This is just a quick note of thanks to any of you reading this blog who stopped by my table at the Wizard World convention in Anaheim this past weekend. I was glad to chat about Peanuts and comics in general, and had lots of fun showing off The Peanuts Collection.
For those of you who have never been to a comic convention – they can be a lot of fun. There are huge comic cons like the famed San Diego one — well, actually, there are no other U.S. cons quite like San Diego, in size and scope it is madness, in ways both good and bad. Then there are tiny cons, just a few dealers and maybe one professional comics guest. Then there are a range of cons in-between, and something like this qualifies as a mid-to-large con. Some are very serious about Being About Comics, but this is more about Being About Enthusiastic About Media Stuff, so there were rows and rows of semi-celebrities willing to autograph a head shot to you for $25 or so. (I was describing this con as having one Ghostbuster, one Duke of Hazzard, and Two Nicholas Brendons, but apparently the second, fake Nicholas – his twin brother Kelly Donovan – had to bow out.) I got to say “hi” to the voice of Pocahontas, the lovely Irene Bedard, who went to high school with my sister. Retired wrestlers, former Power Rangers, that goth couple form the Amazing Race, and so on. (Also on hand were original or replica vehicles such as the Batmobile, the time traveling Delorean, the A-Team van, and the Love Bug – they wouldn’t autograph things, but you could get your picture taken with them for a few bucks.) But the general media celebrities were outnumbered by comics creators, from whom autographs are generally free, and who are glad to sell you a book or a sketch. From my perspective, I was happy with this convention, and will likely do the Wizard World con in Los Angeles proper coming in the fall.
But if you like comics and like a good time, there’s a fine holiday coming up this weekend: Free Comic Book Day! Yes, it’s just what it sounds like: you go to a comic book store, you get free comic books. Some shops will only give you one or two from the set of special editions issued for this event, some will give you a fistful. Head on over to the Free Comic Book Day website to find the participating location near you, as well as a list of comics being offered (Spider-Man, Smurfs, Thor, Dark Crystal, Darkwing Duck, Betty & Veronica, Simpsons, Kung-Fu Panda, and James Patterson, among others.)
