Rebirth
Second convention of the year; and I cannot in any way begin to say just how crazy and incredible Planet Comicon was this year.
One more addition to my branding was my new sign that connects to my tabletop easel. Literally started it one day prior to the show, and the finish on the wood was drying over night when I did set up on Friday.
I got to be next to new and old friends, 86′d Studios (Bill Hook pictured below), C.W. Cooke and Bobby Bierley (phenomenal writers both of them — C.W. and I worked on the short story “Invisible” which was a part of his recent compendium issue, and Bobby writes the amazing comic series “Yellow”), and the awesome guys from CREEPZ were behind me. Out of sheer luck of the draw my table was literally just a stone’s throw from Tony Moore’s which was a great draw for all of us in our area of the con hall.
This year, Planet moved to Bartle Hall. It raised the bar, and I dare say fired a shot across the bow, signaling that Chris Jackson’s show had grown to new levels and attendance.
I remember walking in, and it reminded me at first of the organization and layout that I was a part of years ago at Chicago’s Wizard World. But the difference was this year, I was on my home turf, and I think I speak for a lot of other artists in that our pride in being a part of this show was raised after seeing all the stops that Planet Production pulled out.
Saturday started out with such a strong wave of attendees, it took my and a lot of others by surprise. At one point, I could not see the artists across from me, through the density of the people walking in front of our tables.
The second day was more relaxed, a little less people, but still busy as heck (That’s Craig, with the white beard, and Becky, right below in the foreground, from FreeCon/FreeState). I finally got a chance to wander around, get some photos and take some time to catch up with people.
Chris Stuart, from G.A.M.E. (a show I will be a part of later in October) came by with a button for me (which I put on my lanyard) and introduced himself. I had heard a lot of good things about his show, and if any of you are looking for as show to attend in October, it’s the 11th through the 13th at the Expo Center.
I managed to work on two quick works, one being a commission from a crazy cool looking game coming out later this year, the other was just a take on Skeletor, mainly done because I try to keep my drawing action visible for people that walk by.
Thank Yous and Cosplays
My new wood panel series literally exploded in popularity, and I want to thank so many of you for being so kind to give good homes to my assorted work, playing trivia games for possible discounts and just having fun with me. So what follows is a few photos of some of the people that picked up my comics, my originals, and my prints. I apologize to those of you who waited patiently, my voice was shot by the end of Saturday. Also, Roy and Amber, THANK you for lunch, that meant a lot, I would have probably fallen over from hunger, consider that commission you want FREE for helping me out. Really.
For any of you whose pictures are on here, if you want the original images for yourselves, please just drop me a line and I can send it to you.
“Bender” above found a good home with a Futurama fan (which did my heart good), I hope you guys enjoy him. Thanks man, for playing Futurama trivia with me. 
Pac-Man ghost fans. The fact that this game still garners fans this young made me so happy!
A devout Link/Zelda fan made off with one of more recent works, so I had found my first diehard Nintendo fan, would I find a Sega fan next?
Any of you that know me, know that I restore and collect Sega stuff of all kinds, and aspire to open a museum in the next 10 years or so dedicated to Sega history. So yes, when this fellow came along and one upped my love of Sega with literally skin deep appreciation for Sonic, I knew this work had found it’s new owner. The little lady there in the middle, thank you for getting that bit of art from me! And to the great gal on the right, thank you for picking up my latest issue (and the prior ones before), I hope you enjoy it!
Now you gotta appreciate a dad who hangs out with his daughter that knew Sing (Stephen Chow) from Shaolin Soccer!! This is what it’s about. When you do shows and you see generations of family being a part of the attendees. Now the earliest one in my wood panel series also found a home with a young lady who loved the red hair. How could I say no? So Ruby went to her new home.
Annaliegh from the website SciFi4Me.com was awesome enough to pick up the first 3 issues of Pagan Zoetrope and spiffed up her shirt with some pin advertising for me! I also like doing these shows because I have a chance to do portfolio reviews, and this fellow on the right after I had looked at his very promising portfolio (hope Bill Hook was able to help you out some on what you want to do) picked up my series as well. Thank you both for the conversations and talking. That’s always one of the things I like about conventions, is that I look forward to the people I will get to meet.
Finally Sunday, I managed to get a shot of what had been the BEST Hawkwoman cosplay over the years I’ve seen, and a slew of other ones around the con, including…
It’s 6am as I write this, so I’ve forgotten the character’s name on the left, but the Sarah and Terminator cosplays on the right were just so cool!
Swedish Chef and Chicken literally made me laugh out loud when I saw them. Then, the first of what seemed like a proliferation of Predator appearances around the hall…
As he posed with pirates and children…
Then my favorite cosplays of the convetion had to be Flash and Firefly, two great and friendly guys that are part of the organization “the Finest” (a Joe/Cobra cosplay group). Then those predators were at it again, attempting to collect another trophy.
And more great cosplay, including an awesome Captain Planet (who really came in close behind Flash and Firefly as a favorite).
About this time the predators went after Green Lantern…
And I was taking a picture with whom I was told was Harley Quinn, but I’m not so sure.
Now in the world of Star Wars, I am a huge fan of the Sith, and both Chad and David did fantastic jobs bringing these Sith to life.
There was ONE cosplay that was awesome that I did not get a photo of, and that was of the red suited Wonder Woman (who I thought would make an amazing illustration). The crowd was so crazy that by the time I got to where she was doing a shot with Mr. Freeze, they were both gone. Speaking though of Mr. Freeze…
Wandering around the vendor’s area, I managed to find some Lego minis that I had been looking for for a long time, Mr. Freeze for my brother, and Maul and Savage.
But the main goal for me this year was to get my Dave Dorman cover art issue of Death Sentence signed if I was able to meet Ray Park, who was Darth Maul, Toad in X-Men, Snake Eyes, and the Headless Horseman in Sleepy Hallow.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
I want to thank Ray Park for coming out and being utterly awesome. We talked for just about 15 minutes, and the input and thoughts on Wushu, Drunken Style Boxing, Bruce Lee, Capoeira that you had, will last me for a long time indeed. Thanks for signing my comic, for the time you spent here at Planet and being cool enough to hang around after the show as well. The excitement speaking about martial arts was mutual on both sides of our conversation Mr. Park. 
Yes, when so many of the other guests were gone already, Ray was cool enough to hang around afterwards with members of the 501st and pose for photos. An inspiration and worthy idol for me indeed.
So, in closing, there will more announcements for upcoming shows as I get them. But for now, I am still on the incredible high that Planet was this weekend. To all of you that came out to the show (friends old and new), those of you that own/bought my art and books, for wanting to take pictures with me or ask me to sign stuff (eternally humbling), and especially for one unexpected yet beyond meaningful a-10 Tank Killer award I was given.
I thank you all for showing up and supporting not only me, but all of the other creators at Planet this year.
The show was huge in so many ways, but it kept that independent and creative vibe that none of the big corporate shows can do.
Until next time, support your local artists and shows, be kind to all, and have fun. Up the irons my friends, – Mario, the Artisan Rogue