So I’m going down the escalator into HeroesCon on the first day, and it’s a little bit awkward because I’m carrying my poster-sized blow-up of the Count Dante ad, and this guy right behind me notices it.
“Hey, is that for sale?”
“This?” I say, nodding to the ad. “Nah, this one’s mine. It’s… precious to me.”
“Oh, that’s cool. Hey, are you Chris?”
“Yeah?”
“Hey man, I’m Matt Fraction.”
I think it’s safe to say that from that moment forward, HeroesCon was freakin’ awesome.
It was, without question, one of the most fun weekends I’ve had in quite some time, and that’s only partially because I was wearing a badge featuring Batroc Ze Leapair for three days. Like I mentioned, I was ostensibly there with Jim Shelley to promote Flashback Universe and my upcoming story there, but to be perfectly honest, I spent most of my time just bumming around the show trying to fill out my Legion run. And yes, as you may have read over at Phil’s, I did indeed spread them out on my bed at the hotel and roll around on them like Scrooge McDuck.
That, my friends, is just how I roll.
Of course, that’s not to say I didn’t spend some time at the booth, too, no matter what you may have heard from Jim. See? I’ve got evidence.
That’s me in the front hogging the spotlight, and behind me are frequent ISB commenter Dr. K, “Rad” Chad Bowers, Flashback artist Pierre Villeneuve, and Jim there on the right.
Pierre, incidentally, is one of the nicest guys I ever met, in addition to being a pretty fantastic artist. The guy spent 27 hours on a bus to get to Charlotte from Quebec, and was funnier and more charming right after that ordeal than anyone probably has a right to be.
As for me, I ended up doing a surprising amount of what could probably be considered the worst sketches ever for people, including a Shrinking Violet to remind Johanna Draper Carlson of her cosplaying days, and a pretty awesome “Hulk eating a sandwich” for a friend of Matt Wilson.
Yes, that’s right: CRACKED Magazine‘s MW himself, and in addition to being every bit as funny in real life as he is on his blog, he’s also the first person I’ve actually met from the magazine. Clearly, this was a meeting that had to be recorded in a photograph attempting–at my suggestion–to parody the Camp David Accords:
It’s the new face of Internet Comedy, suckers. Believe it!
Also, in one of the most surreal moments of my life, I did a sketch for Cliff Chiang.
Let’s go through that one more time: I, a man so bad at art that he had to rip someone off just to do stick figures, did a sketch for Cliff Chiang, the mind-blowing artist of Human Target
Incidentally, it was a picture of All-Star Wonder Woman uppercutting a bear.
It wasn’t all crayon drawings and Legion back issues, though: I caught the DC Nation panel on Saturday, and I’ve got to say: Dan Didio is a really likeable guy on those things, even when he gets to the point where I’m pretty sure he’s totally lying about the Flash. He’s extremely affable and if he’s not genuinely excited about the things coming up from his company, he’s awfully good at acting like it. I didn’t manage to ask (read: totally chickened out) why he said Swamp Thing couldn’t cross over to the DCU because he was a “Mature Readers” character when the biggest DCU story of 2004 featured Superman on the cover of a book where a character got raped on the freakin’ Justice League Satellite, but I did ask whether we were ever going to see that last Bob Haney Teen Titans story with art by Mike Allred that they have just sitting in a drawer somewhere.
Answer: No. There is, as it turns out, no balm in Gilead whatsoever.
The biggest news, at least for me, was that Dwayne McDuffie’s going to be coming on Justice League, thus ensuring that a) Firestorm’s going to be on the team, and b) that book’s actually going to be readable again.
After the panel, I was walking back to the booth when a mini-comic caught my eye with a title that I just had to ask about: Ninjasaur. I walked over, picked it up, and leafed through while I had the following conversation with creator Jason Horn:
“So, he’s a dinosaur that is also a ninja?”
“Yeah, and he fights a ninja who is also a Nazi.”
“SOLD.“
Of course, the best part of the con for a fan–aside from finding out that there is, in fact, a such thing as the Bizarro Legion–is getting to meet the creators, and they were great. I got to fulfill a lifelong dream of meeting Kyle Baker (and got an awesome sketch of Cowboy Wally) and got John Workman to put a big “KRAKADOOM!” in my sketchbook. And appropriately enough, that one comes right after a piece by Don Rosa, where I requested “Donald Duck as mad as he gets.”
Really, everyone was great, but I just have to say: Matt Fraction and Jeff Parker are probably two of the nicest guys I have ever met in my life.
I posted my picture with Parker last night, but what I didn’t mention–at least, to you guys; I totally told Campbell–that the sign was actually his idea, and that he wrote it after he literally jumped over his table when I asked to get a picture with him. And that was after he did a great sketch of the happiest MODOK anyone has ever seen for me.
As for Fraction, man, that guy is on point. At one point, I was loitering over at his booth when someone brought over a Marvel Encyclopedia that he was getting Marvel creators to sign the title page of, and I pointed out that Christina Strain–the awesome colorist of Runaways among other things–had caught onto the fact that it looked just like a yearbook, and written “Have a great summer,” to which Fraction responded with the classic:
2 Be
4 Gotten
Long story short: I now have a copy of the Casanova hardcover that advises me, on the title page, to Raise Hell This Summer. Those guys are awesome.
(NOTE: This picture may have been edited to further convey the sheer amount of radness it is depicting. Not pictured: Ten thousand wailing guitars)
Special thanks to Dr. K for providing a picture of me with Matt Fraction where I do not look like a platypus.
Gee Chris,hope you didn’t screw up those Legion issues-what if you want them graded someday?
Glad you had a great time.
Oh,my sweetie has a question-just how annoying was that guy at the Dc pane? (the one who kept yammering about jason Todd)
Not to worry, Nina: They were bagged and boarded.
Oh, and by the way, I got that thing you sent me.
Huh. You look less like Jimmy Kimmel in these photos. Perhaps it is Jeff Parker who brings out your inner Kimmel…
I look forward to the mind-melting insanity that will follow when your Legion collection finally includes the one and only appearance of Doctor Mayavale.
He might even be better than Bizarro Computo.
Is that a lens flare on that Fraction pic, Christopher?
Greg Adams would be proud.
You should totally post all of your sketches from the con.
And I left out the part in my blog where Matt Fraction told you the you both shared the same hobo father, cause I thought you would put it here.
And why do you look so solemn in all the pictures? Cheer up!
Sounds like you had fun!
And sorry to Gay-Up your blog but hot damn, you’re good-lookin’!
Funny, cute and straight.
WHERE’S YOUR JUSTICE NOW?!
Oh, and yeah, we wanna see the sketches!
Sorry I missed you at the con. I went by the booth, but you must have been cruising for Legion goodness. Although I live in Charlotte, this was the first time I’ve actually been able to make the con. I was going to not go and just sleep in, but my three sons dragged my sorry butt out of bed and made me go. I think they might have had a better time than I did.
My only real regret was that I didn’t get to see any preview Solomon Stone.
Are you and Fraction doing a rock lock?
Also, I completely plan on scanning my signed Chris-Sims-original of Captain America crying and posting it sometime this week.
It’ll me an ISBMW Crossover Event!
I really hope you upload some Ninjasaur pics in your next post.
Also, one of the very few things I’d gladly move to the US for: mega freakish geek conventions.
Cool you enjoyed the ride. Heil!
Looks like you are having fun. Congratulations, and keep training your shiny finger power!
Chad Says:
Is that a lens flare on that Fraction pic, Christopher?
I hope so, because the only other reasonable alternative is “Wonder Twins Power, Activate!”
Fraction and Chris are indeed doing a rock lock.
Also, it’s not a lens flare–both of them are focusing their Chi into the rock lock.
Luckily, I was able to take the picture before everything within a 30-mile radius was destroyed.
The picture of Batman uppercutting a bear (man, those bears took a lot of abuse this weekend; thanks Chris!), the copy of The Further Adventures of Jack Kirby, and the picture of Captain America kicking Iron Man in the crotch will be treasured memories for years to come.
The fact that I could not make it to this con will be my everlasting regret. I will be on my death bed looking up at the blank white ceiling above me and I will say “If only I went to HeroesCon ’07…”
You and Fraction look like you’re doing that salute/handshake thing that Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage used to do when they were the MegaPowers. You guys can fight over who gets to be who… though the look in your eyes makes it seem like you’re mere seconds away from letting out an official Macho Man “Ooooooooooh yeah!”
I bet that Rosa sketch looks awesome. I got an angry Scrooge from him at a show in Boston a few years back… that man can draw the hell out of a pissed off duck.
Your John Workman anecdote pretty much makes you the raddest fucking dude alive. Officially.
Is there a way to get a hold of Jason Horn of Ninjasaur about getting a copy? If one doesn’t have a livejournal account?
Dude, who’s the platypus standing next to Fraction?
Special thanks to Dr. Kunka for providing a picture of me with Matt Fraction where I do not look like a platypus.
And where is this picture?
Also, it’s not a lens flare–both of them are focusing their Chi into the rock lock.
…making it like unto a thing of iron!
Oh Chris Sims… you are a deLIGHT!
“So, he’s dinosaur that is also a ninja?”
“Yes, and he fights a ninja who is also a nazi.”
Best. Sales pitch. EVER.
1.) Dwayne McDuffie’s continued existence makes me happy;
2.) Ninjasaur is the best idea for anything EVER;
3.) Isn’t it time for a new Anita Blake smackdo–er, summary?
Damn! How did I miss Ninjasaur? I would have picked that up. Despite picking up some cool books I have to admit my favorite was the Wide Awake Press mini-comic – The Infinity League versus the Miscellaneous. When you have scenes like “Lovebat versus the Electric Cord” or “Madame Midnight versus the Third Place Bowling Trophy” how can you not laugh?
Hop on over to my blog to see some of the sketches I got this year in my monster themed sketchbook!
**no matter what you may have heard from Jim.**
Hey! I thought you and Chad did a swell job covering the booth!
Overall I thought the con was very good this year…
…but I’m just not mainstream. I may never be mainstream. ;)
man there were just so many lensflares
Great to meet you Chris! And thanks for the Solomon Stone Full Color Variant Edition!
Oh how I dream of being in the ISB inner circle.
Chris, your con report is great.
I have to say, having been a volunteer at the Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, that Jeff Parker is indeed super-nice guy (and is fast becoming one of my top three writers).
He gave me… I’ll say it again… GAVE me a copy of his book “The Interman” and it was one of the most underrated, awesome comics I have read.
If you ever make it out to the Northwest to put the smack-down on Dave Campbell and visit our little Emerald City Con, let me know.
It’s good to know Matt Fraction is a cool guy. Loving his work on War Journal.
Incidentally, it was a picture of All-Star Wonder Woman uppercutting a bear.
Before I read that sentence, I didn’t think it was possible for something to be the opposite of The Wicker Man.
Mr Sims, I must thank you for bringing Matt Fraction to my attention as that led to me finding out about “The Five Fists of Science!” and the very second I heard such a concept, I was on to my local comic shop to buy it!
(It took them two weeks to get it in, but the very SECOND two weeks later it came in I was there! And let me state for the record that I would read an entire book simply on the Nikola Tesla, Electric Crime Fighter concept).
Hi Chris,
It was great meeting you and the rest of the gang. (Damn I look fat on that pic) ;)
Thanks for the kind words. And I thought I was a little impatient/out of patience after my little trip.
Shows what I know.
Hopefully we will meet again.
Take care my friend.
Hey, Jason Horn here. Creator of Ninjasaur!
Thanks SO much for all the kind words.
Glad you enjoyed it :)
If anyone wants a copy I’m now selling them on my LiveJournal.
newjason.livejournal.com