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

[Shawn Nicholson]

Wow Gary, you certainly acquired a ton of information - and with a hurt leg! 
Nicely done, as always. Thank you for the report!

I can't wait for more Groo! However he may come - joined with Conan, in an 
alphabet
parade, or hidden in a puzzle - I just want more. Greedy, aren't I? Can't help 
it when
it comes to Groo.

Enjoy!

Shawn (the girl :)



________________________________
From: Gary Grossmann <garyg5678 at live.com>
To: groop at groo.com
Sent: Tue, March 8, 2011 1:15:57 PM
Subject: [Groop] Gary G.'s Emerald City Con Report


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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