San Diego Comic Com: a bit more...

Enjoyed the 1000 pages panel, even if it didn't tell you much that you already didn't know really. Ended up with this Becky Cloonan sketch in my sketchbook that I liked. It was great to see Gene Colan there as well, up and around and holding down the fort of how to improve and be consistant.

Interesting to hear different artists takes on the work ethic. Certain people were complaining that it was drudgery to have to ink that book once its already been written and pencilled, and then Bryan Talbot leaned into the mike and talked about getting up, going downstairs to his studio on the lower level of his house with a cup of coffee and working til 9pm every day because that's what you do. I think that that comment rather shut up everyone else for a while about whining about constantly checking their email and getting distracted.

The internet was completely abuzz about the Twilight fans taking over San Diego and being out of control and ruining the show for everyone. You know what? Tempest in a teapot really. No, seriously, they didn't ruin the comic convention, it is the mainstream media, picking comics over like the rotting carcass that the industry is and nibbling out the best parts. Understand, they need us, and they get us because we're desperate for the legitimacy as well as the money that they can provide. They may need to move the damn media convention to LA and let the comic fans have San Diego again. Because its not doing that elusive thing that its supposed to be doing.

Here is an interesting question: what is the most interesting thing about walking the aisles of the convention floor (in the comics section)? Answer: seeing all the interesting books that you'll never get to see anywhere else. Yes, all these artists and writers and talented folks have come all that way with boxes and boxes of books they'd like you to buy because there is never any hope in hell that their LCS will carry them, whether by dislike of alternative work, Diamond ordering and soliciting practices or orientation of the retailer. Most ocnventions are there to introduce you new products, products that they really hope you'll continue buying... except that they never will be any follow up no matter how much you like these guys. I was stunned by how good thet product was walking the Oni, First Second, and Top Shelf tables.