Heroes Convention 2009

[Mark Sullivan (Vertiginous Mod)]

After a late start, spent almost seven hours at the convention. I attended one panel discussion: "The New Power Generation of Comics" with Brian Michael Bendis, Ivan Brandon, Ed Brubaker, Jonathan Hickman, and Matt Fraction. Matt Brady of Newsarama attempted to moderate, with limited success (at one point Fraction turned a question around and basically interviewed Brady instead of the other way around). These writers all know each other, and had a good time tossing the questions around, interrupting each other, talking at the same time...it got pretty chaotic at times. But they still passed on lots of interesting information about their influences, collaborating with each other and with artists, and what it's like to work at Marvel these days. One main point: Joe Quesada respects the creative process, treats freelancers the way he wanted to be treated when he was one, and doesn't impose editorial constraints on the creators. So if you dislike a Marvel storyline, don't blame Joe!

Lots of shopping, and here's the haul:

Alec: How to be an artist by Eddie Campbell
Smoke by Alex de Campi & Igor Kordy
Scarlet Traces by Ian Edginton & D'Israeli
Kickback by David Lloyd
Channel Zero: Jennie One by Brian Wood & Becky Cloonan
The Collected Stray Bullets Vol. 2,3,4,& 6 by David Lapham
Criminal Vol. 1: Coward/Criminal Vol. 2: Lawless by Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips

Most of these trades or hardcovers were $5; a few were half price.

Also some individual issues of BPRD from The Warning, The Black Goddess, & the second issue of War on Frogs.

Last but not least, a lovely 10th anniversary Sandman statue:


(http://www.hillcity-comics.com/toys/sandman_10th.jpg)

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Title: Re: Heroes Convention 2009
Post by: Lime_Coke on June 19, 2009, 11:09:05 PM

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One of these years I'm going to make it up there. It didn't work out this year.

It sounds like it's turning out to be a good con this year.

Note: this is my first attempt at pasting in a thread from the old board.

[Mark Sullivan (Vertiginous Mod)]

Attended two panels today. "Making Comics For All Ages" included Jeff Smith (Bone, RASL), Roger Langridge (The Muppet Show Comic, Fred the Clown), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), and Chris Schweizer (Crogan's Vengeance). It was moderated by Andy Mansell, who also leads the Heroes comic discussion group that meets regularly. The discussion covered a lot of ground, including early influences and first published work. Smith in particular stressed that he did not set out to create "all ages" comics. Bone had the self-imposed limitation of including no language that could not have appeared in a newspaper comic strip...but there are many "adult" themes and events in the course of the run. Everyone agreed that good all ages material had to be able to appeal to both children and adults equally.

"Guy Davis Interview" found Davis being interviewed by Newsarama's Zack Smith. They talked about Davis's entire career, including BPRD, Sandman Mystery Theatre, The Marquis, and his earliest published work. Davis has somehow succeeded in having a 23 year career without ever doing mainstream superhero comcs; he's a lucky (and happy) guy. Zack Smith and Andy Mansell (at the earlier panel) were both knowledgeable (if overly intense) interviewers.

I got some books autographed by Steve Niles, who is a really nice guy. He drew a set of vampire fangs as part of his signature on 30 Days Of Night. Ed Brubaker had huge lines all day, and was pretty distracted by the time I got to him. I was hoping to get his attention by handing him two Vertigo series (Scene of the Crime and Sandman Presents: Dead Boy Detectives) and a Criminal TPB--no Captain America!--but no dice. No conversation, no drawings, just some quick signatures.

They were giving away buttons and free comics at the DC booth. I picked up a Vertigo button and a copy of The Unwritten #1, so I'll get a chance to check it out ahead of the first trade collection.

Bought a lot less today:

BPRD: The Warning (the last three issues I needed to complete the series)
Deadman: Love after Death & Deadman: Exorcism by Mike Baron & Kelley Jones (I'm a big Kelley Jones fan, and I got both of these two-issue Prestige miniseries complete at one booth for 50 cents apiece)

[Mark Sullivan (Vertiginous Mod)]

Stopped in on two panels today: "Panel By Panel: George Perez, Mark Waid and Brave & The Bold #4" went through the comic page by page, with Perez & Waid explaining their creative choices. Anyone who has heard Perez & Waid speak knows a good time was guaranteed. They offered lots of insights and quips. At one point Waid asked Perez about a change from his script. He'd noticed that Perez never put any of the panels with explosions in the middle of the page as he'd written them. Perez explained that explosions should always occur at a page turn if possible, where they will have the most impact.

Ran down the hall to catch some of "Ed Brubaker & Steve Epting in Conversation." Lots of jokes about which Bucky was being resurrected when (which barely meant anything to this non-Captain America fan). Brubaker claimed that his resurrected Bucky had never actually died on-panel. He answered a question about his early career. He considers the Vertigo miniseries "Scene of the Crime" to have really launched his career, despite some earlier published work. Ironically, he turned in the proposal to Vertigo sure that they'd never go for a mystery story.

Next was the screening of the documentary "The Cartoonist: Jeff Smith, Bone, and the Changing Face of Comics." I really enjoyed this, and Bone fans would like it even more. There was a lot of coverage of the self-publishing movement (of which Bone was the biggest success story). I had the added bonus of having Smith and Colleen Doran sitting just behind me, so I heard their reactions along with the rest of the audience. Smith said this was the first time he had seen the entire film with an audience present. The he and Doran answered questions for a few minutes before we had to clear the room for the next event.

Last bit of shopping:

Howard Chaykin's American Flagg, Definitive Collection, Vol. 1- 2 (half price)
BPRD: The Black Goddess (last two issues to complete the set)
American Splendor by Harvey Pekar (last issue of the first Vertigo series)