So I drove down to Long Beach for the 2nd Annual Long Beach Comic Con. It has proven to be a very laid-back and pleasant convention. Although this year, the programming for the con is outside, around in another building, a bit of a walk. I deduced that although nothing else was happening in the convention center today (Friday), the rest of the weekend there will be some other (larger?) convention happening, and they had gotten the program rooms in the same building as the exhibit halls before the LBCC did. Oh, well.
The happening was launched with a bit of a ceremony, in front of a large figure of the Hulk, complete with torn t-shirt.
Barbara Randall Kesel had taken a booth, in order to give portfolio reviews to anyone who wanted one. Now, I’ve done some small amount of editing of some comic book projects. And as an artist (though I say so myself), I’m not without talent. But I was awed and humbled watching her give reviews to aspiring artists.
Barbara Randall Kesel at her booth
She does, of course have plenty of practice at the art of critiquing sequential art. But it was impressive not only for her ability to spot just what was throwing a particular panel off balance, but also her ability to communicate this to the artist without crushing him with hopelessness. And these were talented artists seeking her feedback.
I had wanted to observe this process, partly to sharpen my own skills at editing in this medium, and partly because I’m about to launch myself into a 12 page comic story which I mean to do the art for myself. The pointers she was giving these artists were being soaked up by my brain and stored away.
Wandering around, I stopped by the tables in Artist Alley to hobnob with a couple of friends. There were various toy dealers with sundry temptations, things you might not find in a more “usual” place.
And then a had a couple of discussions with my friend Tom Waltz at the IDW booth. Tom is one of their “distinguished” editors, as can be seen in the following picture.
Tom Waltz
(Actually, the bug-eyes headdress were imposed on him by a co-worker. He was a good sport about it.) We chatted about some upcoming offerings from IDW, mutual friends, and things I might possibly be able to pitch to the company. It was a good conversation, in that it gave me a couple of ideas to work on.
I decided to go across the street to the Islands restaurant and have some dinner before getting back on the freeway to Hollywood. I enjoyed my burger. Then just as I was getting ready to depart, my friend Marcus Perry (writer/director of the kick-ass short flick Razor Sharp) came in with a friend of his and sat down. So I joined them for a bit, to catch up on what he’s been doing (still trying to get the feature version of RS off the ground). And in my half of the “what are you up to” session, I tested the premise for the pilot spec script I’m working on, as well as the story I’m doing for that 12 page project. It’s really satisfying when a writer friend you respect likes your ideas (which he did).
So, for a mild, laid back beginning for me, the first day of the LBCC was a good one!
