Paradise Comicon 2007 (part 1)
I've wanted to write about this past weekend since I got back on Monday, but I've been doing mostly cleaning due to water flooding into our garage and basement last week. We've had to take out the carpet in two rooms and some of the wooden boards in our entrance will have to be changed. What a mess.
The weekend though was the perfect occasion to forget the work waiting for me at home and just chill and enjoy what turned out to be a sunny, hot stay in Toronto.
My cousin Frank and I got on the train in Montreal at 7AM and we arrived in TO before the clock struck 12. Did I mention I love taking the train? It’s all in the legroom and the lack of stressful atmosphere.
We get out of the train station, cross the street and bang; we’re in our hotel. The Fairmount Royal York. Probably one of the nicer hotels I’ve had the pleasure of staying in since I went to the Hilton Disneyland.
The convention officially opened at 3PM, so we decide to go for a walk and grab some lunch at this little BBQ place that serves some smoking hot pork on rice that could start a 4-alarm fire.
Before we head to the convention we grab a bunch of books we’re hoping to get signed; In my bag; Absolute New Frontier, Runaways Volume 1, Pride of Baghdad, Essential Tomb of Dracula volume 1, Nextwave agents of H.A.T.E. volume 1, which I’m hoping to get signed all on the day so that I don’t have to drag them on the Saturday also (mission accomplished except for Nextwave, since artist Stuart Immonen is only there on the last two days).
As we approach the registration desk, I recognize Kevin Boyd and introduce myself. It’s great to finally meet him in person since we have been corresponding by e-mail the last two years about the Joe Shuster Awards.
Quick round of the retailers first, spotting a lot of comic book goodness which I make a mental note to come and check out later.
Who do I spot as I enter the booth sections, the lovely Liana K., fellow 2007 JSA nomination committee judge, who simply couldn’t be nicer. She offers to take me to the JSA booth. On the way we start talking about wine and the merits of the 2004 vintage in Bordeaux and the great wines coming out of Ontario and British Columbia. Beauty, brains and good taste in wine, what more could you ask for in a woman? Ed the Sock is one lucky puppet.
At the Joe Shuster Awards booth, it was a pleasure to meet James Waley, talk about the upcoming ceremony and comics in general. I promise James before I leave that I’ll help him man the booth for a while on Saturday.
Got the chance to talk quite a bit with artists Niko Henrichon (on the virtues, and differences of working for American and European publishers), Adrian Alphona (on the works of painter alfonse mucha and the suprising lack of comic book influences in his style) and of course my friend Gabriel Morrissette about the awards we’d be presenting on Saturday.
Also got the chance to chat quite a bit with Janet Heterington and Ronn Sutton about old comic book influences and the unfortunate passing of Claypool Comics’ print line.
Said hi to Craig Taillefer (probably one of the best “undiscovered” Canadian comic book artists of the last ten years), Azad (who said that Comicopia only needs to call to get some cover piece from him) and got a nice picture of Raina Telgemeier waving hello for Mike’s daughter Melyssa along with a signed copy of her first Babysitters Club Graphic novella.
Didn’t do much buying on the first day, since I was too busy talking to people, but that a matter which I unfortunately rectified on the last two days…
After the con, we headed to Red Lobster. Yes, Red Lobster. We lost that chain in Montreal some ten years back, and my cousin just HAD to eat there, for old-times sake. It was surprisingly delicious. Shrimp platter, cheese bread, ceaser salad, lobster bisque. Some really fine eating.
I’ll be back before the end of the week with part deux of my convention report.
The weekend though was the perfect occasion to forget the work waiting for me at home and just chill and enjoy what turned out to be a sunny, hot stay in Toronto.
My cousin Frank and I got on the train in Montreal at 7AM and we arrived in TO before the clock struck 12. Did I mention I love taking the train? It’s all in the legroom and the lack of stressful atmosphere.
We get out of the train station, cross the street and bang; we’re in our hotel. The Fairmount Royal York. Probably one of the nicer hotels I’ve had the pleasure of staying in since I went to the Hilton Disneyland.
The convention officially opened at 3PM, so we decide to go for a walk and grab some lunch at this little BBQ place that serves some smoking hot pork on rice that could start a 4-alarm fire.
Before we head to the convention we grab a bunch of books we’re hoping to get signed; In my bag; Absolute New Frontier, Runaways Volume 1, Pride of Baghdad, Essential Tomb of Dracula volume 1, Nextwave agents of H.A.T.E. volume 1, which I’m hoping to get signed all on the day so that I don’t have to drag them on the Saturday also (mission accomplished except for Nextwave, since artist Stuart Immonen is only there on the last two days).
As we approach the registration desk, I recognize Kevin Boyd and introduce myself. It’s great to finally meet him in person since we have been corresponding by e-mail the last two years about the Joe Shuster Awards.
Quick round of the retailers first, spotting a lot of comic book goodness which I make a mental note to come and check out later.
Who do I spot as I enter the booth sections, the lovely Liana K., fellow 2007 JSA nomination committee judge, who simply couldn’t be nicer. She offers to take me to the JSA booth. On the way we start talking about wine and the merits of the 2004 vintage in Bordeaux and the great wines coming out of Ontario and British Columbia. Beauty, brains and good taste in wine, what more could you ask for in a woman? Ed the Sock is one lucky puppet.
At the Joe Shuster Awards booth, it was a pleasure to meet James Waley, talk about the upcoming ceremony and comics in general. I promise James before I leave that I’ll help him man the booth for a while on Saturday.
Got the chance to talk quite a bit with artists Niko Henrichon (on the virtues, and differences of working for American and European publishers), Adrian Alphona (on the works of painter alfonse mucha and the suprising lack of comic book influences in his style) and of course my friend Gabriel Morrissette about the awards we’d be presenting on Saturday.
Also got the chance to chat quite a bit with Janet Heterington and Ronn Sutton about old comic book influences and the unfortunate passing of Claypool Comics’ print line.
Said hi to Craig Taillefer (probably one of the best “undiscovered” Canadian comic book artists of the last ten years), Azad (who said that Comicopia only needs to call to get some cover piece from him) and got a nice picture of Raina Telgemeier waving hello for Mike’s daughter Melyssa along with a signed copy of her first Babysitters Club Graphic novella.
Didn’t do much buying on the first day, since I was too busy talking to people, but that a matter which I unfortunately rectified on the last two days…
After the con, we headed to Red Lobster. Yes, Red Lobster. We lost that chain in Montreal some ten years back, and my cousin just HAD to eat there, for old-times sake. It was surprisingly delicious. Shrimp platter, cheese bread, ceaser salad, lobster bisque. Some really fine eating.
I’ll be back before the end of the week with part deux of my convention report.