On Thursday, Sept. 8, I attended a book signing for the just released
See You at San Diego, an oral history of the San Diego Comic-Con and the fan scene from which it sprung when it debuted in 1970. I planned to purchase the book anyway, so when I learned there was a signing with the author and several people interviewed in the book who played key roles in the founding of the show at Skylight Books in L.A., I figured I'd attend.
It didn’t register with me until just before I left my house that the signing was in Los Feliz, way on the other side of town from me in West L.A., and that I’d be driving through rush hour traffic! Fortunately, GoogleMaps had me avoid the freeways and just take local streets. I guess I was going against traffic for the most part, because some parts of the drive were through nearly empty streets at times! (It still took just under an hour to go 12 miles—but in L.A., distance is measured by how time, not miles.)
Anyway, it gave me a chance to get the book signed by the author, Mathew Klickstein, as well as some of the people interviewed in the book, including Wendy All and Scott Shaw, the latter who I’ve been acquainted with for many years, so it was nice being able to chat with him. I also caught up a bit with Phil Yeh, who I’ve also met a few times—I learned we’re both from the east coast and that he actually briefly lived (and worked) in the part of L.A. where I now reside!
I had an enjoyable time—I’ve even started dipping into the book and it’s a fun, great read. I’m already peripherally aware of some of the stories and history of Comic-Con, so it’s nice to get a behind-the-scenes look and details from those who were there. It’s easy to take for granted, but I’ve attended nearly every Comic-Con since 1986. Although I missed some of the smaller, more intimate shows where some of the most exciting and notorious incidents happened, I nevertheless grew up with it professionally, watching it explode from about 6,000 people my first year there in the days before it went to the newly built convention center, to 150,000+ today. I credit Comic-Con, of course, for giving me a platform and voice for my comics work and the opportunity to meet fellow professionals and comics fans. To receive the Inkpot from Comic-Con in 2019 was a total surprise and a great honor, and an acknowledgment of my own small presence in the history of Comic-Con for which I’ll always be grateful! Here’s to many more!
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| With Scott Shaw! |
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| Skylight Books |
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| The signing was actually at Skylight's Annex next door |
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| Phil and Linda Yeh |
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The Los Feliz Theater next door—a panel discussion
was held there, following a screening of the film Scott Pilgrim
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