The Convention Shuffle, by Tatiana – In The Mix #25

July 2, 2009 Tatiana EL-Khouri 1 Comment

My love of comic books and sci-fi were instilled in me early on by my mother. She indulged her love of reading in Belize with Little LuLu, Little Dot, and Archie Comics. She spent her days in the library reading comics. As an adult, the television stayed glued to the Sci-Fi channel, Outer Limits and Star Trek. Our house was taken by storm during the Death of Superman. In 2006, I was still a neophyte on the comic book convention circuit. After being enlightened by several Illustrators that there was a lot more to Comic Con than comic books and superhero costumes, I only attended a few comic book conventions.

Among the thousands of people in attendance, I ran into an old coworker, Cedric Kinlow, who also shared a love of comic books. While we worked together, he raved about every book put out by Milestone and imparted the history of the line’s creation. He told me the next day the legendary Michael Davis of Milestone was conducting a panel and that I MUST be in attendance when he tried to meet Michael. I was in so much sensory overload from the convention floor, I never made it past the crowds and into the panels.

The next day I set off to the Black Panel and sat alone, it was impossible to find my friend! Shortly after a young woman, Suzanne Wilson, sat near me who was also alone. Two women alone at a comic book convention, we instantly became friends and had fun making comments throughout the panel and laughed at the many musings of Michael.

After the panel concluded, I ran into my friend who was happily holding an invitation to Michael Davis’ coveted Comic Con dinner. After all the bonding Suzanne and I had during the panel, she revealed to me that she was a writer working with Michael. He even gave her a shout-out during the panel but being the humble and talented writer she is, she stayed seating. Well next thing I knew, I was being swooped up and taken into the dinner. My eyes lit up as I met some of the greatest talents in comics and pop culture, everyone from the creator of my heartthrob Wolverine, Len Wein to the rapper RZA.

The next few days I volunteered in Michael’s booth and had plenty of meals on his dime. The conversations at the dinners were lively and engaging, exploring the depths of comics and pop culture. As it was my cue to leave and head back home, I asked Michael for his card. I proudly handed over my “business card” that I created specifically for the convention. I wanted to leave people with a card that showed my creativity, so the card featured an ornate filigree, illustration with Old English writing.

I could see Michael hold back a smirk when he finally said, ok you’ve eaten food on my dime and been around for a few days so let me break it down. He told me the illustration was distracting and not necessary, the font was unreadable. What I really needed was a simple card, just my name, simple title and font. As he stared at my card, I reached into my back pocket and pulled out a card that fit his description. It was the coolest moment!

I cannot believe Comic Con is 3 weeks away! I also can’t believe all the work I have to do this year to prepare. I’ve been working on the launch of a online network- handling the site creation, editing sound, creating the animation, and the graphic work. The Black Panel that I attended a few years ago as a spectator, will open with a video project I create and edit. There are some very cool things planned for the panel this year, even a DJ! And this year’s party is sure to blow last year’s out of the water.

Last year I didn’t even get to walk the convention floor and get swag. I shuffled to meetings, coordinated Michael’s Comic Con party, and did it all on virtually no sleep. Long gone are the days when I could just roll in and take in the convention. I’m just glad I have apprentices this year to help!