Smart Alex on the Road: More to Con-sider

Adirondack ComicFest, which was scheduled to take place Veterans' Day Weekend in Old Forge, New York, has been cancelled. Meanwhile, alternate Veterans' Day activities are in the process of being scheduled for some of the guests who had been originally slated to attend. More on that later...

Meanwhile, Detroit Fanfare is just around the corner, slated for September 24-25 at the Cobo Conference and Exhibition Center. Setting this convention apart from the rest is the presentation of The Shel Dorf Awards, previous winners of which include Carl Lundgren, Marvin Giles, Greg Theakston, and Stan Lee. The events include some of the usual costume contests, auctions, and raffles, but also an art contest and Shots for Sketches in which some of the pros attending will draw to raise money for charity. Most importantly, the Detroit Chapter of the American Red Cross will be on hand to accept donations- financial or, if you can handle a needle and spare a clean pint, hemolitic. Guests also include many illustrious sorts like Larry Hama, Tom Orzechowski, Billy Tucci, and perhaps literally hundreds more.

Smart Alex On the Road: Suitcase Con-tents

Okay, so I thought I'd run out of bad convention-related puns, but I was recently shown a video that absolutely rocked this Indiana Jones fan's world. It also got me thinking about the various souvenirs offered not just by merchants, but by the conventions themselves, or the unique sales and gifts artists may offer just for conventions.

Let's start with the free tables. A Memorial Day weekend spent in Missoula, Montana can net you a good haul of free sci-fi, fantasy, and horror books at MisCon, even at the end of the weekend when the table's relatively picked-over. The free table at Nampa, Idaho's Fandemonium practically overflowed with a variety of movie posters. Every convention with a free table seems to offer up something different, reflecting something of each convention's unique character.

Fandemonium also featured young aspiring manga artists giving out free, hand-drawn stickers. Chicago Comic Con also netted me a lot of free bookmarks, of which I seem to find myself in constant need, including one for the Explosive Comics Kickstarter project. Individual artists and merchants abounded with unique deals. Besides the raffle for original Dan Jurgens art, Heroes Fallen Studios offered free prints from Untold Stories from Iraq and Afghanistan to veterans who came by their table at Chicago Comic Con. I was also able to spot fantastic deals from the comic book retailers at Fandemonium and Chicago Comic Con. (Ungraded, readable 1940's issues of The Spirit for twenty dollars!) Star Wars Celebration has been well known over the years to offer limited edition toys for those willing to brave the lines, free finds for the sharp-eyed souvenir-hunter, and some of the best costume contest prizes I've seen at any convention.

Some might think that after all the conventions from which I've returned with my suitcase much heavier, I'd be rather blase about more stuff, but Matt Busch's complete reference work of all things Indiana Jones on one poster has me geeking out on behalf of everyone who can get their hands on it at Adirondack ComicFest.

Smart Alex On the Road: Con-flicting Schedules

Since I'm running out of bad puns, perhaps it would be best to take a break from the convention circuit for a little while and rest. Nonetheless, I was indeed presented with an interesting conflict- SpoCon and Chicago Comic Con occurred on the same weekend, and since I'm not Jamie Madrox and can only be one place at a time, I had to choose.

SpoCon offered the same coziness and familiar craziness I've come to enjoy about the smaller conventions, particularly those of the American Northwest. Though some of the faces, like that of the multitalented Tanglwyst de Holloway, were familiar to those who attended Fandemonium just the weekend before, SpoCon also featured some different offerings.

Moving the event to the Doubletree Hotel went over well with convention-goers, as did the greater emphasis on events for children. As always, the writers' workshop proved a source of sage advice for the aspiring author. Of course, that's to be expected when the likes of John Dalmas and Patricia Briggs attend. The inclusion of an actual writing contest provided further incentive to get involved. Congratulations especially go to Esther Jones, Scott Janke, Natalie Rogers, Greg Schneider, Margaret Lang, Kaye Thornburgh, and Brianna Harper.

Spokane also boasts an active and imaginative filk scene. I very strongly regretted not being able to listen to or participate in any of the informal jamming that took place there. Thankfully, Chicago Comic Con had...

Ethan Van Sciver, almost as famous (or notorious, depending on your outlook) for his musical interludes as for his work with DC Comics. So it's not like we were left musically bereft in Illinois.

The masquerades and costume contests at both SpoCon and Wizard World Chicago featured a variety of talent and much hilarity, but my favorite of both conventions has to be...



...Voltron!

A whole murder of ghoulish characters also roamed both conventions, though the presence of Walking Dead cast members such as Norman Reedus and Mike Rooker seemed to attract a more substantial horde to Chicago.

Firefly fandom was also well represented with the Browncoats of various affiliations present at both. I have mentioned before the charitable work the Seattle Browncoats have done. Unfortunately, I did not get to spend as much time as I would have liked with their Chicago counterparts and learn more about what they were doing. However, a couple of tables down from them, Heroes Fallen Studios boasted a table full of copies of Untold Stories from Iraq and Afghanistan for purchase and original artwork donated by Dan Jurgens for raffle to benefit numerous veterans' organizations. They reported having a weekend full of fun, some tears shared with veterans or their families, and great success.

Now that I've finally returned safely to the middle of nowhere and recovered, I can safely say the same while I rest up and shift my gaze to upcoming conventions. Some interesting developments have cropped up about November's Adirondack Comic Fest, for instance. Valerie Finnigan, Clayton Murwin, and Michael Kellar will not appear there. On the other hand, John "Waki" Wycough and Chris "Batjeepster" Hollars have recently joined the list of those slated to attend. Stay tuned for more updates.

Also check here for Jeff McLelland's report and pictures from Baltimore Comic Con.

Smart Alex on the Road: For Your Con-sideration

One does not need to be a comic book enthusiast or sci-fi fan to be familiar with the phenomenon that is the convention. Everyone who knows anything about pop culture knows about San Diego Comic Con- and how far it’s branched out, for better and for worse, from being just a comic book convention.  Many people only a little more in the know may be aware of Dragon Con (Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, GA),  Charlotte, North Carolina’s Heroes Con (always the first weekend in June), and the various larger conventions in New York City and Chicago. Those require little to no mention here. This traveler has nothing against the bigger, better-known conventions. I sometimes like getting lost in a crowd that’s more or less as geeky as I am. It’s also nice to get off the beaten path and find what unique delights the warm but sometimes hardscrabble little communities on the back roads have to offer, which is why I’ll be devoting my attention primarily to deserving but lesser-known events.

Since 2005, Nampa, Idaho has had the honor of hosting Fandemonium, the state’s biggest and best event for gaming, sci-fi, fantasy, comics, and all other things geeky. It always being the first full weekend of August, it’s coming right up, and this year’s convention promises to provide a weekend full of fun and whackiness. Guests of honor include comic book artist Jacob Bear, RPG creator AJ O’Connell, costumer and fantasy author Tanglewyst de Holloway, filkers Tiger and Rose, horror troupe The Brothers Thir13en, Custodians of Otakudom, comedian AlejAndro Anastasio, and for everyone who fancied himself a Renaissance man or just wanted to get medieval, the Barony of Arn Hold.

Last minute update- If you can't make it up north for Fandemonium, you can find something especially unique August 6 in Texas at STRIP: The Dallas Webcomics Expo. In addition to hosting a variety of guests from web comic creators to filmmakers, the Expo promises a variety of activities for all ages, such as an opportunity for kids to create their own comic strip, a live art show, cosplay and costume contests, and a book drive to benefit the Half Price Books Literacy Program .

The very next weekend, the travelling fan may find it convenient to head to Spokane, Washington and see what all SpoCon has to offer.Guests include actor, stuntman, and prop maker Dragon Dronet, JourneyQuest producers The Dead Gentlemen, artist Dan Dos Santos, and Mercy Thompson author Patricia Briggs. The dealers’ room offers the usual selection of gaming supplies, jewelry, art, and a wide variety of books. I should make special note of Cari Corene, who will promote her web comic Toilet Genie, and the Seattle Browncoats, who will provide an assortment of Firefly-related items, entertain with a good impression of Captain Malcolm, and do it all for good causes such as Equality Now and Northwest Harvest. Fan tables will be hosted by The Camarilla, Palouse Board Gamers, Realms of Avalon, the Star Trek INSFA, and everyone’s favorite “bad guys doing good,” the 501^st.

After all the fun of two conventions in as many weekends, you may want to take a break for a while, maybe stretch out the summer a bit, and then get away to the Springmaid Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Perhaps you’d like to give yourself a Halloween treat at X Con. Featured guest Dr. Bob Boan will give a straight presentation on defending the earth from alien invasion.  Martin Croker of Adult Swim will also be among the “usual suspects” slated to appear.

Last for now but not least, if you’re looking to get away for Veterans’ Day weekend, a trip to the Adirondacks may be just the thing- specifically for Adirondack ComicFest in Old Forge, New York. The convention starts November 11 with free admission for that day for all veterans with proof of service. The morning promises to kick off with a veterans’ breakfast and opening ceremonies particularly appropriate for the occasion. Among those slated to appear are actors Tyler Mane and Nick Jones, and artists Matt Reynolds, Ben Dunn, Dave Hoover, and Arvell Jones. As is also particularly appropriate for the holiday weekend, some of the writers and artists behind the groundbreaking benefit anthology Untold Stories from Iraq and Afghanistan are set to appear. (And that is the subject of a whole upcoming entry in the “Comics for Causes” vein. Proceeds from this book's sales go to the USO, Wounded Warrior Project, Fisher House, and Soldiers' Angels.)
 

I also know for a fact that there are a plethora of conventions that I have not yet mentioned. If you’d like to share something about an upcoming event, by all means, help your friendly neighborhood unsung, off-the-beaten-path convention out and share. I’ll be happy to spread the word.