SDCC 2011

WEDNESDAY JULY 20/2012

I stayed up waaay too late trying to get an earlier flight into San Diego to take advantage of the preview night, but it was to no avail. I left Toronto at 2:15 and got to San Diego at 6:45 after a quick layover in Houston. Jumped into a cab and raced to the Convention Center to meet up with my friend Craig. We spent two hours, stunned and with out mouths open, walking around the main hall taking it all in. It was amazing and overwhelming.

Managed to get one of my Marvel Masterworks signed by Neal Adams. And met and got signatures from Brent Anderson and even got a sketch of Wolverine done inside my Marvel Premiere Edition of the X-Men Graphic Novel.

At the end of preview night, we followed the massive crowds out of the Convention Center and into the Gaslamp Quarter and had a late dinner at Dick’s, which was quite an experience!

THURSDAY JULY 21/2012

Woke up early and excited and scarfed down breakfast at the hotel. After some confusion over the shuttle buses, we ended up taking a cab to the Convention Center. We got into the line for the autograph lotteries and thankfully my friend snagged one for Jim Butcher and Grant Morrison. Chatted it up with Grant Morrison, talking to him about Toronto and its crazy weather, and convinced him to sign my 3 items with a karmic promise to buy his book, SuperGods, when I got home (which I did last night!). Then I rushed down to the Avatar booth and got into the George R.R. Martin line and got a few of his books signed. Then back up to the autograph area and into the Jim Butcher line to get his autograph on a few books. Then over to the Epic Fantasy Writers line to get Patrick Rothfuss’ autograph and then over to the Grant Morrison line. Sigh!

Then got in line at the DC booth to meet up with Scott Snyder and Rafael Albequerque, the creative team behind American Vampire, which won the Eisner for Best New Series! Then back up to the autograph area and got an autograph from fantasy writer, Raymond Feist.

Went back to the Avatar booth and got into the Garth Ennis line. I was annoyed that you needed to buy from the Avatar booth to get his signature.

Took a break from the Con and headed up to Smashburger for dinner. Headed back and went to the Hilton and watched the Penn and Teller panel. Surprised the convention had closed at 7pm.

FRIDAY JULY 22/2012

We were too late in getting to the con to get in line for the Captains panel hosted by Kevin Smith as the line had already been capped. Decided to head over to Room 8 and check out the screen of the Locke & Key pilot that Fox had rejected. What a great pilot! Can’t believe that Fox passed on it. Hopefully someone will be smart enough to pick it up at some point.

Went over to Artist’s alley and got signatures from Ron Lim and Paul Levitz. Then raced over to the DC booth and hovered around the area until they formed the Jim Lee line. After that, I joined the Dave Gibbons line and got a few autographs.

SATURDAY JULY 23/2012

Met and got autographs from Alan Davis at the Marvel booth and then raced over to join the line at the booth for sketches. Got a beautiful sketch of Kitty and Lockheed.

Roy Thomas had been unavailable for Thursday and Friday, so I had to lug all his Marvel Masterwork around on Saturday. Met him at the TwoMorrows booth and got his autographs.

Hovered around the Legendary booth until they finally formed the Frank Miller autograph line. Finally got his signature and told him: “Damn you for creating this book [Batman: The Dark Knight Returns], it made me grow up in 1986!” To which he replied, “Ah, yes. 1986. That was a good year.”

Went over to the IDW booth and picked up the SDCC exclusive version of Locke & Key Volume #4 and got it signed by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez.

SUNDAY JULY 24/2012

Took the shuttle bus to the Convention Center. Decided again getting into the crazy line-up for Hall H which was hosting the Supernatural panel. Instead, got into the lottery line at the Marvel Booth for a chance to get a Nathan Fillion autograph. No such luck. Then went over to the DC booth and got into the line for the Fables group autograph panel (Bill Willingham, Steve Leialoha, Mark Buckingham, and Todd Klein). Then over to the Silver Age area where I got a few signatures from Jim Steranko. And to cap off the entire con, got into the Robert Kirkman line at Image Comics. Got his autograph and said farewell to the Con. Took the trolley back to the parking lot and dropped off the rental car at the airport. Flew to LA and waited four hours for my flight back to Toronto. Seems like I spent the entire time in line!

Kevin Hearne and I doing our best at googly eyes!

Ah Zatana!

The landing was delayed by a thunderstorm and aborted landing. When we finally touched the ground, we were further delayed as the ground crew couldn’t operate in the thunderstorm for obvious safety reasons. Finally got home just after 8am and collapsed!

BEST GIVEAWAYS: DC’s Wayne Casino poker chips

BEST SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE: Tie. Grant Morrison and Frank Miller.