Convention Report: Emerald City Comic-Con, Day 1
Posted April 1st, 2007 by Howard TaylerI’m writing this on a hotel business center computer. I don’t have pictures to post, there’s someone waiting for the machine, and there are two kids next to me arguing over what game to play over at lego.com, or some such.
These are my excuses for the poor relative quality of this report.
Oh, and I’m really tired, too. There are four children sleeping (finally!) in my hotel room. I probably shouldn’t even BEGIN to complain about someone else’s pair of well-behaved boys down here.
On with the report:
I spent most of the day at the Blank Label Comics booth drawing things for fans — sketches, commmissions, and book-defacings. The most memorable of these was the commission for the Dark Lord of the Sith himself, Lord Vader. He stopped by the booth in full costume, and as it turns out he’s a big Schlock fan. He asked for “Tagon and Vader.”
First off, I geeked out pretty hard. It’s not every day a sith lord commissions artwork from me. He could have broken out the mind-control (I doubt I’m immune to those sith mind tricks, since mere pizza commercials make me hungry) but he actually intended to pay me cash dollars for the piece.
Secondly, I got to do something I’ve been wanting to do for years — try out my Copic spray can to do a light-saber effect.
Thirdly… well, the piece came out GREAT, but here I am on an alien computer in a foreign planet with no scanner, no camera, and no way to upload proof. Fortunately Lord Vader tells me that they’ve got an excellent scanner back at the Death Star, and they have email, too.
I met lots of other neat folks, including a lot of friends from past conventions. After the show was over for the day a bunch of webtoonists got together for dinner at Bill Barnes’ house. It was loud, and messy, and heaps of fun. Thanks again for opening your home to us, Bill!
Today promises to be busy. Sandra will be packing the kids out to Strohl HQ while I work the show (I still have plenty of books and pins — come on by!), and then this evening somehow I will be reunited with her somewhere. I don’t know exactly how it’ll work, but I’m assured that it WILL. Once we’re done with the show we’ll be sleeping, and then spending Monday driving to Boise. Tuesday will be spent driving back to Utah. Theoretically, then, on Wednesday I’ll be able to post some pictures (unless some vandal trashes Lord Vader’s place before he’s able to send mail.)
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April 1st, 2007 at 10:00 am
While you’re on the Death Star, you should totally pick up a MSE droid for the kids.
April 2nd, 2007 at 8:43 am
Woohoo! I got to meet Howard on Saturday! :D It was fun talking to him and hearing his roleplaying stories about the pygmy trollkin (he has a great Scots accent by the way), and if it hadn’t been for the powers-that-be turning the lights off as a clear indication to scram, my friend and I probably would have continued to enjoy his company until he shooed us away. Next time I am DEFINITELY going to make sure I still have money to spend when I hit his booth though. :P
Howard: It was great meeting you and I really hope I get a chance to meet up with you again sometime when there is more time to chat. Maybe Blank Label Comics will be here in Seattle next year? If so, I promise to bring more money to spend, and chat with your fellow Blank Label…ers? Uhh, anyway, I’m planning on ordering a couple of books for my friends for their birthdays this year, so maybe I can rope both of them into coming down if you’re here next year. ;)
Have a safe trip home, and give my thanks to your family for supporting your cartooning!
-Reklar
aka Ian Broome
aka “That last convention fan to show up, and without money.” :D
PS Tagon would definitely survive the fight. ;)
April 2nd, 2007 at 10:48 am
My thanks to Howard also, I was lucky enough to get a chance to chat with the Blank Label crew and get Howard to do a commission piece for me. It has Kevyn, Elf, and Schlock in it, I just gave Howard a situation and that I wanted Kevyn and Elf in it and he figured out how to make it work and even added Schlock! (After all, what isn’t better with a little Schlock?) I shall find a scanner at the first opportunity and forward it to Howard or post it somewhere to share. It came out awesome!
I actually hit Blank Label first and spent almost all of my Allocated Convention Funds at their booth. Ok, well, to be honest I spent more than I had allocated. In fact I went over budget before I left their booth and it was totally worth it!!!! :)
In fact, I overspent on Saturday and still went back on Sunday, having talked myself into the idea that I could afford a sketch from Brad too. I don’t know that I “fit” in into the budget so much as rammed it in, but I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity. And really, you guys charge so little for your convention art.
It was good to meet you all and I hope you did well here and will be back next year!
Jason