[Groop] WonderCon Report

Wed Apr 7 14:45:15 PDT 2010

Hi (again) Folks!

Well, I will try to keep this short.  We went to San Francisco to see my son, Ben, who wanted to go to the Con to see Sergio and also Larry Marder, as he is an old Bean World fan.  I wanted to surprise Sergio, so I didn’t tell the Groop.  

Sergio was really, really surprised, which was a lot of fun and we just happened to get there when Natalie (Lucky Cat) and her husband and daughter were at Sergio’s table, which was really cool.  That was a great and a fun surprise for me.  As Mark has said many times, WonderCon is smaller and less mega-crowded than San Diego, but it did get crowded.  The crowds reminded me of what San Diego was like in the late 90’s. 

Sergio’s table was also smaller, but he had his usual things set up, except he did not have a supply of DH Trade paperbacks of Groos and Louder Than Words/Actions Speak, which are always big, big sellers at San Diego.  He had a big stack of The Groo Game for $40 each!  (If he still has those at San Diego, I’ll take orders.)  He also has a brand new 11 x 17 print.  Similar in style to last year’s Gorilla Warrior Fray & Groo & Friends prints, this one has Groo and other Sergio creations and also sells for $25.  He said he had 150 made.  (He also had a few of the others.  I thought those were gone). Yoda can link you to a scan of it.  

Sergio usually had folks at his table, but not like at San Diego and I was actually able to talk to him more in the two days at WonderCon than at the 4 days of SD!  Another example of the difference between the two was evident with seeing celebrities.  The cast of “Chuck” was there for a panel (except the hot blonde) and Adam Baldwin was at a table for part of the time.  My son and his girlfriend are big fans, so The Long Suffering Mrs. G. went in at the start of the previous panel and got great seats (she brought a book).  I don’t know if Chuck rises to this level, but at SD, there are situations where you have to wait in line for hours to get a ticket (no charge, just a pass) to get into a room for the panel of movie or TV folks, and then wait in line for hours again if you want a good seat.  You can’t do what Mrs. G. did because they clear the room for each new celebrity panel.  (They don’t do that for Groo related stuff) .  And the line for Adam Baldwin was not very long at all.  (btw, he seems like a very nice, down to earth guy and was surprised when I told him how much I liked his very first movie “My Bodyguard” from 30 years ago.)  

Unfortunately there was no Quick Draw!, I guess because Scott Shaw! wasn’t there.  And much to my amazement, Mark did only six (6!) panels in three days.  I mean, I actually saw him numerous times outside of a panel room!!!!  (Btw, the lovely Carolyn was not there either.)   The Groo panel was a lot of fun and the situation before it got started demonstrated once again what a great guy Sergio is.  When he looked in the tiny room near the end of the previous panel, and then looked at the line waiting for the Groo panel, it was pretty clear not everyone would fit and that upset Sergio a great deal.  So before things got started he was bopping all around, setting up the few extra chairs that could be found and working with the con staffer to make sure everyone who could possibly get in got in.  I’m not sure how many, if any, were turned away, but it was less than it would have been thanks to Sergio.  
In addition to some funny stories we learned that the last Groo Movie deal fell through (again).  As most of you know, it basically comes down to this:  The movie folks want some creative control and all of the profits.  Sergio and Mark want all creative control and some of the profits.  Mark said that in the movies, deals get 98% done all the time, but the last 2% is murder!  Oh, well…Also the Groo Treasury & Magnor Trade paperbacks are still on hold because it’s been hard to track down the negatives/discs they are on.  But Groo v. Conan is on the way!  Sergio showed me the pencils (his and Tom Yates) for some of the pages.  The exact title has not been decided, but Groo will definitely get top billing because, as Sergio said “It is my comic!”   

Yates’ table was around the corner from Sergio’s and I met him and he seems a very nice guy.  I ran into Arturo and that was cool.  He is also a very nice guy.  Scott Hudlow, another cool guy and longtime Groopie was there with a booth selling comics just like he does at San Diego.  But I worry about Scott.  He works too hard.  When I saw him he was so busy he couldn’t stop to go to the bathroom!  Geez, Scott!  And Eric “Man of Leisure” Chun was also there and took some pictures of me and the family with Sergio.  He is a great guy too.  

And speaking of great guys, I met a very nice young self published comic book creator, Blair Kitchen, from Toronto.  His comic is a cartoony, not so super hero, The Possum.  Sergio liked his work very much and gave him some pointers and advice.  

The weather was cool enough that I had an excuse to wear my Groo Dragon jacket and Groo Thinking sweatshirt.  I must admit taking great pleasure in the oohs and ahhs I got from folks, not to mention those who were green with envy.  

That’s about it I think.  Sergio and my son Ben (the up and coming cook-someday Chef) talked about Mexican and Spanish dishes and spices and then joked a lot about how Ben is learning both Spanish food words and Spanish cuss words from the Mexican guys he works with.  It was quite humorous seeing Ben & Sergio swear back and forth in Spanish!  

Well, so much for a short report.  I hope to hear from others on their con experiences.  It is always fun.  Take care all,

Gary G. 

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