It is amazing how things change. I can remember going to Heroes Con when I was a kid with my dad and brothers. It was wonderful then, but just look how it has grown.
The Charlotte Convention Center was a buzz with the comings and goings of fans and artists and all the worker bees that help getting things moving. The ticket counters had lines, but they moved quick as any super hero. We made our way from there to the convention hall proper via a down escalator. The guards at the gates were friendly and one even stopped me to ask about my tattoos. (A fairly common occurance, they are kind of large)
On into the hall. We make no bones about the fact that both Dane and myself suffer horribly from adventures in misdirectionalism. Even with a map of the hall it was hard to find the artists and writers we so desperately sought out to ogle and have sign every thing we owned that they had a hand in. (We not only try very hard to make books and art, we are HUGE fans of those that do it for a living.)
Wandering around the hall was only slightly less confusing than finding a particular crypt in a centuries old catacomb, but we did manage to get our bearings and find Mr. Steve Niles. Who was kind enough not only to sign our moderate collection. (One of which Xane had already had the man sign and forgot. Oops! That should tell you,Dragon Con will suck the brain right out of you.) He also took pictures with each of us. Have we mentioned we LOVE his work?
From there we went hunting more artists and managed to luckily stumble across Mr.Jeff Smith's table. The artist/writer/self publisher extraordinare was not at the table at that moment, due to being in a panel. Steve Hamaker his colorist was at the table and was kind enough to sign his work and tell us when we would be able to find Mr.Smith later that day.
Of course then we were lost again. Like really grubby zombie babes in the graveyard. So we high tailed it to the information booth, which fortunately stood like a beakon in the night and was almost as easy to find as Indie Island. A very nice young lady helped us out directing us to Mr. Guy Davis, who was next on our long list of wonderful people to have sign their work. Mr.Davis graciously signed every piece we handed him. While happily giving out free signed comics. And he didn't mind at all when we came back for seconds later that day. (After we hit the evil money box that is ATM)
Our adventures in finding the way went on from there and led us to find several other artists and writers and creators of all types that we had never had the fortune of seeing before. Each one was happy to talk to us, give us a card and offer us any one of the many wares on their tables. (Oh, but that we had more money to spend. Evil, evil ATM with its limited funds.)We did make an exception to our limited funds policy for one local publisher, who had a deal we could not help but snag up. Jester Press. We love to support local businesses and these guys were as nice as they come. (You can't beat everyone who worked on a book coming over to sign it for you.) Once we have finished reading what we picked up from them we'll send up a review for you.
(A brief intermission for a very BUSY lunch at Fuel pizza across the street and back to the hunting for us and the clan.)
Later we made that return trip to Mr. Jeff Smith's booth and did indeed get the rest of our items signed. I even purchased more while there,(hooray for plastic),while standing in line. (The man is beloved after all) Dane took more pictures of the crowds coming and going and generally having a great time.
All in all Dane and myself spent the day dragging the rest of our clan through all the wonders of Heroes Con. While carrying more than 50 pounds of graphics and comics each,no less. The end of the day came more quickly than we anticipated. Our various parts, back, feet and shoulders in desperate need of replacing. (Fortunately we keep spares lying around) We trudged back to the escalators where our adventure began and made our way home. (With a stop for really good mexican on the way)
That's all from Xane and Dane for this time! Tune in again for more trips in misdirectionalism and other adventures.
PS - Thanks to DC comics for all the free swag! Comics, buttons and a light up tiara. Oh my!
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