April 18th-19th, 2009 - The annual Toronto ComiCON Fan Appreciation Event, put on by the great people at Hobbystar Marketing, has come to pass for 2009. This was such a great event, and that was the feeling I had not too long into the first day of the con. This was the general feeling I had going into the con, and I can truthfully say, this con had exceeded my expectations.
This comic-filled weekend actually started on Friday. I managed to get the Friday night off, to head out to dinner with Doug Mahnke, Jon Jespersen (Signature Comic Art, art rep for Doug Mahnke and many others), and more (sorry guys, figured you'd prefer I left you out). Great night out, which ended with me picking up my first original art page of the weekend, and very little sleep. It is a page from JLA #84, which contains DC's Trinity (Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batman).
Saturday April 18th, 2009
The next morning, I was up at 5AM, to get to the convention centre by 7am, so bro can get to the CN Tower Stair Climb for WWF Canada. Because of this, I figured I might as well head down to the con, and help set up the All New Comics booth. Unfortunately, circumstances lead to me helping set up the con, and I was just a little too late to help set up the booth (sorry Peter, I really was there to help you, but you guys worked really quick).
I ended up helping out Carlos at Shockwave Comics (Thank you for taking care of the Tribute book for me), and helping out with the con, before opening. After doing this, I only experienced a fraction of what convention dealers go through, for the consumers. This was a new experience for me, in which I have a new found respect for their hard work.
I started the con off with Todd Nauck. I figured he was going to be a busy one (especially after the release of Amazing Spider-Man #583, the Obama issue), so this ended up being a good choice, as he was one of the first to arrive. Todd surely showed his excitement towards the fans that came to see him. I never saw him without a smile on his face.
The Zatanna by Todd Nauck was the first of many Zatanna pieces I received throughout the weekend.
I made my rounds, getting onto sketch lists, and found my way over to see Chris Sprouse. The table also contained artwork that was priced to move. I was seriously contemplating purchasing some pages, but it was still early in the day, and I never took into account the possibility of purchasing these pages, into my budget, so it was going to have to wait.
The Joe Shuster Awards table was seated back-to-back with the Awesome Marcus Ninja table, which turned out to be a key seating arrangement (for me, on Day Two), even though I never watched the JSA table on Saturday. I did frequently stop by the area, and was given this "Awesome" piece of Awesome Marcus Ninja, by Shane Heron.
I wish I could show you now, but I can't. I can say (at least I think I can say... but if I can't, I'm going to say it anyways). Shane Heron's contribution to this year's Visions of an Icon gallery, which features Wolverine as this year's Icon, is absolutely amazing. When I saw the pencils for this piece, I blown away. Then I saw the final inked piece, and holy crap, this is something you have to see. If this isn't previewed elsewhere, be sure to come check it out at the Visions of an Icon gallery.
The rest of the day was mainly me playing the waiting game. So this time did allow for a slight break for lunch, and a little bin diving (which was later in the day). I actually only went to one booth all weekend to look for some books (All New Comics). They did have some sweet books!
One of the first pieces I got back, was the Mary Jane/Spider-Man Kiss piece, by Agnes Garbowska. This was an idea that I had thought of the night before, while driving home from the dinner. I have another idea that I have been kicking around the ol' noggin, but I can't figure out the characters for that idea. This idea, popped in my head, while in a half-asleep state. Definitely woke me up, because I wanted to make sure I wrote down this idea, when I got home. As always, Agnes produced another amazing piece.
Going back to the Zatanna theme, I did pick up another two that, from those that I got on sketch lists for. One was Valentine De Landro (X-Factor), which I knew would turn out great, especially in Valentine's style.
The other was by Jeff Lemire (Essex County Trilogy, The Nobody), which was something that I was looking forward to seeing in Jeff Lemire's style.
I am really happy with how they both turned out.
I noticed that Ty Templeton had arrived, and I quickly joined in line for him, to soon be followed by good ol' Milo (Digital Kontent). This man is full of knowledge and advice.
I was debating whether to continue my Zatanna theme with Ty, or go with someone that I had been hoping to get for some time now. Based on the picture to the right, you can tell that I had opted to put off the Zatanna by Ty Templeton until another time, as I was hoping to get a Black Cat for over a year, but continued to put her off for other characters.
Evan "Doc" Shaner was someone that was looking into last Tuesday, when the full guest/artist alley list was released. I noticed names that I didn't recognize, so like I usually so, I looked into them. I noticed some great stuff on Evan's blog and DeviantArt site, so it appeared that I was going to get something from him.
I do really like the sketch I received, but sadly, I made the mistake of not going for a full figure piece from Evan. I saw so many great full figure pieces, which did make me want one as well. Hopefully Evan does make the trip to Toronto in the future.
I am utterly speechless with this piece. This seriously blew me away, as I was not expecting anything near this amazing. I'm only showing a preview of it here. Click the leg or the stool, to see this magnificent piece.
Major Thanks to Steve Epting for this amazing piece. I absolutely love this one.
Bro and I decided to call it a night then. I wanted to attend Rob and Jenn's Engagement Party/After Con Party, but I was so out of it by the end of the con. I had a huge headache, and was so tired, that mixing in alcohol and driving afterward, would not have been a good mix. I'm really sorry for not coming, which also led to bro not going, since I was driving.
Sunday April 19th, 2009
After a better night of sleep, I was up and getting myself ready for the con. Didn't really have a game plan for the day, as I did get a good chunk of what I was trying to accomplished at the con, done with.
Then I get a phone call from Joe Shuster Awards Co-Executive Director, James Waley, about watching the table at the beginning of the con... ugh, I had to answer the phone... :p
Nah, I didn't mind watching the table. It was a new experience, working behind the table... and sitting down on a chair, behind the table, instead of taking one and putting it at the front while waiting in line for sketches. For a good chunk of the first couple of hours, I was just standing behind the table. Seriously, it didn't feel right, being behind the table, and sitting (also, the chairs at the convention centre kinda suck).
Sunday was also more of a "pick-up" day, since I still had three sketches that still had to be worked on, from the day before. Bro also decided to watch the table, if I had to leave at anytime to check up on stuff.
Sunday was a much busier day than Saturday, as Sunday was the Fan Appreciation Day, so free attendance (or $10 entrance fee, in which you get a $10 voucher that could be used at any table/dealer at the con).
It wasn't too long into the day, when Marcio Takara waved me over to pick up this beautiful Black Cat. I had gotten onto the sketch list somewhat late in the day on Saturday, so it was one of the three that was completed on Sunday.
This one by Joe Benitez was another that I was picking up on Sunday. Ever since seeing bro's Supergirl by Joe Benitez, that he got at last year's Motor City Comic Con, I had to get something. Though I opted for just a headshot, instead of the bust, and I am really happy with this one.
The Zatanna by Doug Mahnke was the last one I had to pick-up on Sunday. This was something that was arranged on Friday, and was completed Sunday afternoon. I also ended up picking up another page from Doug's JLA run. The page has Superman, Wonder Woman, John Stewart, Krypto, and others.
Big Thanks to Doug Mahnke and Jon Jespersen, and really nice meeting you both!
Immediately after, got a text message from bro, saying that Richard Isanove had arrived. Due to him being under the deadline, he missed the first day of the con. He is such a nice guy, and was happy to be able to make it for the fans of Toronto (the city he now lives in).
Many people were waiting to see him, including myself. The bulk of my books to be signed this past weekend, were for him. Well, it looked like the bulk of my books, but it was really a small amount... of hardcovers... heavy hardcovers... that I thankfully left in the car, until I found out he was here.
Richard Isanove was cranking out some beautiful sketches for people. I only saw a few, but these were simply amazing stuff. I didn't really have a character in mind, but opted for Spider-Man, after his colouring work for the Spider-Man: One More Day story. I was really happy that I did choose Spider-Man, because it turned out great.
An artist that I had been meaning to get a sketch from for a while now was Vince Sunico (of Spent Pencils Studios).
I had seen a lot of great work from him, but sadly, just never found my way around. Being at the Joe Shuster Awards table, and seated a couple of tables down from Vince, I got to look over at some great stuff being produced. And then I sent bro over there for me... which also became a trip over for himself too. I'll let him show his sketch, while mine is just off to the left.
The last things I got during the weekend were by Jason Armstrong. I went over to his table, and saw that he was selling his original pages for a very reasonable price. I just had to go through them, and wish I picked up more. Maybe at the next convention, I'll have to go through them again. Can't go wrong with more Lobster Johnson pages.
I was also able to get a Zatanna sketch from him, to end my weekend. This sketch is actually now my opening page to my Zatanna portfolio, after moving all my Zatanna pieces (that are 9x12), to a portfolio on its own. I was arranging it alphabetically, and it worked out that this one is the opening page, which I think is great. It's also the only one that says "Zatanna" on it.
The only sketch that I did put down for, but was not completed in time, was one by Paul Rivoche. It is in the works, and I'll post it, when I receive it.
I also picked up one of Marvin Law's Captain America prints, which I think is great. I really like the colouring on that print.
After the con, I actually didn't go straight home. :) Sadly, spent way too much time deciding on where to eat... after St. Louis on Bremner was closed, due to power outage, cause by the flood in the condo it's attached to. We (me, bro, Shane, Milo, Kathryn, Brian, and several others) ended up at East Side Mario's on Front St., ate some food, drank some drinks, and then called it a night. Good times!
The entire weekend was a blast for me ('cept for the lack of sleep, in which I still probably had more sleep than others). The collection continues to grow. Got to do things that I'd normally never do at the cons (help set up for the con, help set up some booths, and working a table).
Thanks to everyone that was able to take their time to add to my collection. Thanks to everyone involved in the show (Kev, Tiz, Aman, James, Ty, and others).
Great show!
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