[Groop] Gary G.'s Emerald City Con Report

[Gary Grossmann]

Hi Folks!
 
Well, I had a great time at EmeraldCityCon.  It was really odd to be at a con and only be a little more than an hour away from home.  It’s a nice sized con that can be seen in its entirety in one day.  And for you purists it is pretty much all about comics with the exception of some media celebrities headlined by William Shatner.  
 
Sergio was his lively, vital, engaging charming self. (Despite being up for 30+ hours by the time things closed up on Friday.)  He hasn’t been to Seattle for a convention in quite a while and there was a lot of pent up Sergio fandom because he almost always had a long line of folks at his table.  He didn’t have as much merchandise as he has at San Diego, but what he did have sold like hotcakes.  He had the last of the 4 lithographs, a stack of 5 Decades books, a bunch of Simpson comics, 25th Anniversary Groos, some Groo the Games, a box of Groo cards, and he had unearthed a box of (25) 25th Anniversary hats.  Everything was gone except a couple of Groo games by Saturday afternoon.  Sergio ended up getting a bunch of Groo comics from a dealer he knows just so people would have something to buy and get autographed.  When they all sold he went and got a bunch of Plops.   He also sold a number of his smaller original drawings that he either had in his portfolio, drew overnight, or drew on the spot.
 
I met Bruce Senkpiel and his Mom, Groopie lurker John Fong, and Scott Hudlow was there selling comics.  And I met Troy Brownfield, who wrote that fine article that J Brooks link us to a few weeks back.   I also met some local Groo fans that I referred to the Groop.  And I reacquainted myself with John Lustig, who does the Last Kiss jokes. So I saw a lot of cool folks.    (Although I could have done without seeing the 6’4” transvestite Wonder Woman.)   
 
Sergio proved once again why he is the real “Most Interesting Man in the World.”  There was a lady who came by who was originally from South Africa when Apartheid was still in full force and Sergio told her about the time he was there during that era (He almost had his visa revoked!)  And there was a couple who were looking through Sergio’s portfolio while he was away who noted his horror cartoons and said they had just returned from a trip to Czechoslovakia where they had seen this church decorated with human bones.  I assured them that Sergio would not only know about the church but would have visited it, and sure enough he had.  
 
I also got some good information about upcoming Sergio projects.  Now remember, this is coming from me, not ME, so I could be off base (please note the qualifiers).  
·         It seems pretty definite that Groo v. Conan #1 will be out in July.  #1 & #2 are already at the publishers.  Hopefully there will be some cool promo stuff that I will be glad to get a bunch of and send to everyone.  
·         Sergio will be doing a monthly with Bongo called Sergio Funnies that will have all the cool stuff Sergio does besides Groo: Pantomime gags, puzzles and games like he did in the later Epic Groos, “Find the 10 Whatever” drawings like he did for the Weekly World News, and true stories about himself like he has done in a number of publications.  I think it will start in the fall.  I can’t wait!!  
·         There will definitely be two new Lithographs for sale at San Diego.  I saw a couple of pieces of original art that are good candidates (Groo vs. a horde of Lizard warriors, Groo vs. a horde of warrior Women), but I don’t know if Sergio’s completely made up his mind.  I will take orders and ship them off from the con just like last year.  
·         He finally got the Magnor negatives back from Spain, so I assume an English Magnor Trade might be in the not too distant future. 
·         He also indicated that he has, or is close to, unearthing the negatives for the Epic Groos, so the Alphabet reprints may start up again finally, starting with the Groo Parade, and which from now on will have 8 of the old Epics in each volume instead of 4.  
·         On the down side, I wouldn’t hold my breath for the Groo Treasury.  
 
It’s always a blast to hang out at Sergio’s table, talk to folks while they wait in line, and watch Sergio draw and interact with his fans.  It is a very, very welcome relief from the tax laws, bureaucrats, lawyers, and legislators that make up my so-called professional life.  And this year I get to do it three times!  Yay!  Hope to see some more of you in San Francisco or San Diego. (Or both!)  
 
Take care all, 
 
Gary G.  		 	   		  
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