Geeks at the Beach – the Long Beach Comic-Con Wrap-Up

If you can’t tell from the pictures I took, the Long Beach Comic-Con was a rousing success, celebrating the world of comics and lots more (but mostly comics). There are those who complain that the San Diego Comic-Con, the big daddy of all conventions, has gone Hollywood in recent years, pushing aside the focus on the comics that provided the foundation for these types of conventions for more than 40 years. But such an accusation could not be leveled against the Long Beach Comic-Con this past weekend. I was able to meet more comic creators and buy more comics (well, mainly trade paperbacks) than I have at the last 4 San Diego cons combined. Sure, Thomas Jane came out to promote his new 3D movie, Dark Country, Seth Green and company hosted a panel about Adult Swim’s Robot Chicken and Titan Maximum series, Nintendo showed off the latest Zelda game for the DS, and the Saw VI booth handed out posters and lollipops, but it wasn’t just tv and movies that filled the majority of booths and panel rooms. Mark Waid took on all comers by answering 50 questions in 50 minutes, DC gave everyone the scoop on what’s to come in Superman’s corner of the comics world, and my all-time favorite stripper (um, comic strip creator) Berkeley Breathed made a rare appearance to talk about his new archival Bloom County book with IDW and various other projects both written and filmed (look for video from the panel coming soon!). There were also lots of panels that let fans ask those on the inside how to get noticed in the comics industry with their words, their art, and their coloring skills. Oh, and there was professional wrestling in the corner. Even from across the room, you could feel the body slams.

Among the highlights of my weekend (in no particular order):

• Winning that Randy Bowen Wolverine statue from the Comic Bug and the Hero Initiative Wolverine 100 covers fundraising promotion.
• Getting to see the lovely Jennifer Wenger (aka Wonder Woman) again, an actress from the amazing Confessions of a Superhero documentary.
• Getting to play the newest entry in the Legend of Zelda series (i’m a Zelda fanatic) called Spirit Tracks for the DS and DSi.
• Getting the opinion of a real roller derby girl on the movie Whip It (short answer: it was funny, but not really realistic… but, hey, plumbers would say the same thing about a movie featuring plumbers. Hollywood always has to take a bit of creative license with everything.)
• Getting my Amazing Spider-Man #606 convention exclusive sketch variant signed by J Scott Campbell and snagging a sweet big format sketchbook.
• Seeing Thomas Jane looking down upon the crowd and urging the crowd to come to his 3D screening of Dark Country (directed by him).
• Meeting David Petersen and getting each of my mini format books of Mouse Guard signed by him.
• Did I mention all of those Wolverine 100 covers from the Hero Initiative fundraiser? So many I’d love to own when they go up for auction, especially Bill Morrison’s full color recreation of the classic Captain America annual cover originally done by Mike Zeck.
• Seeing La Bamba from the Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien roaming the floor as a fan and repeatedly getting asked to have his picture taken with fans of his (he’s seriously part of the best band on late night television).
• Finally getting around to picking up The Boys by Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson. Upon learning that I had never read a page of The Boys and was buying it on reputation alone, Darick warned me of its graphic nature. I assured him I could handle it (I haven’t yet pulled it from the stack of books I got this weekend, but expect me to Twitter my disgust when I do).
• Even though I’m not a pro wrestling fan, it was fun to watch the acrobatics involved in entertaining the crowd.
• Grabbing more than a few trade paperbacks and hardcovers at HALF PRICE, including Runaways, All-Star Superman, and more. Plus, lots of other fun stuff.
• Getting to meet Bloom County and Opus creator, Berkeley Breathed, and getting to attend his panel. This man helped form my sense of humor in my impressionable teenage years (don’t ask when) through his comic strips (David Letterman, Monty Python, and Star Trek reruns had an influence too, but I digress).
• At every convention, I try to pick up at least one completely indie creator’s book (I wish I could grab all of them, but 1. not all of them are good 2. i’m not rich 3. and i really prefer unique concepts that look like writing skill is required, not the ability to draw big tits or fetish costumes. This time I picked up both issues of Punks the Comic by Joshua Fialkov.
• Finding artist Tom Hodges at yet another convention and still having a hard time picking just one of his many amazing works to take home with me (again, i’m not rich). In the end I picked up a Yoda. You should see the Princess Leia I have on my wall.
• Picking up these sweet dot painted 4×6 inch works of art featuring the Venture Bros henchmen of the Monarch. I have a feeling these won’t be the last ones I buy from Giddy Girlie.
• Seeing the now ubiquitious Lady Deadpool dancing to the music of Black Bolt aka Ian Frazier.
• And speaking of music, I got to witness the massive, lumbering bluesy rock of Bigfoot and geek rock heroes Kirby Krackle Saturday night at the Hero Initiative after party. I became an instant fan, bought a CD and shirt, and I plan to do a little feature on them here on popculturegeek in the near future. My only complaint is that they should have been put in a better venue where the lighting wasn’t controlled by whoever was leaning against the light switch at the time. But I have to admit, despite the tiny sound system, the bands sounded really good.
• Oh, and one last thing… so many gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous girls in costume. Not the least of which is the young lady I shot at the Auld Dubliner across the street at the after show drink up. Is that a great pose or what? There are so many more that I couldn’t put them all here (and still others that I missed!). Check my entire Flickr stream to see all of them! Thanks to all of the ladies (and the guys too) for being so gracious and standing still for me every time.

As the years go by, I know that the crowds will grow and, sure, the convention’s proximity to LA will increase Hollywood’s presence at the show, but that certainly won’t be a bad thing as long as comics remain a vital part of this convention’s focus. Any opportunity for geeks to get together with those of their own kind, grab some rare collectibles, meet their favorite comic artists and writers, and get the chance to dress up in that revealing spandex outfit at any other time than just Halloween, is a good thing. Here’s hoping to many more conventions at the Long Beach Convention Center! Seeya next year, geeks!