nycc

after several years, a major comic convention has finally arrived at the big apple. a huge gathering of the haves and have-nots (can't draw? be a psycho fan. or a critic.). a smorgasbord of people from all walks of life - the preppy, the trendy, the pierced, the slobs, the hangers-on, johnny-come-latelys, know-it-alls, the selfish, the idiots, the no-lives, and the just plain reasonable fans (there's still some of us, you know).

day 1
got off work at 3 pm. picked up some food supplies just in case. then trudged through 5 blocks from 34th to the Javits. man, that wind was cold. travelled light, i only had my Jim Lee books with me (Batman: Hush, X-Men Visionaries, and a couple of WildCATS - one of them was where Grifter discovers Zealot kissing Spartan. classic, classic issue). anyway, i reached the place just before 4PM, and the first thing i run into is ...

a line!!

(which was going to be a portent of things)

but i got my tickets online a long time ago!!! (and so did everyone else who bothered to come on the first day, apparently - come on, you think you're smart? hah!)


my, my, Christian Bale ... you've been working out!

after finally getting my ticket confirmed and given a badge (took ages), i asked where should i claim my NYCC-exclusive shirt (since no one handed it to me, as i was made to understand that would happen once i get registered). they directed me to the exhibit hall. oookay, and once i got in to the exhibit hall (another 7 minutes), there was a line for the NYCC store (where they were disbursing the shirts). got on that line and it was at least

another 5 minutes before i got my hands on that black tee with the new Spiderman designed by Marvel Head Honcho Joe Quesada himself.


4:10
dashed off to find the session room for Mondo Marvel, where Joe Q was the moderator for a panel of Marvel creators, talking about the new stuff for 2006. i saw ex-EIC Tom DeFalco and current hotshot writer Brian Michael Bendis - the rest i got to learn who's who later. Dan Slott, one of the panelists, writes the humorous She-Hulk series. and i will keep blaming my scattershot brain that i didn't, and would never, bring my She-Hulk trade to be signed by him, within the next 48 hours. the session was very informative, and the best news to fans was the (alleged) return of Hawkeye. no one dies in the Marvel Universe. no one. except in the Marvel Zombies series, where everyone's already dead.

a cast of merry men. joe q is a riot.

and then i got the chance sidle up to Joe and say "its an honor to meet you, Mr. Quesada. I'm glad you're not just a byline on a comic book anymore. Thank you for bringing Marvel out of the dark '90s. When I was a kid back home in the Philippines ..."


of course, i blew that chance. (damn it!!!)

5:00
after Marvel, i jumped ship to the next room, where DC was holding a Vertigo session. haven't picked up any Vertigo books except the Preacher trades, and that was a long time ago. there's a bunch of interesting stuff, as the Vertigo line is more for storylines and topics that push the envelope (in short, mature shit). the panel included novelist Jonathan Ames (who ambled in like a beachcomber looking for driftwood) who's writing the semi-autobiographical The Alcoholic. Ames turned out to be the most entertaining of the panelists.


one thing i could definitely check out is Brian K. Vaughan, who's written Ex-Machina (where the mayor of NYC is a superhero; nope, its not Bloomy) and Y: The Last Man (literally; all males have been killed by a mysterious plague), and is now working on Pride of Baghdad, a (true) story of lions being caught in the middle of the latest US invasion of Iraq. a talking animal book. wheeeee!

and now ... its time for Jim Lee.

all that excitement was detrimental. i slammed my camera on one of the chairs, and the LCD display got cracked. crap. now i was shooting blind. well, almost. as long as it still works.

damn.

6:05
cheers erupt as the heady artist of the 90s X-Men and current DC superstar enters the room. wow. this is the Man. good thing he came back from all that 'running-the-biz' crap, sold Wildstorm to DC, and started drawing again. DC Executive Editor Dan Didio 'interviewed' Jim on the his career and what made him tick. then it was a Q&A with the fanboys.


"so Jim, how does it feel to be the second-most popular Korean (after the Kim Jong Il puppet in Team America)?"

DC Prez Paul Levitz was in the audience, and was prodded by DiDio to join them onstage. Levitz announced that Jim was working on building an online DC Universe as Creative Director, which meant they plan to crash the MMORPG market. whoooa.

after that, since the same room was going to be used for the autographing session, i stayed behind after most of the people filed out ... then i heard the NYCC staffer announce, "you need a ticket for the autograph session ..."

ticket? what ticket? where do i get the ticket? are you kidding me?? why was i not informed of this? who's in charge here? who da? who dey*?

15 minutes later (watching fan after fan get their books signed, and me looking on pathetically)
should i stay or should i go? damn ........

'go' is the word.

back home, i found out that my pics post-slamming were okay. the LCD itself was broken, but i can still shoot. at least when pointed in the right direction. a new digicam could be in my future. damn expenses!


*"dey" is Reed Exhibitions, who's currently under fire for underestimating the floor space, overselling tickets, and is still sponsoring the NYCC next year (what do they care, they're busy counting the money)


-
day 2

hugo weaving is a lucky man.

woke up at 6 am, just to get in early. and belatedly discovered in the subway that i left my memory card back in my laptop. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh.

i arrived back at the Javitz a little after 8.30 (i even beat my pal delphi who just lives in jersey city and who still managed to get lost, thanks to the outdated gps system in his head). enough time, i had hoped, to secure some autograph tickets. wrong again.


a recurring theme throughout the day.


tip of the iceberg

while we were stewing in the line, we had staffer after staffer announcing the closing of each autograph session (tickets were free, first come-first served). and at that rate, i lost Jim Lee. again. delphi lost Milla, who's shilling for her new movie.

11:00
but we still got Brad Meltzer, and we got there just in time. Meltzer looked like a college professor, or an insurance salesman. or Jeff Van Gundy. anyway, the man can write, and the success (or notoriety) of Identity Crisis propelled him to the regular writing gig for Justice League of America. Yowza!


i was taking delphi's pic over Jim Lee's shoulder. darnit.


ugly doll alert! wait - they're actually called Ugly Dolls?!?

after that, we went back to the Exhibit Hall and starting schmoozing (or rather, navigate a talipapa without the smell - wait, didn't some of these people bother to take a shower this morning??).


okay, i just made the 3rd one up.


Sandman montage, Frank Quitely

first off, i got BKV himself.

good thing i wasnt thrown out of the DC booth, cause i'm letting Brian sign his Marvel work. nyahahaha.

one of my fave Iron Man artists, Sean Chen, was at the Marvel booth. Got my Iron Man v3 #1 signed, babyyyyyyyyyy!!!! (my mom used to read this series back in Manila, up until i stopped buying)


helps to have a handy photog around.

then at the Midtown Comics booth, I got in line just in time for Chris Claremont (whoooaaa). but then while i was waiting, delphi wandered around to find some females - i mean, to take pictures, so he wasn't there when legendary X-Men writer signed my books (let's say it again: whooooaaaa.)

(actually you know what - Chris came off a bit snotty. i mean, yeah he's probably sick of this crap already. and after 30 years of dealing with corporations and the fans, who could blame him? but he could've tried harder not to make that smile look forced.)


so instead of showing you proof that I met the great Chris Claremont, I am showing you a pic of Smurfs.

we couldn't find Mark Bagley, so we tried Rags Morales, but he was busy playing superstar artist. he directed us to just visit the DC booth later for a scheduled signing (and looked at us like a couple of idiots who couldn't read the written sign in front of him saying so - maybe we were).



Cosplay is all the rage. look it up.

tried to also get on the Marvel booth line for Joe Q, but outta luck. line ended. no more stragglers. at least fans respect it when they say that. most of them anyway.

and at that point we were both hungry and opted to leave the Hall to get some lunch (Frank Miller is supposed to be in the building, so we had to get back asap).

which was a mistake. sort of.


because that was when the attendees came in full force, and we learned later, after digesting a horrifyingly-priced burger-&-fries lunch ($11 each!?), that the City Fire Marshalls shut down entry to the Hall because it had exceeded its capacity and were not letting anybody in. we stayed in line for about 45 minutes, moving about 30 feet, and nowhere near spitting distance of the entrance. and tried to amuse ourselves by taking photos like the one below.


that's it, we're not gonna catch Frank Miller anymore (barely a few did). or even Rags Morales for that matter (as it turned out, even Rags was not let in, according to news reports later). with no other recourse, we decided to attend some panel sessions.


2:30
We attended the DCU: Better Than Ever! session. Dan DiDio is as engaging as Joe Q. Its no wonder that DC and Marvel have great leadership at the top right now, and are going toe to toe for market control.

4:00
while I attended the Marvel: Civil War (the usual crossover for the year - but it kinda seems not-the-usual), delphi went over to line up for Milla Jovovich Q&A, just in case.


5:00
joined delphi at the line to the Milla Jovovich Q&A. since we didn't get any tickets for her autographing session, delphi settled for ogling her instead. him and dozens of male admirers (okay, female too), who may or already have attained stalker status.


"i am proud to announce that i have signed on up to Resident Evil 10."

Milla herself acted like a giggly schoolgirl amazed at her adoring fans (wait - that wasn't acting). but listening to those buttering her up and sometimes asking stupid questions made me feel as if i was in a taping for That's Entertainment (the Kuya Germs version). delphi was having fun, shooting Milla (i would have fun shooting some of her idiotic fans) - too much fun that a lot of his shots were shaky. i picked the one above as it was more or less okay.


i'm free of the idiots in there!

6:20
finally tried the Exhibit Hall again, and we were able to get in. i think thousands of fans standing there just upped and left. can't blame 'em. it was a logistical nightmare.

walking around we saw up-and-coming painter Greg Horn (he does a mean Elektra and Emma Frost).

"my technique works - you buy it for the babes. you are taking out your wallet right now."

walked away with a $40 souvenir (The Art of Greg Horn), despite my vow not to buy any merchandise. i am such a wimp (but its just so beautiful!)

since we couldn't find anybody anymore to sign for anything, we started to pack up and leave (bag ... heavy ... will ... get ... hernia)


All Star Batman and Robin, Jim Lee


-
day 3
woke up at 6 (again!!). but hey, thats good training when DST comes back soon. delphi wasn't joining me today, so its just me and my partially-blind Canon. fingers crossed. i got my memory card in this time.

made it earlier this time - my last chance to get a Jim Lee autographing ticket. the doors were actually still locked when i arrived. there was a small line forming already and i got on that. they weren't letting any people in yet, but seeing that people were freezing out there, the NYCC staff made sure it didn't last long. i even called my sister on my cell, and when she learned where i was, i got bombarded with catcalls of "dork!" during that conversation, the NYCC staff handed out the autograph tickets down the line (yaaaaaaaaaayyyy!). strangely, my sis and i never talked about the latest political turmoil in Manila. didn't bother her, i guess. sane Pinoys are used to idiots trying to wrestle power among themselves. whatever.

they let us in, but just outside the Exhibit Hall, since they do open at 11 AM. spent time with Drake, a guy who drove from Toronto and was billeted at a hotel 3 blocks away (bastard!), and Catalino and Iris, a couple from Bay Ridge as well (hey! i didn't see you on the train!). Catalino was a dead ringer for Tom Welling, and he's a Superman fan to the bone. i even gave him the Superman logo pin i got from yesterday. we guys had a nice geeky conversation, but you could tell we knew our priorities in life ("the first indication is the smell", Drake says of fanboys who are just fanboys). Iris just rolls her eyes at our repartees, and stands by her man. sweet. the company made that hour-and-a-half wait slip by like nothing.

11:00
now we start hunting people. Kraven's got nothin' on me.

Brian Michael Bendis
(actually a nice guy. despite his current superstar writer status. goes on the message boards all the time. i heard he went out of his way to accomodate all fans, even those who dissed him on his remodeling of the Avengers.)

he looks like Michael Chiklis. but geeky. and not as cuddly.


Scott Williams
"am glad you didn't require tickets", i say to Scott, and he laughed. see, delphi, this is how to approach people.



David Finch
despite looking like a cancer patient undergoing chemo (sorry, Finch ... its just ... your ... head), he's actually another nice guy. no airs. i can forgive his art style (and you are letting him sign it, you hypocrite!).


Keith Giffen

the old guy's still getting work

Adam Kubert
his style seems to be regressing back from his X-Men days, but hey, he's still Adam. a respected name as any.

take that, fanboys

a pity brother Andy wasn't around. oh, the pain.

i can't believe i just spoke to and shook hands with people whom, before today, were just bylines in my comics. daaaaaaaamn.

since i now missed another Joe Q signing, i resolved to return for the 3PM one. let me walk around, have some cookies and a soda for lunch, and soak it in. along the way, i returned to Sean Chen for seconds, since i forgot to let him sign The Mask In the Iron Man book. now all it needs is a Joe Q signature. sigh.

ex-Aquaman, now Juggernaut artist Jim Caliafore

he used to sleep with the fishes

X-Force/Thunderbolts writer Fabian Nicieza

long time ago, he was Fab

Longtime Spider-Man artist Mark Bagley

don't mess with him, he has high government security clearance. he can make you disappear.

adult model Aria Giovanni

delphi would have drooled

has-been fantasy model Stacy E. Walker

The Bitch Who Shooed Us Away Yesterday


what the Fuccoon - !


didn't see Kevin Smith (it was probably a riot) but he's sooooo a celebrity now, just like Ben Affleck, so it wasn't worth missing. his company, View Askew, had a large booth. too much commercialism. but hey, Clerks 2 is on the way.


New Avengers, David Finch


JLA, Alex Ross


Wolverine: Origins, Joe Quesada

managed to snag Mark Bagley's Hancock for delphi. His Ultimate Spiderman Vol. 2 hardcover will be worth something in say, 20 years time. Bendis and Bagley, my man. sweeet.

also returned to the Borders booth for the 3rd time and found Prof. James Kakalios. Got my The Physics of Superheroes book signed. i'm just through a third of it, but its an interesting read (yes, yes, i am ignoring your "dork!" and "geek!" yellings). why didn't he write this book years ago? now i can possibly run up the sides of a building, defying gravity itself. i just need to be doused with chemicals and hit by lightning.

my frequent returns to Artists' Alley also netted me Kevin Maguire (to complete the Giffen signature on Formerly Known As The Justice League trade), and also Michael Avon Oeming, who probably blushes when he remembers he wrote the first issue of Red Sonja (a 25 cent comic, which is as cheesy as cheddar).

also, the Midtown Comics booth had Phil Jimenez (right after Walt Simonson - shit, i didn't bring the Claremont-signed Fall of the Mutants). Jimenez' ultra-detailed work has earned him comparisons to George Perez. and he seems cool. worth the 15-minute waiting in line.


i'm stumped. who is this, again?


this is soooo gay

what th-?

on the first day, we had G.I. Jane annoying us with flyers ....


... and then Black Adam makes an appearance ...


on the 3rd day, it turns out they were really Mary Marvel and Capt. Marvel (what in the name of Shazam is going on here!?!)


noticed Rags Morales back in his table, and signing stuff. and i didn't bring back my Identity Crisis book. aaaaaaaaaaargh.

trudged back to the Marvel booth and watched in horror as an intern marked off Joe Quesada's name from the 3PM signing list (noooooooooooooooo!). intern smiles at me and shrugs his shoulders. i think i just lost my cookies.

sat down in a corner to cry. and evaluate what to do next.



gamers having fun execising their bloodlust. wonder who grows up to become a psycho someday?

so i decided to attend the Comics Storytelling panel, held by 2 comic legends, and one soon-to-be. this soon-to-be will be having his autograph signing session in the same venue anyway.

3:20
i was late for this, but its okay. i have heard of legendary X-Men artist Neal Adams being outspoken, and i have finally witnessed it. he tells it like it is, no sugarcoating. he ranted about talented colleagues who are out of work, and shot down wannabe-artists in the audience who asked stupid questions. it was quite interesting to see Adams and Jim Steranko, they of the old school, share the podium with Jim Lee - he who ushered the rash of mega-talented artists that kind of eschewed old-school values. but to Lee's credit, he did grow up and had enough humility and confidence to balance his role in the evolution of the industry, aside from maturing with his art. aside from Todd McFarlane (who was in the convention only shilling for his toyline and merchandise - he doesn't even draw anymore), Lee is the only ex-Image guy who managed to gain continued success despite the baggage of the past.


Jim Lee, Neal Adams, Jim Steranko

as the forum draws to a close, the moderator announces Jim Lee will be doing the signing in the DC booth, not here in the auditorium. dammit! everybody dashes off like bats out of the ... Batcave, just to get in line, wherever it was gonna be. i did manage to be the oh, the 30th. or so.

4:10
while in line, i saw Joe Q posing for pics with some (dirty-looking) fans outside of a session room. dammit!!!!

as i was about to get my books signed, some people in the crowd were trying to squeeze in somehow. one fanboy offered me $5 to sneak his book along with mine. i politely declined, because there was a 5-book limit, and i was going to have all my 5 books get signed, dammit. i waited 3 days. this event is worth more than 5 bucks, buddy.

success! i shook Jim's hand. pity, delphi wasn't there to record the momentous occasion.

nya-nya-nya-nya-nyah

that's 12 signatures for most of my books. wow. still a great batting average. not to mention the star power wattage. but i'm still bummed about Joe Q.

Missed Opps: Joe Q, Rags, Walt Simonson, J.G. Jones, John Cassaday, Oliver Coipel, Dan Slott, and Frank Miller

No-Shows: Howard Porter (i brought a lot of JLAs, you bastard), Andy Kubert (shoulda accosted him at the DCU panel), Bryan Hitch (i brought my Authoritys and Ultimates, you bastard!)

Rants:
- wimpy, trendy fanboys who start their sentences with "what happened was, uhm ..."
- obnoxious fans with beer bellies hanging out, looking like they just rolled out of bed, and smelling like underwear worn for a week
- fans who bring almost all of their comics with them hoping to get all of it signed (they probably had it airlifted to the convention too)
- people who buy comics at the convention just to get stuff signed, because the creator was there
- people who get their stuff signed because they think its gonna fetch a higher selling price someday
- people who ask for signatures on none of the creators' work (like a napkin)
- hangers-on who don't even know who Chris Claremont is


overall, it was a great time, despite all the snags. at least by next year, they should be able to handle the number of people (with great drawing power, comes great influx of geeks).