Pittsburgh Comicon 2003 Report
What fun! This year, artist Ed Coutts included me as an additional person on his table in Artists' Alley, thus, providing me with a new experience. For less than I would have paid for a 3-day pass, I had a place to sit when my feet started hurting and I was allowed to partake of the food provided by convention organizers. I actually spent a decent amount of time at the table. Whenever Ed needed a break, or I did, I'd take a seat and try to sell some of Ed's prints or interest people in Femforce 119.
That's right! Bill Black went out of his way to put together a 24-page, Pittsburgh Comicon only version of Femforce 119 that contained the story Ed drew, some background info on the characters and some information about the full version and a future project for AC from Ed. Ed and I had approximately 20 copies for sale at the convention and we sold out early Saturday. The last 4 sale copies all were purchased by one guy and, in hindsight, I realized I should have limited him to one copy so that more people would be exposed to the issue. However, upon returning home, I found out that my concern was unjustified. We had been selling the convention version for $3 and I saw on ebay that Mr. 4 copies had sold one for $15 and had another for sale that was going to fetch at least $6. It hadn't really occurred to me that the fact that the book was a limited run and a convention-only version would make it collectible. Hopefully, the ebay purchasers will be as positive about the story and art as the buyers at the convention. All feedback so far was excellent! A young lady who contributes to the Sequential Tarts website also bought a copy and a positive review on that site would be appreciated. I guess we'll see in the next few days if she liked it.
Once again this year, I had my list of artists from whom I hoped to purchase a sketch. Of course, Gene Gonzales was high on the list. Mr. Gonzales has never disappointed and I've gotten a sketch from him every opportunity. After a couple of shows where I didn't request a Femforce character, I asked him to draw the Blue Bulleteer. Of course, he turned in another fantastic job!
I again got drawings from Hannibal King (a fabulous Blue Bulleteer), Neil Vokes (Miss Masque), Shawn Surface (Colt), Rafael Navarro (Miss Masque), and Scott Rosema (Miss Victory in a Golden Age costume design), Dave Hoover (Yankee Girl), Kevin Rasel (Tara), Ken Meyer, Jr. (Colt), and George Perez (Rio Rita). I also had an opportunity to obtain sketches from hot new artists and legends of the field. In the latter category, Rudy Nebres, who is almost synonymous with Savage Sword of Conan which is a mag I've always loved, did a regal version of Cave Girl, and George Tuska drew Senorita Rio based on a Nick Cardy drawing. Tuska after Cardy! Not bad!
This year, I've started doing some pencil drawings and getting them inked professionally at conventions. G.W. Fisher, who had previously inked one of my drawings, again did a bang-up job making my Princess Pantha look pretty good, and my man Ed Coutts came through with a stellar inking job on a drawing I did of Nyoka escaping from the clutches of the Butcher! The Art Museum is already packed to the gills with new art and I haven't even gotten my drawing of Rio Rita from Caesar yet (he had to miss the last day and is mailing it to me) which I know will look fantastic.
I had a chance to catch up with Brian Rood at the show. I met him there last year and it led to his commissioned painting of Ms. Victory. He gave me a copy of his new book from SQP. I also got to speak with Stacy Walker again. Everything I said about her in last year's Pittsburgh con report holds true! I can say nothing but good things about her.
On Saturday night, the organizers of the comicon hold an auction for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The artists attending the con contribute artwork, dealers might contribute statues or other merchandise, and all proceeds go to charity. At my urging, Ed had done an inked drawing of a Femforce character as his contribution to the auction. While we got to the auction too late to see the bidding on his piece, we were told later that his drawing of Nightveil (below) sold for over $120.