I figure since we’re just under a month until San Diego Comic-Con that now is a good time for a thread on it!

Who will be there?  Who has been before?  Any tips or tricks to share?

I’ll be there with Baby Man and *fingers crossed* a Fire Slicer.  I’ve never been to SDCC or even the West Coast before, so I am looking forward to a week of adventure!

Does anyone know how the dealer’s room works?  Is cash king, or are credit cards accepted?  Any great places to eat (or avoid)?  Anyone interested in a meet-up?  Any other costumers?

ARGH! IHATEYOUNOTREALLYBUTIAMEXTREMELYJEALOUSRIGHTNOWIWANTTOGOBUTICAN’T!!!!!

I think that word describes my feelings right about now.

Also, POST PICTURES!

I shall be there! I’ll be there with a relatively sizeable contingent of Dr. Steel’s Army of Toy Soldiers, and for a while, will be manning the fan table thereof.

It will also be my first time to SDCC and California in general, so any tips are very welcome.

I need to check out Dr. Steel sometime.  I see him all over the place, but I’ve never taken the time to look into his stuff.

The more I read up on SDCC, the more impressed I am with this convention.  They totally have their stuff together!  Free shuttle buses?  Hospitality suite?  NICE.

What AxeCop merchandise are you most hoping to see at the con?  I have my heart set on a physical comic book.  If there’s ever a great time to surprise debut an actual book for Axe Cop, SDCC seems like the best place for it.  (Of course, if this does not happen, I will be a sad panda, but I will still throw my money at Ethan in exchange for other head-chopping goods.)

Well, Ethan has said he’s working on an Axe Cop book with a publisher, but it probably won’t be ready in time for SDCC.

I’m gunning (axing?) for a sketch of some kind, but I’m undecided as to what character!

I LOVE SDCC.  All other cons pale in comparison.  It is the con to end all cons.

I will be sharing a booth with Doug TenNapel, my good friend who created Earthworm Jim (and lots of other awesome stuff).  Here is what I plan on having available:

-a NEW Sketch book with some Axe Cop related art(including unreleased stuff for an upcoming story)
-my old sketch book which collects over 100 pages of art I am very proud of
-custom sketches (this is where you come in Mr. Bastian… but the one you ordered is on its way I promise, I just drew it the other day, just need to mail it)
-A big 22” x 39” Wexter on the Moon poster (this is not the print, it is a cheaper, less durable version)
-18 x 24 Michael Maher Axe Cop painting posters (again, not the high quality print, but a cheaper poster version)
-18 x 24 Audacity of CHOP posters
-various high quality prints
-stickers as seen on Topatoco
-Logo tees.  We will be selling Axe Cop shirts, white on black, with just the axe cop logo (with badge in the middle).
-my other books:  Chumble Spuzz vol 1 and 2, Sumo Poop, maybe the Weevil…
-if you are a Chumble Spuzz fan, Reverend Mofo T shirts.

And, though I can’t publicly say who the new publisher is yet… we are going to be handing out a free ash can to promote the Axe Cop book coming out at the end of the year.  We’re calling it the Axe Can.  It will not have anything you have no seen on the site, but it will be the first ever printed Axe Cop comic material so it will definitely be a collector’s item.

I’m super excited for Comic Con. When you come by the booth make sure I know who you are (can’t wait to see that Baby Man suit!  But I hope you don’t pass out in the heat…)

Ethan

by the way… cash is king. The only place you can use cards is at the bigger companies and book stores… but you go to con for the little guys, so bring cash.

Bring water… it’s expensive.  If you bring in a bottle of water, fill it up in the panel rooms using the drinking water dispensers.

Most good panels you will not make it into unless you are super early, and I mean like an hour.  The Hall H panels are nigh impossible to get into now that people camp out in there all day.  That said, they are pretty cool, I loved the Hall H panels back when I had time to stand in line for them.

Your feet will hurt very badly.  Do not wear crummy shoes.

Bring a sketch book.  Lots of your favorite artists will be willing to do free sketches.  Also… do not let them sketch on both sides of a page, you may regret it later.

Saturday is hell.  It’s so packed.  Just warning you.

If you are an aspiring artist, do ask for critiques and do talk to people in the industry- but do not go in thinking your xeroxed comic is going to land you a deal there at comic con.  Also… I think the portfolio reviews are mostly a sham.  If you are really good, they will find you if you make your work public enough. 

If you have any more questions, ask away.  I have been going for I think 8 years now.  My first Comic Con I went as a quiet, frightened little guy with a very bad portfolio and I discovered my favorite comic artist, Doug TenNapel.  This year I am going with multiple publishers, multiple books, and sharing a booth with Doug!  This is a good year for me.

AAAAAAARGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I WISH I COULD GO TO SDCC! The only con’s i’ve ever been to were these really small, almost no name, conventions. I hate everyone who’s going and hope you all have a wonderful time.

Awesome info!  Thanks, Ethan! 

Regarding food, do you have any recommendations or places to stay away from?  I’ve read that reservations are A+++ good ideas to beat the dinnertime rush, but is it an even better idea to eat later/earlier?  I rented a condo for my group, so I’ll be cooking several meals for us, but I’m sure we’ll still eat out frequently.

What temperatures and humidity levels are common for SDCC in July?  Weather.com is showing me some awesome weather in the 70’s with low humidity.  I don’t want to assume, so I’ll ask a stupid question - is the convention center air conditioned?  Does it feel like it has a/c, or are there so many bodies packed together that I’ll feel like I’m slowly squeezing down a rhino’s colon as I venture through the hallways? 

I went to DragonCon once and have seen things I cannot unsee.  Does SDCC have, shall we say, after hours relaxed rules on attire like DragonCon?

(Regarding Baby Man, you tell me the day to wear it, and I’ll put him on.  Baby Man and all things Axe Cop have priority for the weekend - I can wear my other costumes whenever.)

I’ve never done reservations but that does sound smart.  In general you do end up waiting for food a lot, but there is so many restaurant down there you can usually find something.  The toughest is breakfast.  If you are a breakfast lover like me, it is hard to find in that area, and the few places that have it are always packed and usually you won’t have a lot of time in the morning if you want to get to con.

I’m not good with temperatures, but it’s pretty hot outside during the day in late July.  I think it is cooler right now.  Inside is pretty well A/C’d in my recollection.

Saturday is the big costume day.  In fact I think that is when they have the big costume competition thing.  Saturday night.  I think it’s called the masquerade.  I have never gone… you cosplay people kind of freak me out.  But this is the first con anyone will be dressed as one of my characters so I’ll have to be more open minded

Ethan - 30 June 2010 05:05 PM

(this is where you come in Mr. Bastian… but the one you ordered is on its way I promise, I just drew it the other day, just need to mail it)

I think you have me mixed up with someone else, but if you want to send me a sketch anyway, I won’t argue. ;D

haha oh.  Yes some dude with the last name Bastien (spelled with an E I just realized) ordered a sketch a long time ago.  I thought it was you.  Well good.  I’ll draw you one at comic con.

The bad news is Malachai will not be there this year.  We just can’t afford it, and we figure it would be more worth it to have him down once we have a book to sell/sign.

Indeed, that second A of mine and I are a tricky lot. In addition, it’s my first name that’s Bastian, not last, so thus I’m even trickier. My last name is even more devious, as it’s French and thus has entirely too many vowels.

Oh man, I am all about breakfast.  Working in my favor is that my 10AM is the West Coast’s 7AM.  Hopefully this will lead to me getting up early enough to snag some delicious pancakes!  (I am obsessively looking at the Richard Walker Pancake House website. It is breakfast pr0n.)

Ethan - 01 July 2010 10:16 AM

... you cosplay people kind of freak me out.  But this is the first con anyone will be dressed as one of my characters so I’ll have to be more open minded

Never lose your fear of cosplayers.  It is a natural and healthy fear that will keep you safe from the hordes of crazed fangirls with paddles.  Give it time and it should develop into Spidey Sense and you can jump out of the way moments before a herd comes rampaging down the hallway.

Mr. Bastian - any chance you’ll be wearing Axe Cop to the con?  And how often do people yell at you to say their name and save Fantasia?

Yeah whoever dresses in Axe Cop costumes needs to do a group shot at some point.

Lady - 02 July 2010 08:16 AM

Mr. Bastian - any chance you’ll be wearing Axe Cop to the con?

I certainly could wear my Axe Cop costume to the con. I was waffling about it, but if we can get a group shot, that would be kind of amazing, and I’d do it in a heartbeat.

Lady - 02 July 2010 08:16 AM

And how often do people yell at you to say their name and save Fantasia?

ALL THE TURNIPING TIME ASLDFJASLDJ