Friday, July 23, 2004

ComicCon Day 1 - Part Two

I'm torn - I don't have the time to write a detailed narrative of the last 48 hours, but there's been so much visual input and so many people we've met that it's hard to keep track of and I'm certain I'm going to forget a lot. I mean it's just weird when you sit down to get some fresh air and the next thing you know the old dude next to turns out to be the current voice of Daffy Duck for Warner Brothers. And then this pleasant older fellow proceeds to talk like Daffy Duck, perfectly. I will let the pictures speak for themselves and try to form a coherent narrative later. It's just so difficult to explain what San Diego Comic Con is like. It's like Nerd Christmas in July combined with major movie studio shock and awe assault campaigns meets a meet and greet for out of work Playmates and other random women in the "modeling industry" crashes into the longest serious dialogue you've ever had about this form you love, comics.

I am going to make a brief list of the highlights of this day as I remember them.

It has to start with the costumes. As I explained today to Nick in hindsight, when I laugh at the people in costumes it's not to make fun of them - I'm completely blown away by the creativity and most of all the sheer COURAGE it must take to dress in full like your favorite nerdy character and do it in public. I don't have that. I think the real laughter though is seeing totally perfect replicas of characters from Star Wars and the like doing prosaic things like drinking soda or getting elevators.

Then the Freaks and Geeks panel. Nick yelling out in front of 1000 people that Garth Ancier who used to run NBC and now runs the WB "MUST'VE BEEN A JOCK!" to the laughter of the whole hall. Getting to see some of the greatest ensemble cast ever and noticing how much they'd grown and how Martin Starr is not actually a giant nerd but a good looking hipster kid.

Meeting a really cool colorist named Christina, who works on Marvel's Mary Jane (amongst others) and Aspen's Fathom. The convention's so disorienting that meeting someone who seems steady in a place like this comforts you and makes you feel like you can handle it. I liked her a lot instantly.

Just shopping for nerd toys. Finding long lost items coveted. Nick hit up back issues. I don't collect comics anymore, I read them... So there's little point in that for me. But I loved finding obscure books and handling some of the old ones - modern comics drive me nuts with their computerized colors and manga influences. I love four colors, newsprint, the smell of it... Getting to handle an Amazing Spider-Man 50 was enough for me.

Meeting Jesse - another person who made us feel at home and he went to town, introducing us to everyone he could, the people behind all the things we appreciate from afar. He introduced us to David Mack who does the rather amazing comic Kabuki, and in my opninon is the best artist working in American comics today. But. He can also write. And do incredible GI Joe impressions that bind you into tears of laughter. His girlfriend Anh is one of the most instantly sweet and earnest people I've ever met. And their friend Alan Lee, clasically trained in Chinese brushwork, with a Dali moustache and really cool guy to boot.

Then we had an excellent dinner courtesy of Matt from MacFarlane toys, who you'll meet below... And after a rambling exhaustive reminscence on the stupidity of cartoons we loved as children... Off to bed instantly.

That was some of what Day One was all about...


The history of comics is rich and varied. And scary.

FLAMING CARROT! HERO TO PROTECT ALL FROM CHICANERY AND SHIFTINESS!

Nick got to meet some dude who couldn't speak English well.

But then I told him he was "one ugly motherfuckah!" and he gets all aggro on me.

I try my best gay protocol android pose.

Jesse is one of the coolest guys on the planet in my opinion, who also has one of the coolest jobs in the world. He designs TOYS for MONEY. He works for Art Asylum (Lord of the Rings toys and Mini-Mates) and his own company Subcultures Design. Next to him is Anh Tran who may be one of the sweetest people on Earth. She hand sews the lovely Tranimals which you can buy at Tower Records. There is a rumor that she is the inspiration for David Mack's Kabuki... But I must consult with the Egg McMuffin on that one.

Shine on you crazy diamonds! Jesse introduced us to a lot of cool people who make toys for all the badass toy companies. One of the nicest ones was Matt from MacFarlane. At one point I was talking to the guy in charge of Transformers about Jetfire and how to bring him back!

The Art Asylum booth.

Nick and Toxic Avenger are saying "tomorrow will be even cooler!"

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home