[Groop]Report from Motor City Comic Con

Mon, 19 Nov 2001 22:12:30 EST

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I must say, my wife and I really enjoyed this comic con.  They hold it twice 
a year, a big one in May and then a smaller one in November.  I'm fairly new 
to comics (going on 8 years now) and this is only the third convention I have 
ever been able to attend.  It has a different feel than the bigger cons from 
what everyone has told me and from what I experienced.

The con was about 50% comic retailers, 40% artists, and 10% actors/actresses. 
 At this con, the only person from Hollywood I recognized was Chase Masterson 
from Star Trek DS9 and Jeremy Bullock from Star Wars (you can tell what my 
hobbies are).  

Since Dick Giordano cancelled, there were only 2 people from the industry I 
really wanted to meet: Peter David and Mike Deodato Jr.  Both were really 
nice guys.  I realized one of the things I like from this convention when 
comparing it to the larger ones is we could actually take the time to talk 
with the creators.  I got to talk with Peter David for about 5 minutes (I 
wasn't allowed to do that at Wizard World).  I had heard Mike Deodato started 
learning english about 5 years ago, but he could speak better english with me 
after 5 years than I can spanish with anyone after 6 years in high 
school/college.  What really floored me with Mike Deodato was when I asked 
him to sign an issue of his Jade Warriors that he never saw!  He apparently 
never got a copy of this cover variant.  He asked me if there was someplace 
in the convention where he could pick up a copy!  He also drew a really nice 
sketch for me.

The overall atmosphere in the convention was really relaxed.  There were only 
one or two times it got really crowded, the rest of the time it was busy, but 
I didn't have to walk sideways to get through a sea of people.  We spent most 
of our time looking at the cool comics we could never afford to own, and 
searching to fill the gaps in my comic collection (you wouldn't believe how 
hard it is to do that in Toledo, Ohio).  Speaking of gaps, here's a tip for 
anyone planning on moving - don't leave the state without a new comic store 
lined up-you don't know what you'll miss.

I created the habit of leaving conventions I go to with one quasi-valuable 
comic from the Golden Age I could never get in my area (not really valuable - 
I can't afford that yet).  Last 2 conventions we were at we got comics from 
the superhero genre, but this time I wanted to try something different so I 
got a copy of Walt Disney's Comics & Stories issue #140 (the first appearance 
of Gyro Gearshaft and second of Scrooge McDuck).  The comic is in really nice 
condition and except for a pencil mark on the cover, I can't find anything 
wrong with it (not that I know how to really evaluate a comic - as long as I 
can read it and it stays together in my hands, I consider it adequate).

We had fun this convention.  If there is anyone on this list who has never 
been to a comic con before, I highly recommend it.  It is the only place you 
can jump up on a stage, point to some passer-by, and proclaim, "KNEEL BEFORE 
ZOD!" and not have people think you're a mouthpiece short of a complete 
trombone. 

If you usually only go to a really large convention such as Wizard World or 
San Diego, I recommend trying a smaller one sometime, and vice versa.  There 
is a lot more variety at a con like Wizard World and it is represented by the 
major publishers such as DC and Marvel.  On the other hand, I could never 
talk with Peter David at Wizard World, and at Motor City I didn't have to 
wait in line.  

Both are worthwhile experiences and I always benefit from them.

Oh and by the way, just so this message isn't completely un-Groo related, I 
finally picked up a copy of Destroyer Duck - the first appearance of Groo.

Keep on mendicating!
Elie

Note from my wife:  If anyone at a convention asks you if they can perform 
the Jedi Mind Trick on you, the correct answer is always "NO."  Take it from 
one who learned the hard way.

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<HTML>I must say, my wife and I really enjoyed this comic con. &nbsp;They hold it twice a year, a big one in May and then a smaller one in November. &nbsp;I'm fairly new to comics (going on 8 years now) and this is only the third convention I have ever been able to attend. &nbsp;It has a different feel than the bigger cons from what everyone has told me and from what I experienced.
 
 The con was about 50% comic retailers, 40% artists, and 10% actors/actresses. &nbsp;At this con, the only person from Hollywood I recognized was Chase Masterson from Star Trek DS9 and Jeremy Bullock from Star Wars (you can tell what my hobbies are). &nbsp;
 
 Since Dick Giordano cancelled, there were only 2 people from the industry I really wanted to meet: Peter David and Mike Deodato Jr. &nbsp;Both were really nice guys. &nbsp;I realized one of the things I like from this convention when comparing it to the larger ones is we could actually take the time to talk with the creators. &nbsp;I got to talk with Peter David for about 5 minutes (I wasn't allowed to do that at Wizard World). &nbsp;I had heard Mike Deodato started learning english about 5 years ago, but he could speak better english with me after 5 years than I can spanish with anyone after 6 years in high school/college. &nbsp;What really floored me with Mike Deodato was when I asked him to sign an issue of his Jade Warriors that he never saw! &nbsp;He apparently never got a copy of this cover variant. &nbsp;He asked me if there was someplace in the convention where he could pick up a copy! &nbsp;He also drew a really nice sketch for me.
 
 The overall atmosphere in the convention was really relaxed. &nbsp;There were only one or two times it got really crowded, the rest of the time it was busy, but I didn't have to walk sideways to get through a sea of people. &nbsp;We spent most of our time looking at the cool comics we could never afford to own, and searching to fill the gaps in my comic collection (you wouldn't believe how hard it is to do that in Toledo, Ohio). &nbsp;Speaking of gaps, here's a tip for anyone planning on moving - don't leave the state without a new comic store lined up-you don't know what you'll miss.
 
 I created the habit of leaving conventions I go to with one quasi-valuable comic from the Golden Age I could never get in my area (not really valuable - I can't afford that yet). &nbsp;Last 2 conventions we were at we got comics from the superhero genre, but this time I wanted to try something different so I got a copy of Walt Disney's Comics &amp; Stories issue #140 (the first appearance of Gyro Gearshaft and second of Scrooge McDuck). &nbsp;The comic is in really nice condition and except for a pencil mark on the cover, I can't find anything wrong with it (not that I know how to really evaluate a comic - as long as I can read it and it stays together in my hands, I consider it adequate).
 
 We had fun this convention. &nbsp;If there is anyone on this list who has never been to a comic con before, I highly recommend it. &nbsp;It is the only place you can jump up on a stage, point to some passer-by, and proclaim, "KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!" and not have people think you're a mouthpiece short of a complete trombone. 
 
 If you usually only go to a really large convention such as Wizard World or San Diego, I recommend trying a smaller one sometime, and vice versa. &nbsp;There is a lot more variety at a con like Wizard World and it is represented by the major publishers such as DC and Marvel. &nbsp;On the other hand, I could never talk with Peter David at Wizard World, and at Motor City I didn't have to wait in line. &nbsp;
 
 Both are worthwhile experiences and I always benefit from them.
 
 Oh and by the way, just so this message isn't completely un-Groo related, I finally picked up a copy of Destroyer Duck - the first appearance of Groo.
 
 Keep on mendicating!
 Elie
 
 Note from my wife: &nbsp;If anyone at a convention asks you if they can perform the Jedi Mind Trick on you, the correct answer is always "NO." &nbsp;Take it from one who learned the hard way.</HTML>

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