|
HOME
CURRENT
Bio
Contact
PORTFOLIO
Comics
Cartoons
Storyboards
Commercial
Gaming
Sketchbook
BLOG
|
BLOG
Monday, November 17, 2003
LAS VEGAS SHOW
pretty coolcostume. this guy actually looked scary.
Went to the Extrosion comic convention in Las Vegas. This was the first time this company had put on a show. I went for several reasons. Partly because I wanted to see if they could match the hype they had been giving their show; to be the new tail end of the con season.
And also to take a small vacation with my girlfriend. I had not been to Vegas in almost ten years, and everyone had said how different it is now.
here is me with Scott Sava and Greg Kunkle
SATURDAY
I also had not flown in a good number of years, doing all my travelling landbound. It was well before September 11th the last time I had to go through airport security. My girlfriend, Sally, and I arrive at the airport, pick up our tickets, check in our luggage and proceed to the boarding area. This is of course, past the security check area. While waiting in line to get x-rayed, in stocking feet because they scan shoes nowadays, I realize something. And start sweating bullets. I have this moneyclip. I have had it for years. I don't think of it as anything more than a moneyclip. I had totally forgotten that it has both a foldout nailfile and a KNIFE BLADE!! I really don't want to give this item up to confiscation (I am not even catholic) and I really, really don't want to go downstairs for a full cavity search. So I nonchalantly pull my small wad o' money from my pocket and insert it into the middle of my carry-on satchel. Sally notices my chagrin and asks me what is wrong. I just shake my head and grunt. She must have thought I was nervous about flying. Anyways, they find the moneyclip with the all of one inch knife and ask me to step out of line. Some policemen lead me off to a small corridor. The one policeman says that they have to conduct a full body search. Let me tell you, that is a sentence that you don't want to hear. But what you really don't want to hear is the guy who conducts the body searches say,"Excuse me, I have to go wash my shoulder."
Just kidding, the moneyclip must have just looked like a small square of metal on the x-ray. I got on the plane fine.
aaargh!
By the way, We've all been to the movies. We all know how to share armrests, right? Apparently not, some old biddy in the middle seat refused to let a person on either side of her come anywhere close to be comfortable on the flight up. Got to the hotel without a problem. The Excalibur is nice but whoever told the billionaire casino owner that putting a few swords on the wall and a goofy looking dragon statue would be a really out of this world hotel motif should be fired. Also my definitive test for knowing someone is not a high roller, the guy walking around with the t-shirt that says "High Roller".
look! it's Morpheus and lil' Morphy jr.
I have always thought cons are all about over-stimulation and sleep deprivation. But put one in Vegas and it is a deadly combination. The show was a little disappointing. Not due to the fault of the show organizers or even exhibitors or attendees. I, for some reason, was operating under the delusion that it would be a monster of a show like San Diego. When we got to the show Saturday morning and finally got in, I realized that I could see everything and do everything I needed to see and do in one day. That wasn't so disappointing as that there were not that many smaller publishers there. One of the main goals of this trip for me was to try to pitch a book I had drawn.
I only got to talk to a few people about the proposed book. There seemed to be a recurring theme among retailers at this show. Two words; ANIME! ANIME! ANIME!
This was my girlfriend, Sally's first trip to a con and I kept asking her if she was bored yet. She kept replying that she was having fun. I couldn't believe it. I kept expecting her to come to the realization that this was my passion and she is dating a geek or to run screaming from the room. As it was, she played caddy with my swag bag and watched all the interesting people.
here's me with my hand on a big black guy's crotch
Got to hang with cool and ever accomodating Chicago boy Franchesco http://www.franchesco.com/
A really nice guy who can also swing a mean pencil. We debated the best way to put people who make daytime TV into labor camps. Also got to chat with upcoming great Lee Bermejo (see interview to follow). He is another artist that despite being young has some chops and is one to keep your eye on.
|