had to cut it short because of a meeting.

Robin came during some downtime – I took her around the floor. We checked out the Snakes on the Plane booth which had production photos and props scattered about. Walked the Pirates of the Caribbean, Lost, and Alias booths as well. Checked out some video game booths – I’m amazed by the primo-positioning the toy/video game and movie companies get. Sergio Aragones was pushed to the back corner of the convention center while the latest Anime craze had as huge booth right in the middle of the floor.

My schedule was clear after 5:30 and we were going to go to the Snakes on a Plane panel but the line stretched the length of the convention center – not worth it. We got a big table at this baja place instead and started calling people – we held the table for about four hours with different folks coming and going.

Back to Hyatt, where I got to talk a bit with some Postcards folks including Antony Johnston, Phil Hester, and Stuart Moore as well as pitch a bunch of cats on the concept. It was a very productive bar night – the perfect combination of alcohol and energy that kept me on point the whole time. At one point, sitting at a table with several creators who were all talking about Postcards, Josh comments, “Don’t you just wish you could create something that’ll have folks sitting around and talking about how great the concept it.”

Saturday

I had a 10AM meeting at the Marriot – this was the big one. I first stopped off at Kinko’s to print the pages from Josh and Micah Farritor’s story – I got them in the mail on Friday and they were gorgeous. Here’s one to get you wet:



You can tell how a meeting goes by who you call afterwards. If it doesn’t go well, I’ll call Josh and talk it over. If it goes well, I’ll call Chris, my manager, and talk it over. This meeting – I called Robin first, told her to get out of bed because we’re going to breakfast. I then called my mom and thanked her for all the support she’s given me over the years. Then I called my manager.

It was a good meeting, to say the least.

Robin and I went to breakfast and then the zoo. We met up with my friend PJ and his girl Sheryl – went bar hopping down 5th Avenue. After PJ and Sheryl went home Robin and I got some pizza and decided to go check out the Masquerade Ball thinking it would be fun to see it piss drunk.

Yeah – we were wrong. I fell asleep.

After my nap it was back to the Hyatt. We only stayed for about an hour before I started going around saying my goodbyes which took about a half hour. Those last few business cards where exchanged and it was back to the hotel. Sunday morning it was breakfast in bed and packing bags and off to the airport.

Good times, I can’t wait for next year. Although I think I should finally cave in and get a room at the Hyatt, since I spend most of my time there, anyway.

Jason at 12:18 PM  |  link to this   

1 Comments

Sorry we didn't manage to meet up, but it sounds like you had a pretty great — and productive — time at the show. Good to hear your panel went well.

We spent a little time there on Thursday, and then the whole day on Friday. We were with friends at Coronado and around town on Saturday, so also missed the Masquerade, but had a great, if exhausting, time at the show.

Blogger Bram at 7/24/2006 11:47 PM   

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