While I’ve attended other comics conventions over the years, my expectations have been understandably skewed by the San Diego Comic-Con—so it was a nice change of pace to arrive at a venue 40 minutes before the opening without having to contend with heavy traffic or crowds, and park just a short walk from the main entrance of the convention center.
With things easing up, people were clearly excited to be at a comics convention. The Ontario Convention Center is a very nice venue and appears to be relatively new. (Ontario is part of the “inland empire” of Southern California, about 50 miles east inland from my home in West L.A.—I know the area somewhat as it’s on the way to Big Bear, where I have frequently skied over the years.) The show featured an impressive guest list that included Gerry Conway, Chris Claremont and Mark Waid.
I attended to help staff the Comic Art Professional Society (CAPS) booth, located on the main floor, but also had my comics available for sale. My booth mate (and car mate since we carpooled) was storyboard and graphic novel artist Jose Pimienta. Other CAPS members at the show included Christie Shinn (current CAPS president), Don Nguyen, Bradley Charles Rader, Eddie DeAngelini, Travis Hanson, Carlos Saldaña, and Bobby Timony (apologies if I missed anyone!), some of whom were in Artist's Alley, which I was pleased to hear was hopping. After the show, some of us met up for dinner.
(And to show that a cartoonist’s life isn’t all glamor—the very next day I installed a new garbage disposal! Being the cheapskate I am, I’m glad I’m handy enough to take on some home improvement projects like this myself—I actually had installed the previous one, which fortunately lasted for 12 years, well beyond its warranty!)
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