Wizard World Chicago
By: Jay Veeo |
Friday March 17, 2006 |
| "Wizard World," the traveling circus of publishers, retailers, and Kevin Smith-idolizing fans, hit Chicago over the weekend. |
| I got there just as doors opened on Friday, and couldn't believe how many other mouth-breathers had arrived at the same time. "Pacing for a record crowd," is what one of the P.R. guys told me. It looked it. Fluidity of motion was severely restricted only thirty minutes into the con. But there were things to see, people to meet, stuff to buy...
One of the most depressing sights seen was the Margot Kidder autograph table. I had no idea she was even going to be there, and was shocked to be able to just walk right up to her. I thought an 8x10 autograph would make for a nice collectible, something to show friends ("See this autograph? This is from Lois Lane in the 'Superman' movies. That's right, the actress who completely went nuts. Fugue state, or something like that"). She was certainly friendly enough. Damn well should've been. Getting the signature set me back twenty bucks. The "Artists' Alley" was more like three distinct, non-adjacent, streets. The mix of talent was both insane and inspired. Amateurs passing themselves off as pros sat only yards away from A-list guys like Greg Horn and Gene "the Dean" Colan. I couldn't help but by a print off the former and steal a handshake from the latter. Hometown (super)hero Alex Ross was represented with a full-blown kiosk where one could purchase Smithsonian-worthy orginal artwork for sums that could pass for car downpayments. Sal Abbinanti, Ross friend and business partner, was on hand promoting his very original, more-people-need-to-be-reading-it, "Atomika" title. Abbinanti deserves to be a star in the comics biz. Besides obvious talent on the printed page, his gregarious, upbeat personality made me root for him all the more. I gave the con a full three hours, after which claustrophobia set in and I retreated for the simple, air conditioned, comfort of my Toyota and went home. By the time I left, my backpack was filled with a couple of back issues (including Avengers #57, VF, sweet!), some newer books that people recommended to me while I was there, a t-shirt (glad that Graphitti Designs was there), a Margot Kidder autograph, and a Greg Horn print. $225 total, including the $11 parking. I consider leaving Wizard World with enough money left over to pay my utilities a great thing; there was that one year when I decided that I HAD to have Daredevil #4 and Superman #199. I didn't eat for close to a month after that one, but I did have the first Superman/Flash race. I'm sure some of the panels would've been worth seeing (the Kevin Smith/Jason Mewes session sounded like a blast, and the Marvel Zombie in me wanted to hear what Joe Quesada had to say), but the panels seemed like too much work to stick around for. Besides, I got what I really came for-pop culture, back issues, and the chance to shake hands with some comic creators. No need to troll for much more beyond that. Leave that to the other mouthbreathers. |
