Basically my first stop: I suspected it would be like last year, and Mike Mignola would be somewhere accessible, and I just had to figure out where. Sure enough, I was able to hunt down his table. I waited in a moderate line, then quickly showed him the copies of all my Ayers-inked monster stories, and all the pin-ups. As I did, I could tell he was impressed with my roll call. Mike Allred, Thomas Yeates, Gene Colan, Bill Sienkiewicz, Sam Kieth, Irwin Hasen, all three Hernandez Brothers (but I hadn’t seen Jaime’s yet), Ryan Sook (who I’d asked to please butter me up when he spoke with Mike), Steve Rude and Russ Heath (whose pin-ups I hadn’t yet received), JH Williams III, whose pin-up I would be getting at this con. Suddenly he said, “How can I be a part of this?”
Wow. I almost fell over. I was speechless. I couldn’t believe it. One of my favorite artists, who I’d always assumed would be fairly untouchable, asking me what HE can do to be a part of my monster comics. Every year, my work must be looking better and better, and people are getting more and more impressed, and more willing to contribute pin-ups. The year before, he had glanced over a lot of the same work I was showing him now, but he didn’t seem so interested.
He gave me his business card, and I continued to bluster about my comic, and tell him about Dr. DeBunko. Then I gave him a copy of the first issue of Tabloia, and asked to buy one of his sketchbooks (and he even drew a quick Hellboy sketch in it). I babbled I’d taken up too much of his time, and he said he agreed that I had, and I realized I’d better make my exit. Later I went back and gave him a monster t-shirt.
* * *
Early on I went and gave a copy of Tabloia to Gene Colan. He and his wife were very sweet, and I made a point to be very sweet as well. I was naturally nervous after our email experiences. But they were friendly, and showed appreciation for me bringing them the books. They said the graveyard pin-up had been very popular. Later I went to see him again to get a book signed, and Bruce Timm was there, looking through and picking out some of Gene’s original art. I fumbled in my bag and got my copies of all the monster stories and pin-ups. I awkwardly got Bruce’s attention and showed him some of the work, and he seemed mildly interested, but mostly I felt like I was just bothering him, while he was trying to look through Gene’s art. I left the scene in shame. Humiliation. I don’t know why he intimidates me so much.
* * *
At this convention, I asked Thomas Yeates and Gene Colan if they would like some extra copies of my comic to sell at their booths. Gene took some extra copies, but Thomas said he didn’t have much table space as it was. It would take me a year or so to realize I had to stop asking artists if they would like to do this. They have their own stuff to sell without wasting extra time and space. Their fans will certainly buy more of the artist’s actual books or original art than of some unknown artist’s unknown book. And not only that, but it puts the artists in an awkward situation, because they’re not interested in selling my book, for Christ’s sake, and why should they be? That’s my responsibility to sell my own books.
* * *
Dave Stevens had a big booth. I showed him my monster stuff again, and he said it sounded familiar. He didn’t seem as interested to flip through them this time, maybe since it’s all the same stuff I’ve kept showing him. I ended up giving him a copy of Tabloia, which he accepted and put away, and which I had the feeling he would never look at again. I began to realize maybe I shouldn’t offer to give people books unless they ask for them.
* * *
I went and found Adam Hughes in artists alley. People were just starting to line up, but he wasn’t there. His girlfriend, (who I would years later learn is Allison), was getting set up though. She was getting all the prints and sketchbooks out. Adam arrived, and he and she were cranking everyone quickly through the line. I got a sketchbook and tried to show him my comic, but he wasn’t looking. He looked really tense and frazzled, and just kind of said, “No, I’m so busy.” And he looked genuinely too busy. He signed my sketchbook though. I would get to know Adam much better in a couple years, and I think he’s the greatest!
* * *
I was looking for Tim Bradstreet, who was supposed to be in artists alley. I knew the art dealer who represents him was at the con, so I went there on a hunch, and just happened to see him pop over there. I reintroduced myself. He had to get somewhere, but told me to walk him there, so I had the opportunity to show him all the cool pin-ups I’d gotten, and he seemed impressed. He was so sweet and affectionate. He put his hand on my shoulder and treated me like an old friend, and he said, “We’ll get you a pin-up.” And he told me to keep emailing him.
* * *
I saw Matt Wagner again, and gave him a copy of Tabloia #1. He was encouraging and friendly. He said he’s too busy to do pin-ups right now, because he’s working on a Batman project that will last a dozen issues.
* * *
Went and said hello to Michael Kaluta and gave him a business card. He seemed to enjoy that I had a dismembered hand on my card. He said he’d remember the image. I wound up giving him a comic too. He said he’s just so busy, but that he would eventually get around to doing a monster pin-up. He admitted that the Kirby stories were never really his thing, and he never understood why they always had to wear these giant-sized diapers. I immensely enjoyed talking with him. He really knew how to put a nervous fan at ease, and he had a great sense of humor.
* * *
All this talk of artists I went and met, you may find it hard to believe we had a table this year. My dear, sweet, great wife was enjoying having a place to sit down during the conas opposed to the previous years where we walked and walked and walked, and she was happy to watch the table and try selling our book while I popped around looking for potential new pin-up artists.
When I was at our table, I watched a fair amount of big name people walked by all during the con. I think it was because of our convenient location right by a bathroom.
Peter Kuper walked by and I recognized him. I started to show him my stuff and ask him about a pin-up, but then someone else came to the table, and he wandered off. I kept my eye on him, and realized he was visiting with Bill Plympton. Even though there was no one to man the booth at this moment, I immediately abandoned my post and ran over to both of them, and showed them my book, and managed to get contact info from both of them. Peter actually contacted me himself, and I was able to get a pin-up from him.
I harassed Chris Claremont, who was polite, but acted as if he couldn’t wait to get away. Maybe he had a signing or panel. Or maybe he didn’t want to be bothered by some annoying unknown pain-in-the-ass.
I pestered Max Allan Collins, who remembered (or pretended he did) that I had shown him my Dick Hammer stories the year before. I bumped into him again later, and told him I knew he was close to Mickey Spillane, and hoped he wasn’t offended by my Dick Hammer character. He said, No, no one has the same politics as Mickey, who’s so insanely right-wing he’s in a class all by himself. Max talked about being on a panel with Jude Law, and how he wasn’t sure if people were at the panel to see him or Jude. I asked why they were on a panel together. Stupid Wisnia. Road of Perdition starrinng Jude Law, based on the comic book written by Max Allan Collins. You’ve seen it, remember? Moron…I’m kicking myself.
* * *
While things were quiet at the table, I recognized Gary Groth poking around and glancing at different people’s tables.
I caught his glance, and I said, “I know you.” He came up and said, Do you.
“Yeah, we met at APE Con. I was with Sam Kieth.” He remembered. He asked about my book. “Oh, this is just a hodge-podge of junk,” I told him. He laughed that I had the Sam Kieth style of self-promoting. He actually looked at it though. I got him to look at the Dick Ayers stuff, and he asked me how I’d gotten pin-ups from Mario and Gilbert. I told him I’d be honored if he’d make any mention of my book in any of his forums, even if he tore it to pieces. He took a copy, and promised he’d read it. I have trouble reading him. I get the feeling he’s pestered all the time, and has learned to just be polite. But it worked, because I felt good about my interaction with him.
I realize now that everyone bugs him to tear their work to pieces. Everyone is just itching to hear that Gary Groth hated their work. “Yeah, THE Gary Groth hated it!” I made a mental note to stop asking him for publicity, and to just keep showing him my work, and let him decide for himself if he wants to do anything.