Convention in Columbus

I have just returned from the Mid-Ohio Convention in Columbus, Ohio. I have never been there before and I have to admit, that it's the sweetest convention I have been to in a long time. By sweet, I mean that the fans were so excellent and everyone there including the volunteers had the time of the lives. Let me start at the beginning. It was in the Easton Hotel, close to a enormous shopping center. As I walked to the hotel restaurant Sat. Morning, I ran into Tom DeFalco. We worked on a comic for Moonstone Books and Moonstone would have a booth at the con as well. We ate breakfast with Dave from Moonstone and talked comics for little bit and that was cool. He asked about some friends we both knew and we three had a fine meal.

I've decided that conventions are for meeting people and making friends. That's why I went. I met one guy on Saturday that had me sign a bunch of books I worked on about 15 years ago! I worked on a lot of stuff for marvel in the early 90s and you never know what people will remember. I signed a lot of Web of Spider-Man and Shield Comics. I also drew a few sketches for people who bought my GN. I'm grateful that I sold out of books I bought on Sunday and I had a chance to walk around the convention.

There were great dealers with nice bargains. I bought a copy of Ms. Marvel #22 with a nice Dave Cockrum cover for 50 cents! I also spent time at the Moonstone booth with Tom and helped sell a few issues of KHAN #1. I hope that 15 years from now people will ask me to sign that book. This convention reminded me of the old days before Hollywood swooped down and carried away the comicbook demographic and glitzed up the San Diego Con. The show was calm, fun and felt like a high school reunion. Except that the most popular kid had on a Superman costume.

Mid Ohio

Hey gang! Just a quick note to everyone that the Mid -Ohio con is weekend and I will be attending! I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of excellent fans in heavy winter coats. I will of course be promoting my book, Gunpowder Girl and The Outlaw Squaw. Look for me in Columbus, Ohio!

Masters of American Comics

My friend Steve and I attended the opening of The Masters of American Comics exhibit at the MOCA. The Museum of Contemporary Art is located in Downtown LA and Steve invited me. Excellent stuff! I was really interested in the Wally Wood art on display and the Harvey Kurtzman layouts. There were original color layouts that Kurtzman did for Little Annie Fanny and Mad Magazine. I took a close look at the Jack Kirby pages. There is always something to learn from Kirby! We thought that there would be a lot of notable comic book guys like Stan Lee or maybe Alex Toth, but I only recognized Matt Groening. The MOCA only shows half of the exhibit. I have to visit the HAMMER Museum to see the other artists like Chester Gould and Milt Caniff. If you are in LA, you have to see this exhibit! Try this game, take a look at the Kirby originals and try to guess how much money they could get at a convention!

Sheryl Crow

I bought the new album from Sheryl Crow and I am quite disappointed. It's over produced with too many strings. I also thought that Crows' voice sounded weak and her lyrics were sappy. Maybe she's overboard in love and going in a different direction. I should have just bought a few singles from itunes.

Hey kids! Let's draw!

Take a look at some brush sketches I did earlier today!

Jersey Boys Review!

As I get to the The August Wilson Theater I see the massive spotlight always present at a premiere. This must be the place! I get my tickets but I don't enter right away. I step outside and check out the crowd and who might pull up in a limo. Steve Van zant from The Sopranos TV show shows up, and I realize that all sorts of mob guys might show up. Later at the bar, I see the entire cast of the show except for James Gandolfini. I must mention that Jaime-Lynn Discalia looks amazing in person!

I was eager to see the show and what might have changed between the La Jolla production and Broadway. It looks like they cut a lot of dialogue and used only half the drawings I did for it. It was still a fast-paced, snappy show with excellent acting and music. The lead actor who played Frankie Valli carried the show. I did read a few reviews, USA Today mentioned the background drawings and I thought that was cool!

The end of the show was really touching. The surviving Four Seasons got up on stage to a standing ovation and Joe Pesci joined them! He was a friend of the group in the early days and the crowd loved it. Afterwards, I walked to the Opening night party and saw a few more celebrities. I made a point to look for the people I worked with like the director and Art director and The Producer to thank them for including me. I really enjoyed the night!

I've said this before, I thought that this was just another job. I was wrong.

Sunday

I'm walking to the show. I pass by Brooks Brothers on 44th St and stop in. I ask a sales person, "Am I wearing this bowtie correctly?" He says yes! Victory for me. I don't look like a fool!

Broadway Bound

It's been a while since my last post but I have a good excuse! I have been preparing for my Broadway opening! I am now in NYC for the Opening of Jersey Boys at The Virginia Theatre. It's a first for me and I bought a tuxedo for it. I rarely have use for a suit like that, but like I said, It's a first. If you have read my previous posts, You remember the drama over getting a hotel room for the weekend. Well, I got a room at a nice place near Grand Central and It's fair to say that it's full of Brits in town for the NYC Marathon. In fact the town is crowded with runners from all over the world on a Saturday!
I will get some last minute stuff before the show and prepare. My next post will be my review!