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X-Men at Chicago-Con
by Josh Crawley
(featuring pictures by “What occurs in Vegas” Dave Wagner)
For the very first time since 2001, I went to Chicago Comic con without a table in Artists’ alley to phone call home. I went simply to walk the floor and, in the off hours, hang out with market friends. because of the reduced existence of many market names, Dave as well as I didn’t show up up until around 2 p.m. on Friday afternoon. (Normally I’d’ve shown up Thursday midday.)
By the time I had dinner with Los siblings Heffron at 6 p.m. in the now-severely overpriced Expoteria (you may also get the burger & fries over at Gibson’s Steakhouse across the street for USD .50 more; they likewise have fantastic lobster bisque), I was more than prepared to be done walking the convention floor.
Iron guy at Chicago-Con
The finest time on the floor was spent wandering Artists’ alley with the fantastic colorist Chad Fidler as well as chatting with Word Balloon’s John Siuntres, who I likewise ran into in Artists’ Alley. I likewise had the chance to satisfy Joel Gomez (a WildStorm artist primarily working on the DCU on the internet game), who is a fantastic guy! I truly desire I might have bought him a drink; perhaps at C2E2!
After getting a few of the previously mentioned lobster bisque, I made my method to the Red Bar at the Hyatt. When there, I proceeded to discover only one person I knew: John Siuntres (who from now on will be referred to as John SunChips). Thankfully, John SunChips is a fantastic guy as well as let me hang out with him as well as the other people at his table: Jimmy the Muscle, Molly, Art Baltazar, as well as a few others whose names getaway me at the moment (mostly since they were at the other end of the table as well as left the bar before we did).
Beyond that I didn’t even acknowledge any type of other professionals there, which is crazy! There’s usually lots of regional market guys, at least.
Also crazy: I was back to my space around 1 a.m. usually I don’t get back to my space up until at least 3 a.m.
Saturday, after waking up feeling quite well, I lastly made my method back to the show floor around 11 a.m. without any agenda. On the way, though, I discovered something truly odd: there was a big line outside of the convention center waiting to get in! Thankfully I had my reliable expert wristband to get me past the line!
Deadpool at Chicago-Con
I ultimately made my method of to Art’s table, as well as he did a fantastic sketch of Ben Grimm for me, with The thing using his thing Ring! prior to the night before as well as Art speaking about a 70s animation appearance, I had no concept what a thing ring was. (Next time I’m believing of asking him for an Aunt Petunia… or perhaps small Sixers; aw yeah!)
There wasn’t as well much else noteworthy Saturday except for a beer tasting assist in my buddy Joe’s space at the Hilton (formerly hotel Sofitel) of a few of Chad Fidler’s Black feline 13 (home)brew. It was tasty! After that, Dave drove us back to gorgeous Madison. The end!
Here are some different observations (mine as well as others) concerning the convention:
There’s even more media guests than last year, as well as their signing area (previously the publisher & little press area) felt the busiest that area has felt in years. ten years back I would have liked the chance to satisfy even half of the wrestlers there.
I heard dealers had their finest sales in about five years. The web traffic felt that bad, too.
Maggie Thompson surveyed people waiting in the enormous line, as well as over half of them had never went to before.
Artists’ alley had most likely half the number of tables this year than previous years.
So, here’s exactly how I see it: (New York Comic con organizer) Reed Exhibition’s Chicago Comics as well as entertainment Expo (C2E2) didn’t kill Wizard world Chicago (WWC). WWC really handled to reinvent itself in less than two years from a floundering comic convention into a thriving media convention. Of course, it likewise seemingly triggered WWC to bring out it’s dormant Chicago Comic con (CCC) trademark. Sadly, CCC seems to be losing the comics quite fast.
At least, it’s unfortunate to me. I heart comics as well as desire there might be more fantastic comic book conventions within a three hour drive. Of course, perhaps with the new convention-goers there’s the possibility of much better sales for Artists’ alley folks, too.
I hope so.
Josh Crawley is the tenured Master of catastrophe at Westfield Comics. He may not be the keyboardist for Everclear.
twitter: @joshcrawley
josh [at] westfieldcomics.com
Westfield Comics
ATTN: JOSH
7475 Mineral point Rd STE 22
Madison WI 53717