My First Con

I just completed my first weekend at a Comic Con: the Long Beach Comic Con. A Comic Con is a convention that brings comic book writers and artists to their fans. There are also appearances by entertainers (such as actors), video gaming companies, and other pop-cultural relevant companies and people. Basically, if you are not into sports...you probably like something here.

I went to check out the many different artists' work. I picked up Ruben Martinez's new book "Extinction" and a couple of prints by Dustin Nguyen (posted below).


While at LBCC I went to several panels. Some of my favorite panels included:

The Comics on Comic panel with Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex writer) and Amanda Conner (The Pro & Power Girl artist) was funny and interesting. Hearing insiders takes on the Disney/Marvel merger was intriguing. Plus, they talked about the state of DC comics and crazy Allen Moore. I was able to asked the panelist a question the last question, too. This was a fun panel, and my first.

The Web Comics panel was very informative. I asked a question (which I will reveal in a bit), and learned that it is very difficult to make a living with web comics...even if they have a large following.

My favorite panel was the "Robot Chicken" panel. Seth Green, the writers, producers, and director were very entertaining. They had great "behind the ideas" stories and were very quick with snappy jokes. Green made a couple of fans' lives by asking them up on stage and getting an autograph and picture during the panel questions section. The group also showed the attendees footage from the new season. The hall was packed and very enthusiastic...especially when Seth Green did his Chris Griffin voice from "Family Guy".

Last Day Mad Libs

On Sunday, the last day of the Long Beach Comic Con, I took a mad libs book with me. I asked writers and artist to come up with the words. Some felt the pressure to be creative and had a tough time, but all of the writers/artists that I asked happily played along. Richard Starkings (creator, writer, letterer, legend in the business) was the best and most into the mad lib. His best word: llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

I brought the mad libs into a panel and used the words from their answers as my mad lib fill-ins. Though I was short a color, I simple asked the panel "I am doing a mad lib and I need a type of color." They quickly answered "green." The panelist and previous mad lib participants all signed their mad lib and were very nice. I like to think a gave them a little bit of a different and fun experience that both they and myself enjoyed.

Mad Libs Participants:

Pepe Moreno, Christos Gage, Richard Starkings, Dave Kellett, David Malki, Jeff Zugale

Enjoy my blurry picture with the Predator. (You'd shake too in the presence of a Predator.)