Comic-ally Speaking: The Summer of San Diego (Part 2)

Never forget that Comic-Con is still about the comics.  Despite all the movies and TV shows that were a part of this convention (which I covered in my last article), comic books still dominated the scene.  I would say that a majority of the floor space in the convention hall was given to comic book companies, artists, writers, and mostly retailers.  Probably about one third of the floor went to people who set up shop buying, selling and trading comics, among other collectibles.  I personally spent around $500 on a grand total of 145 comic books and three3 trade paperbacks (another term for graphic novels).  And just this month I finished reading all of them.

However, my biggest regret about Comic-Con is that I spent too much time looking at comics books and not going to the comic book panels, which turned out to be the highlight of the convention for both me and my dad.  I sat through three Marvel Comics panels, two about their comics, and one about how to break into the comic book industry (my current life’s dream is to become an editor at Marvel Comics).

The most informative of the three panels being the final one I attended, “Marvel: Breaking into the House of Ideas.”  This was really helpful for anyone looking for a job in comic book industry (like myself).  The panel (and most Marvel panels I attended) included: Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada, Amazing Spider-Man editor Steve Wacker, Uncanny X-Men writer Matt Fraction, writer and Marvel’s talent liaison C.B. Cebulski, Hulk writer Jeph Loeb, Wolverine: Weapon X writer Jason Aaron, writer Jim McCann, and many others.

They each talked about how they broke into comics, while giving out good advice for aspiring writers and artists.  I even got up to ask a question about their internship program and was told to talk to their internship coordinator down at the Marvel booth (I wound up giving her my business card).  (Yes, I have a business card.)  However, not everyone who got to ask a question was as respectful as I was.  One guy, who clearly had his work rejected by Marvel, asked something like “Why does it seem that you only hire writers from the inside?”,  I guess implying that Marvel doesn’t look for outside talent.  His question was quickly shot down by the panel.

Of course, comic book panels are often used to announce major upcoming events or changes in the comic book world.  Marvel’s biggest announcement came during the “Cup of Joe” panel (“Joe” being Joe Quesada).  Quesada told the room of a couple hundred “Marvel zombies” (aka Marvel fans) that Marvel had just purchased the rights to Marvelman, a 1950’s British superhero.  The character was later revived in the 80’s as Miracleman by writer Alan Moore (Watchmen).  Since then, the character has been involved in many legal battles which prevented his comics from being reprinted and distributed.  But hopefully now that Marvel owns the rights that finally will change (because I have wanted to read that comic since I first heard of it a couple years ago).

All in all, the panels were just plain entertaining.  The panelists were funny and quick-witted, making fun of each other and even the comics they write.  One of the biggest jokes among the Marvel guys was randomly claiming that this or that character was really the new red Hulk (whose identity is mystery).  Like I said before, I regret not getting out to more of the panels, but I was only there for two days and a lot of the panels I would have seen were on the days I didn’t have tickets.

I highly recommend that anyone who has the time, money, and the interest in these types of things go to the San Diego Comic Con at least once in their lives.  I know that I can’t wait for the next time I can go there.  And I hope that anyone who reads my column keeps reading it.  I have some fairly good articles coming, including topics about zombies, Disney buying Marvel Comics, and Captain America’s rebirth and superhero resurrections in general.