{"id":15668,"date":"2016-06-24T11:00:53","date_gmt":"2016-06-24T15:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/craigzablo.com\/?p=15668"},"modified":"2021-05-22T09:44:52","modified_gmt":"2021-05-22T13:44:52","slug":"15668","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/?p=15668","title":{"rendered":"HeroesCon 2016 \/ Z-View"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/stallonezone.com\/zone\/2016\/z062416heroescon_stelfreeze_blackpanther.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>HeroesCon 2016<\/strong> was, as are all <a href=\"http:\/\/www.heroesonline.com\/heroescon\/\"><strong>HeroesCons<\/strong><\/a>, a blast. \u00a0Read on and I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll agree.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>The Pre-Show<\/strong><\/span><strong>:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Doralya and I left Thursday morning. \u00a0Several of our friends were going up early and so we decided to meet them for dinner the night before the show. \u00a0We met at <a href=\"http:\/\/mertscharlotte.com\/\"><strong>Merts Heart and Soul<\/strong><\/a>. \u00a0By we, I mean Doralya, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_JohnBeatty_\">John Beatty<\/a><\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LittleJohn312\"><strong>Little John<\/strong><\/a> and his bride <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Patwicia1\"><strong>Patricia<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/themikecross\"><strong>Mike Cross<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/kinggoji\"><strong>Richard Cox<\/strong><\/a> and his wife. \u00a0The food was good, but the company was even better.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>The Convention Hotels<\/strong><\/span><strong>:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This was the first year that we stayed at two hotels. \u00a0Usually we can either be found at the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.westincharlottehotel.com\/\">Westin<\/a><\/strong> or the <a href=\"http:\/\/hamptoninn3.hilton.com\/en\/hotels\/north-carolina\/hampton-inn-charlotte-uptown-CLTUTHX\/index.html\"><strong>Hampton Inn Charlotte \u2013 Uptown<\/strong><\/a>. \u00a0This year, depending on the night we could be found at either. \u00a0When we decided to go up early the Westin (our main hotel that we had already booked for the con) couldn&#8217;t fit us in. \u00a0Thankfully, the Hampton came through.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/stallonezone.com\/zone\/2016\/z062416heroescon_cmafia.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"156\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">People<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hung with the\u00a0<strong>Corduroy Mafia.<\/strong> at <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.heroesonline.com\/heroescon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Heroes Con<\/a>\u00a02106<\/strong>. \u00a0From left to right we have <strong><span class=\"fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem\"><a id=\"js_1d\" class=\"taggee\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/royce.thrower.7\" data-tag=\"1493652639\" data-hovercard=\"\/ajax\/hovercard\/hovercard.php?id=1493652639&amp;type=mediatag&amp;media_info=6.1322012717826038\">Royce Thrower<\/a>, me<\/span>, <span class=\"fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem\"><a class=\"taggee\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/johnbeatty5661\" data-tag=\"1250854858\" data-hovercard=\"\/ajax\/hovercard\/hovercard.php?id=1250854858&amp;type=mediatag&amp;media_info=6.1322012717826038\">John Beatty<\/a><\/span>, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LittleJohn312\">Little John<\/a>,\u00a0<span class=\"fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem\"><a class=\"taggee\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/brian.jones.7503314\" data-tag=\"100000411620716\" data-hovercard=\"\/ajax\/hovercard\/hovercard.php?id=100000411620716&amp;type=mediatag&amp;media_info=6.1322012717826038\">Brian Jones<\/a><\/span><\/strong> and <strong><span class=\"fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem\"><a class=\"taggee\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/eric.thrower.127\" data-tag=\"100000152272442\" data-hovercard=\"\/ajax\/hovercard\/hovercard.php?id=100000152272442&amp;type=mediatag&amp;media_info=6.1322012717826038\">Eric Thrower<\/a><\/span>.<\/strong>\u00a0How we gave ourselves the name <strong>Corduroy Mafia<\/strong> is a tale for another time. \u00a0<strong>Mike Cross<\/strong> should have been there but he had a long flight back to Canada.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hung with <strong>John Beatty<\/strong> at his table on and off throughout the con. \u00a0Joined by <strong>Doralya, Little John &amp; Patricia<\/strong> and <strong>Mike Cross<\/strong> while <strong>John<\/strong> sketched in his room on Friday. \u00a0A lot of laughs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Went to the start of the <strong>HeroesCon<\/strong> auction. \u00a0Saw a lot of nice art. \u00a0Happy that <strong>Little John<\/strong> won a few pieces! \u00a0It was cool seeing <strong>DMC<\/strong> from <strong>RUN DMC<\/strong> take the podium and get the crowd rocking.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Even cooler meeting <strong>DMC<\/strong> in the hotel gift shop later that night. \u00a0What a nice celeb! \u00a0Very gracious and willing to pose for photos.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/stallonezone.com\/zone\/2016\/z062416heroescon_dmc_cz.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"362\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Sketches<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Picked up <strong>HeroesCon Black Panther<\/strong> by <strong>Brian Stelffreeze<\/strong> t-shirts for me, <strong>John Higashi, The James<\/strong> and one of his friends.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Picked up sketches from <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KrayolaKidd1973\"><strong>Mike Torrance<\/strong><\/a>: 1] <strong>Jack Carter and Lono<\/strong> from <strong>100 Bullets<\/strong>, 2] <strong>Jack Carter and Marv<\/strong> from <strong>Sin City<\/strong>, 3] <strong>The Specialist<\/strong> Card, 4] Capone (<strong>Sly as Frank Nitti<\/strong>) Card and two Sly Artist&#8217;s Choice Cards. \u00a0Mike came through like a champ and selected <strong>Rocky<\/strong> from <em><strong>Creed<\/strong><\/em> and <em><strong>Judge Dredd<\/strong><\/em> for the Artist&#8217;s choice cards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Picked up<strong> Jack Carter<\/strong> sketch from <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UkoSmith\"><strong>Uko Smith<\/strong><\/a>. \u00a0Iconic. \u00a0Second year in a row for an Uko piece!<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Picked up <strong>Jack Carter and Lono<\/strong> piece from <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SadMeganGirls\"><strong>Megan Levens<\/strong><\/a>. \u00a0First time commission from Megan but will not be the last.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Picked up<strong> Jack Carter and Gravedigger<\/strong> piece by <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/theseersucker\"><strong>Garry McKee<\/strong><\/a>. \u00a0If you don&#8217;t know who <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gravediggercomic.com\/\"><strong>Gravedigger<\/strong> <\/a>is, you should. \u00a0Created by <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AtomicPulp\"><strong>Christopher Mills<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RickBurchett\"><strong>Rick Burchett<\/strong><\/a>. \u00a0Top of the line crime character \/ comic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Picked up <em><strong>Bullet to the Head<\/strong><\/em> mugshot by <strong>Dave Wachter<\/strong>. \u00a0The <strong>HeroesCon\/Dave Wachter<\/strong> sketch streak stays alive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Picked up <strong>Rocky<\/strong> sketch by <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/spudstudios\"><strong>Shamus Murphy<\/strong><\/a>. \u00a0Dug it so much, I went back for a bigger sketch by <strong>Shamus<\/strong> and he came through with Sly as <strong>Jack Carter<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saw <strong>Casey Jones<\/strong>, who was drawing for <strong>Heroes Initiative<\/strong>, and was able to serve as the middle man to get <strong>John Higashi<\/strong> the <strong>Audrey Hepburn<\/strong> piece he wanted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Commissioned and got a head sketch from <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JoeDellaGatta\"><strong>Joe Delgatta<\/strong><\/a>. \u00a0I love Joe&#8217;s art and the <strong>Cobra<\/strong> sketch he did for me is a real highlight!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Met <strong>Reid Beaman<\/strong> and got a <strong>Jack Carter<\/strong> sketch from him.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Met (after many mail commissions) <strong>Thomas Boatwright<\/strong> and got a <strong>Rocky and Apollo<\/strong> watercolor sketch from him.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">After hearing <strong>Little John<\/strong> talk about a sketch he got of <strong>Gargoyle on Batman on a Gargoyle<\/strong> all weekend, I got <strong>Chris Flick<\/strong> to do a<strong> Rocky<\/strong> with arms raised in victory on a gargoyle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Autographs<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Danniel Warren Johnson<\/strong> &#8211; my Space Mullet trade. \u00a0So happy for his success!<\/li>\n<li><strong>Eric Bonhomme<\/strong> &#8211; his pinup in my The Package trade<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vanessa Del Rey<\/strong> &#8211; my Hit 1955 and Hit 1957 trades<\/li>\n<li><strong>James Harren<\/strong> &#8211; my Rumble 1 and 2 trades<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Jason LaTour<\/strong> &#8211; his new sketchbook, my Noche Roja hardcover, my Southern Bastards 1 hardcover, and my HeroesCon 2016 Southern Bastards print.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Panels<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>The Inkwell Awards<\/strong> (and keeping with tradition, <strong>LittleJohn312<\/strong> and <strong>Patricia<\/strong> joined me \u2014 or did I join them?) were fun. It is always great to see deserving artists receive recognition. \u00a0It&#8217;s even better when <strong>Steranko<\/strong> is the keynote speaker!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Went to the <strong>Drink &amp; Draw<\/strong> at <strong>Buffalo Wild Wings<\/strong> on Friday. \u00a0Got a <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=chris%20flick&amp;src=typd\"><strong>Chris Flick<\/strong> <\/a><strong>Sly<\/strong> from <em><strong>Rhinestone<\/strong><\/em> sketch.<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"text_general_main\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Crime Panel \u2013 Joe Rauch<\/strong> talked crime\/noir comics, tv and movies with <strong>Justin Greenwood<\/strong> (The Fuse), <strong>John Lees\u00a0<\/strong>(And Then Emily was Gone), Rich Tommaso (Dark Corridor), <strong>Christopher Sebela<\/strong> and <strong>Ibrahim Moustafa<\/strong> (High Crimes).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The biggest surprise is that we only ate at<strong> Fuel<\/strong> once. It was good to keep that tradition alive, but not over do it.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">In closing<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>HeroesCon<\/strong> this year was huge. The wider aisles made movement easier. There were also additional sections this year with chairs and tables for con guests to sit, eat and visit.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Seeing old friends and meeting new ones is always a fun part of the show. I won\u2019t try to list them all because invariably I would leave some out.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This year I was able to talk <strong>Doralya<\/strong> into coming into the show on Sunday. We walked the floor and met a lot of artists (new and old friends).<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to <strong>Shelton<\/strong> and his crew for another great <strong>HeroesCon<\/strong> \u2014 see everyone next year!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>HeroesCon 2016 was, as are all HeroesCons, a blast. \u00a0Read on and I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll agree. The Pre-Show: Doralya and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":912,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[58,52,56],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-art","category-books","category-comics"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/912"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15668"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15668\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27643,"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15668\/revisions\/27643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}