{"id":3241,"date":"2009-06-25T12:17:53","date_gmt":"2009-06-25T16:17:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/craigzablo.com\/?p=3241"},"modified":"2009-06-25T12:17:53","modified_gmt":"2009-06-25T16:17:53","slug":"heroes-con-2009-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/?p=3241","title":{"rendered":"Heroes Con 2009 Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Heroes Con 2009<\/strong> was an amazing show. There\u2019s just something about the friendly, laid back atmosphere that runs through the Heroes convention that makes it so appealing. That and the guest list<\/strong>\u2026 and the panels<\/strong>\u2026 and the auction<\/strong>\u2026 and the costumes<\/strong>\u2026 and the\u2026<\/p>\n

What follows is a long, but abbreviated con report [as if THAT makes any sense].\u00a0 If you just want to see the photos<\/strong>, then click here<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 Otherwise, read on, Leon<\/strong>…<\/p>\n

I drove up to Charlotte<\/strong> the day before the show with a brief stop in Jacksonville<\/strong> to meet up with \u201cThe James\u201d, Matt \u201cPecker\u201d<\/strong> and \u201cSweet\u201d Will<\/strong>. We took two cars [in order to accommodate \u201cThe James\u201d<\/strong> protein shakes, vitamin pills, yogurt, cheese, water and other supplements — the dude has gone hard core after losing nearly 100 pounds in the past year]. The 6 plus hour ride went by quickly as we rotated who was in each car.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

We stayed at the Hilton<\/strong> directly across the street from the convention center. Hal<\/strong>, who had reserved the room, was already there. After the normal amount of visiting, blowing up air mattresses [and popping one – don\u2019t ask], we decided it was time for lights out.\u00a0 Of course we didn\u2019t go to sleep and instead got on the topic of strange sketch requests — which led to a long riff about a mythical guy who wanted \u201cGranny Goodness\u201d<\/strong> drawn the way he likes her.\u00a0 Yes, it was all silly and we\u2019d been up for far too many hours, but I can\u2019t remember when I\u2019ve laughed so hard. The laughter would die down and then someone would start up with \u201cI want ya to draw Granny Goodness<\/strong>\u2026\u201d and then we\u2019d all be howling again. Guess you had to be there.<\/p>\n

Friday<\/strong> at the show I was able to pick up sketchbooks<\/strong> [with head sketches] from Francesco Francavilla <\/strong>and Gene Gonzales<\/strong>. I also picked up a model sheet that Dick Giordano<\/strong> had drawn prior to working on the Demolition Man<\/strong> comic adaptation. I saw Craig Rousseau <\/strong>and dropped off reference for a sketchbook sketch<\/strong>. I visited with Evan Bryce<\/strong> and gave him reference for a sketch. I met Chris Samnee<\/strong> for the first time and entered his Heroes Initiative Charity Raffle<\/strong>. I got autographs from: Eric Powell<\/strong> in my Goon: Chinatown<\/strong> hardcover, Ed Brubaker<\/strong> in my Sleeper<\/strong> trade and Ivan Brandon<\/strong> signed my Viking #1<\/strong>. I talked a bit with Steve Niles<\/strong>, but he\u2019d already signed my novels. I also made it a point to stop by and say hello to all of the guests that I knew. It\u2019s always great to see them again. Everyone said that they were having a great show.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cSuperman\u201d Dave<\/strong> set up dinner for us at the Fox and Hound<\/strong>. I\u2019d never eaten there, but enjoyed the food and company. In addition to \u201cSuperman\u201d Dave<\/strong>, there was \u201cThe James\u201d, \u201cSweet\u201d Will, Matt \u201cPecker\u201d, Zack and his soon-to-be-wife, Gary McKee, Jason Walker, Matt Haloub, Tom Fleming <\/strong>and at least 8 or ten others that I didn\u2019t know. On the walk back to the hotel, we ran into Evan Bryce<\/strong>. He had his IPhone and showed me a photo of the sketch that he\u2019d done for me. Whoa! Evan<\/strong> is a really talented artist, and I was expecting good things, but he went beyond my expectations.\u00a0 I’m saving the scan of Evan’s Stallone sketch<\/strong> for a separate post soon to come.<\/p>\n

On Saturday<\/strong> I set up sketch commissions<\/strong> with Robbi Rodriguez, Andy Kuhn<\/strong>, and Jeff Wamester<\/strong>. I picked up my Craig Rousseau sketchbook\/sketch<\/strong>, and Evan Bryce sketch<\/strong>. \u201cThe James<\/strong>\u201d was impressed with Evan\u2019s piece<\/strong> and so I introduced him to Evan<\/strong>. \u201cThe James\u201d<\/strong> being the sketch master<\/strong> that he is, set up a watercolor commission<\/strong> with Evan<\/strong>. I bought Jason Walker\u2019s sketchbook<\/strong> and he threw in a Demolition Man headsketch<\/strong>.\u00a0 When I wasn\u2019t visiting with artists around the convention floor and taking photos, I hung out with Jason <\/strong>and Gary<\/strong> as they worked on their commissions<\/strong>. By accident I ran into Mike and Sandy<\/strong> who put on the Florida SuperCon<\/strong>. They were there supporting Heroes<\/strong> and talking to artists about a possible appearance at the next FSC<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dinner was going to be at a Mexican<\/strong> joint across from the convention center<\/strong>. Unfortunately it was full and the place was hot. \u00a0 Since some of us wanted to hit the auction<\/strong>, we decided to split up. I ate at Fuel<\/strong> [a Heroes Con<\/strong> tradition] along with Matt Haloub, Zack & his better half<\/strong>, and Tom Fleming<\/strong>. Tom<\/strong> is into MMA<\/strong> and we had a great discussion during dinner. He\u2019s really a funny and cool guy. I was glad I got to get to know him a bit better at this show.<\/p>\n

We then headed over to the auction. Eric Cante\u2019s<\/strong> auction piece was stunning, but I had a feeling that the Frank Cho<\/strong> painting would break the previous Heroes Con Auction Record of $4,200+<\/strong>. I took several pictures and decided to tweet results of key pieces from the auction floor. The Cho<\/strong> piece ended up going for 5 grand<\/strong>\u2026 and so did the Mark Brooks\u2019 Scarlet Witch<\/strong> painting! Evan Bryce<\/strong> came in and we talked for a bit. I stuck around to the end of the auction since I wanted to see if Rico<\/strong> would win the Andrew Robinson<\/strong> painting. I was pulling for him, but unfortunately he didn\u2019t get it. I was happy to learn that Dexter Vines<\/strong> was the winner — it\u2019s always cool when someone you know wins.<\/p>\n

Matt Haloub<\/strong> and I headed back to the Hilton<\/strong>. When we entered the room the place was empty. Everyone was still out partying. Matt<\/strong> asked me my plans for the last day of the show. I said, \u201c\u2019The James\u2019<\/strong> still has a couple of pieces to pick up and that it would depend on when they were ready as to when we left. \u201cThe James\u201d<\/strong> is really excited about them.\u201d At that point Hal<\/strong> came out of the bathroom laughing. He had heard us speaking and he thought I was \u201cThe James\u201d <\/strong>and couldn\u2019t figure out why he was speaking about himself in third person. Of course that led to each of us speaking in third person.<\/p>\n

Soon after \u201cThe James\u201d<\/strong> and crew showed up at the room. Matt Haloub<\/strong> called it a night and headed to his hotel. \u201cThe James\u201d <\/strong>was feeling pretty woozy and conked out\u2026 followed by Will<\/strong>. It seemed like a good idea and so it was lights out. I was expecting some \u201cGranny Goodness\u201d<\/strong> talk, but instead we got on a riff which began\u2026 \u201cSo You\u2019ve Been Dating This Chick for Six Months\u2026\u201d <\/strong>she would then proceed to provide you with some information about herself and the question was, was the info a deal breaker?\u00a0 Some were easy [she has a vitamin B deficiency] but most were strange and totally funny.\u00a0 Again, it was one of those things where you just had to be there.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sunday<\/strong>, as I was going over my list, I realized that there were two artists<\/strong> that I really wanted to see, but up to this point had missed. Otis Frampton<\/strong> wasn\u2019t there [I later learned that his father had passed away. My condolences to Otis<\/strong> and his family] but Derek Fridolfs<\/strong> was.\u00a0 I walked over with Hal <\/strong>and \u201cThe James\u201d<\/strong> to see if Derek<\/strong> was available for a sketch. He was. I got him to do his take on Cosmo<\/strong> from \u201cParadise Alley\u201d<\/strong>, \u201cThe James\u201d<\/strong> and Matt<\/strong> liked Derek’s<\/strong> work and so they got sketches too! James <\/strong>got a sketchbook and a Batman sketch<\/strong> and Matt <\/strong>got a two figure commission<\/strong> of Zatanna and The Demon<\/strong>. I also set up a sketch with Dave Wachter<\/strong> who said he\u2019d have to finish it and mail it to me. [Dave<\/strong> has already sent me a scan of the piece — he went above and beyond on it since he didn\u2019t have it ready at the show!]<\/p>\n

Finally we said our goodbyes and packed out gear. It had been a great show<\/strong>. As I was pulling up to pay for parking [$18 a day times three days] I couldn\u2019t imagine how the weekend could have been any better and that\u2019s when the parking attendant waved us on through with no charge!<\/p>\n

I am already looking forward to Heroes Con 2010<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Heroes Con 2009 was an amazing show. There\u2019s just something about the friendly, laid back atmosphere that runs through the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":912,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","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],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3241","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-art"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3241","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=3241"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3241\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3243,"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3241\/revisions\/3243"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3241"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3241"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3241"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}