So I went this year. Last year, I decided against going to Wizard World Toronto Comic Con. This year, it just seemed a little bit better for me, and I decided to go for at least one day. Then ten days before the con, Peter Dixon (of Paradise Comics) posted a link (on Facebook), for $5 single-day admission tickets, for Students/Faculty/Military/Firefighters/Police Officers.
I bought it. I actually bought two, though each transaction allowed a maximum of one ticket. I did two transactions, and went for two days (Friday and Saturday). Not a bad deal, when one can buy three single-day tickets, for roughly half of one single-day ticket at regular price.
Some of the last minute cancellations for the show, were Jeff Parker (passport expired), and Mark Texeira (problems with crossing the border, I believe).
I started off Friday, at work. Unfortunately, with March Break, and the hectic times at work, my manager asked me if I could work part of the day, even though I had booked it off. With the show starting at 4pm, instead of 12pm (like last year), I was able to work half of my shift. It was really to get the opening duties done, so it'd be less hectic for the 5 hours I wouldn't be there (if I was to work).
Got off work, headed home to get changed and ready for the con. Got down roughly before 3pm, and was maybe 70th in line to get in.
The first person I was hoping to see, was Mitch Breitweiser. I wanted to get on his sketch list, and I was third on the list. I was originally planning on going with a full figure piece, which seemed reasonably priced (on his website), but I opted for just a head sketch.
I received it later in the evening on Friday, and sadly, I was quite disappointed with how it turned out. I hate to say it, because I like Mitch's work, but I was not impressed with this sketch. I've seen some other head sketches, done at the show. Some were really good, some were worse than the one I got. Oh well, you take your chances with these things.
The next sketch I ended up getting (first sketch posted in this report), was by Niall Eccles. It was Milo that suggested I check out Niall, and when I read Niall's blog post about the con, I was sold.
If you scroll to just after the middle in Niall's blog post, you will see a photo with four superhero paintings. Once I saw that, I considered getting several. That did change, when I knew I spent (or was committed to spend) quite a bit at the con already.
But on Sunday, I saw Danny and K-Song over at Niall's table, and then I saw the Batgirl (on the left). I ended up picking that up, since she was one of the characters I wanted to get. With it being already done, made my decision easy to get another one.
Another disappointment for me at the show, was with Jesus Merino. Not with him personally, because he is a very nice person and a great artist. It was the marker he used to sign comics. I only brought a few books to get signed by him, because these are books that can be (and have been) signed by multiple creators. But thick wet markers on glossy covers, are not a good combination, unless you give it a very long time to dry.
Yeah, that didn't work out for me, especially when several smudged during the signing. On the plus side, it now means less books for me to bring, since the smudged signatures ruin the looks I was going for, with the multiple signatures.
Right after Jesus Merino, I got in line for Francis Manapul. I've been wanting to get another Zatanna piece from Francis, in his current art style, for a while. So, I went for it. I'm not saying the previous Zatanna by Francis Manapul was bad. Frankly, I love that one, and have it framed. Getting a new one was just something I've wanted, and it's looks fantastic.
For a good chunk of the Friday even, I spent wandering around the convention, waiting for to pick up some of the sketches/commissions I had put down for earlier. The two on the left, were the two that were finished by the end of the show on Friday. The rest, I would pick up the next day.
The Catwoman by Alvin Lee, wasn't the character I was originally planning on getting, but I realized I didn't have any reference of the other character, so I went with her instead.
The Zatanna is by Nimit Malavia (Wolverine and Jubilee Cover Artist). I find his artwork seems to be a mix of Adrian Alphona and James Jean (more of the latter), and both of those artists, I like. And with that combination, I was just looking to get something done by him.
I even picked up some original art at this show, by Marcus To. I wasn't planning on picking up any original art, but was sold on it, while looking through all of the pages and talked into. Nice addition to the collection.
That was the Friday at the con. Danny, Brian and I, headed over to Poutini's House of Poutine, after the con, for some dinner. I have been told that the poutine here is better than Smoke's Poutinerie, so I wanted to try it out. It was also fairly close to the con (short drive away).
Personally, I find Smoke's to be much better than Poutini's. There's just more selections with toppings at Smoke's. I've been spoiled. It's hard for me to just eat straight poutine. I want toppings, and Smoke's just gives me the options.
There wasn't much on my agenda for Saturday. Aside from picking up the unfinished commissions from Friday, I was there to see Phil Jimenez. I saw the line on Friday, and figured I'd see him on Saturday. Though, at the rate he was sketching, I definitely could have seen him on Friday.
Just seeing the speed Phil was going at with the sketches, and how amazing they turned out, was a treat standing in line on Saturday.
The next two, I had actually commissioned just before the convention, with W. Scott Forbes (27 (Twenty-Seven) Cover Artist). I like his work on those covers of 27, and from what I've seen on his deviantART page. Figured I'd get at least one piece by him, but his prices were reasonable, so I ended up commissioning two for myself.
This one, by Daxiong, I had absolutely no intention on picking up prior to the con. To be honest, I saw the name on the website, but I never did any research. It wasn't until the ride to the con on Friday, that I had decided to do a search for Daxiong, and liked what I saw. Then seeing the work in person at the con, I got onto the commissions list.
This was actually done fairly early in the day, but he wanted to display the commission (along with the other commissions he did) at his table, so I picked it up about an hour or two before leaving the con.
Though, after relaxing for a little bit, and unloading most of the content in the backpack, into the car, went back in to see that Ty Templeton had arrived (who was feeling a little ill earlier in the week, and did not attend on Friday, because of the illness).
I have been wanting to get a Wonder Woman sketch from him, for years. But every time the opportunity arose, I always chose a different character. This time, I was determined. And what a perfect opportunity, after he did his redesigned of the new Wonder Woman costume, that Adrianne Palicki will be donning, in the upcoming TV pilot (and most likely, series).
After that, I was just walking around the con, looking around the dealers area... which was small. Sadly, there wasn't anything that caught my eye. Nor, was there anything I was looking for in particular.
I didn't look around for too long, as I was ready to leave, and so was Danny. So we took off, and this being the last day for me at the con, I would be done with the sketches.
Or, so I thought. While Danny was looking into other artists that are at the con, so he could spend more time at the con on Sunday, he came across Adriana Blake.
She had some really cute superhero drawings on her website, so I asked Danny to get me one. Though he did, he didn't go with my character of choice. He just bought a pre-done piece, that fits into one of my collections.
So, another sketch for my collection, and I didn't have to be there for it!
Below, are the swag I walked away with from the con.
Arthur Suydam Prints
Wonder Woman print by Phil Jimenez | Zatanna print from J.E. Lozano
Sucker Punch bagThree of the prints, were the Wizard World provided prints, that some artists had on their table to sign and give away.
The two Arthur Suydam prints, were just left on his tables on Friday (he didn't show up until Saturday). Decided to take one of each, since it was just there. Glad I did, because they were gone on Saturday, when Arthur Suydam arrived, and covered four tables with his own prints.
The Phil Jimenez print I got, at the same time as getting the sketch from him.
And what was cool, was that
J.E. Lozano inked a copy of the
Zatanna sketch that Vince Sunico did for me, and then made prints of them. He gave me one of them, which is awesome!
The
Sucker Punch bag, was one of the giveaways at the Sucker Punch booth.
That was it for me at the con. I had to go back to work on Sunday, but even if I didn't, there wasn't anything for me to do, without continuing my overspends at the con.
Since I was able to do what I wanted to do at the con, it was a good show for me (aside from overspending). My only real complaint with the con itself, that I even made mention of on Twitter, was the music being played at the con.
First off, song choices, most were terrible. I'm sure others thought it was good, but that's their preference.
Second, it was insanely loud at times, for those terrible songs. Other times, it would just go so silent, that you couldn't hear the songs.
Third, as much as I like to swear, and I like rap music, playing the uncensored version of Jay-Z's "Big Pimpin'" was not one I particularly enjoyed at the convention. Frankly, because of all of the kids that were there. Poor choice of music.
There might have been another, but I can't remember at the moment. Still, I had a fun show. Whether or not I'm there next year, has yet to be determined.
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