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Post by Roquefort Raider on Oct 5, 2024 9:13:21 GMT -5
I was already in my early 30s when I attended my first con: it was the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland. The most famous creator present was a young Frank Cho, but he was surrounded by friends and fans so I didn't get a chance to talk to him. (He was doing Liberty Square back then; no superhero work yet). Probably wouldn't have approached him anyway, as I'm a rather shy person when not addressing a crowd. Apart from a lame "I like your work", what could I have said? "I like the way you draw girls' ankles"?
My coolest memory of that con is of having listened quietly to Carla Speed McNeil talking to others about her work on the recently begun Finder, which I admired greatly. When she was done, she shoved a bunch of promotional material in my hands, saying good-naturedly "here! it's free!" McNeil was always generous to her fans. When I ordered some back issues from Lightspeed Press a few years later, they came with a few pages of original sketches as a bonus.
I was a bit overwhelmed by that con; I felt a bit giddy but really out of place. I'd have loved to engage in conversation with the creators present, but many of them were either pretty shy themselves or just there to sell stuff. I did have a good chat with a duo of cartoonists who had an ashcan about giant robots that fairly burst with enthusiasm. They were a lot of fun.
I find it more comfortable to be on the other side of the tables, honestly! Talking about my stuff is closer to teaching a class, so I don't feel so awkward. But that would be many years in the future!
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Post by driver1980 on Oct 5, 2024 10:03:00 GMT -5
I first attended a general memorabilia convention at the age of 14. As you might expect from me, my motivation was mainly the wrestling stall. But it was great to see so many annuals, comics, etc. And thinks I didn’t know existed, such as a Spidey magazine, a Star Trek cassette, etc.
I can’t recall the first comic-specific con I attended, but I think it was most likely a major one in London, Bristol or Manchester.
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Post by rich on Oct 5, 2024 10:13:25 GMT -5
My first was in Barcelona- I was in my late 20s by then! Would have meant a lot more to me if I'd been to one years before.
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Post by driver1980 on Oct 5, 2024 10:44:20 GMT -5
The city Barcelona or the planet Barcelona?
(A planet named Barcelona was mentioned in a modern episode of Doctor Who)
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2024 13:09:16 GMT -5
My first convention would have been in my pre-teen years...that's when Rob Liefeld and McFarlane were hot but I had no interest in either of them (I hated McFarlane Spidey)....so I'd just be visiting random tables with my brother. I think the first book I bought from a table was Witchblade #1 back in 1995. About 4 years later, I linked up with my dealer (who just turned 18 and asked me to be his right-hand girl) and we began doing a large table ourselves. I was living on both sides of the Atlantic at the time (I'm dual) but hardly did any cons in England until my 20s.
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Post by codystarbuck on Oct 5, 2024 18:56:52 GMT -5
First was a mini-con, in Augusta, GA, with Tom Lyle as the only name I recall. He drew a sketch of Sgt Strike for me and we talked a little about his work on Sky Wolf and the new Staman series. Nice guy, painful mullet; but it was still the 80s.
First honest-to-goodness real convention was The Atlanta Fantasy Fair, in 1991. Met several creative folk, got Marc Singer to autograph a picture for my sister, for her upcoming birthday, watched Marina Sirtis walk past me, inches away, looking hotter than the warp drive, in a mini-dress and heels, then laughed hysterically at her talk and wondered why the hell she was never allowed to show that much personality on Star Trek....or that much leg, come to think of it (even in her mini-skirt first season. Nice stems!
I later did the Heroes Con, in Charlotte and met a bunch of people and a Gen-Con, where I sat next to Kim Yale, while watching a panel discussion, with Peter David and William Messner Loebs and someone else who I can't recall, talking about revamps. First time I became aware that Loebs was missing an arm. Also had a trio, dressed as Klingons, going around the hall, shaking a triangle bell thing (wasn't that Vulan?) and having me looking for the nearest replica weapon vendor to buy a claymore and make same haggis. The fact that I was hung over has no bearing on the situation.
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Post by kirby101 on Oct 6, 2024 8:08:04 GMT -5
Miami 1972. I was new to being a regular comic reader and I wasn't knowledgable of much of the history. I went with my older brother and his comic collector friend. I think I got a copy of Savage Tales #1 for double cover price!
Kirby was there, I was aware of him, but not enough at the time to get in his line. A missed opportunity.
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Post by MWGallaher on Oct 6, 2024 18:13:57 GMT -5
Mine was in Memphis, mid-80's. I met Ron Wilson, Bob McLeod, and Sam Grainger. Not the biggest of names, but I got a kick out of it.
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Oct 6, 2024 18:43:53 GMT -5
I guess I’ve technically been to one con, of a sorts. When I was an undergrad one of the comic shops in Boise (there were two at the time) tried to get a con going. It was super small. No pros that I recall. It was maybe a half day. As I recall that was the one and only time it occurred. I think I bought a couple things at the auction.
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Post by Ricky Jackson on Oct 6, 2024 19:25:25 GMT -5
Probably was around 1998 in Calgary. I went to a bunch around 1998-2001 but they all kinda blur in my memory. Marv Wolfman was at one, I think the first one I attended, but I didn't talk to him or get anything signed. I was still pretty shy and socially anxious in my early 20s
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Post by wildfire2099 on Oct 7, 2024 6:42:05 GMT -5
I've only been to a couple, and none of the pop culture famous people kinds... when I was a kid (and a bit as an adult) me and my dad when to card shows all the time.. one of the people that put them on did a comic one a couple times. Those card shows often had guests for autographs, but that was never part of what we did for whatever reason.
The only time I met a pro was a PAD book signing at my local shop (the same shop recently had Jim Steranko there, but he was only talking to people buying stuff and it was prohibitively expensive.
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Post by DubipR on Oct 7, 2024 8:40:06 GMT -5
1989 was my first convention experience. I was 14 and was with my mom, visiting my aunt, who was looking to some fixtures and fabrics for a redesign of some room in her house. We met at the Pacific Design Center and it was a bust. I asked them if we could go to the Golden Apple so I look for some comics. The guy behind the counter said there's a show going on today at the Ambassador Hotel (long gone now). We rushed down there and I was enthralled. I don't think there were creators or celebs there sitting. But it was a huge ballroom full of vendors. My aunt even got into it as she bought a bunch of vintage TV Guides. I bought some Batman back issues and other goodies. When the Ambassador closed down, the show moved over to the Shrine Auditorium and that's where it blew up. Back in the day, where your weekend guest were not only comic creators but Schwarzenegger or Jackie Chan would sit down and sign all day.
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,197 
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Post by Confessor on Oct 8, 2024 5:25:24 GMT -5
My first and only experience of attending a Comic Convention was when I went to a small comic and Doctor Who memorabilia convention in Watford, Hertfordshire back in the early '90s. The comics for sale were mostly UK ones, which I wasn't really into collecting, and it was full of dorky looking, socially awkward, overweight men with bad body odour. I swore "never again!" and I've stuck to that. You comics people are weird!   That said, I used to regularly go to a Comic Mart in the early '90s that was held at a hotel/exhibition centre in Central London. This was purely a comic market with sellers stalls though, and was a very different experience to that one convention I attended. I only stopped going to Comic Marts with the advent of the internet and sites like eBay. The London Comic Mart is still going strong and is held every few months at The Royal National Hotel in Russell Square, London. I've been planning to go and visit again for quite some time, but haven't gotten around to it yet. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2024 9:53:26 GMT -5
My first and only experience of attending a Comic Convention was when I went to a small comic and Doctor Who memorabilia convention in Watford, Hertfordshire back in the early '90s. The comics for sale were mostly UK ones, which I wasn't really into collecting, and it was full of dorky looking, socially awkward, overweight men with bad body odour. I swore "never again!" and I've stuck to that. You comics people are weird!
Worse yet when they try to flirt with girls.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Oct 8, 2024 10:01:56 GMT -5
I attended my first convention in the early 2000s because it was only one state away and Stan Sakai was going to be there. The Usagi Yojimbo Dojo had organized a dinner with Stan Sakai that I and my family got to attend, which was pretty special. I even got to drive Stan back to the hotel and let him bounce ideas off of me in regard to the then enigmatic Lord of Owls. I still geek out about this decades later.
Back then, conventions were less overhyped and definitely less expensive. You could take a photo with the celebrity of your choice for free, and autographs rarely cost more than $20. Stan and Sergio Aragones were in adjoining booths, and both happily signed any and everything for free because they just wanted to be there for their fans. It was fantastic. I met several other creators too, as well as some of my favorite Star Trek actors. It was pretty special.
My family and I made a habit of returning to that particular convention for several years after, even befriending the promoter and several vendors. I miss it, but times have changed, and I'm not sure the convention scene of today is something that interests me. Wizard and other greedy promoters sort of ruined the whole thing for me.
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