Well, another Heroes Con has come and gone. Now I will add my thoughts and insights to the many other reports posted by countless folks in this crazy world of comic conventions somewhere on this vast information superhighway that we've created. This was the third year I have attended Heroes Con, and there's a reason I keep coming back. Heroes has quickly become my favorite con because it is a wonderful atmosphere, filled with friendly people and talented artists who all share a love of comics. To me, cons are about three things; seeing my friends from previous cons and meeting new ones, turning some new people on to my stuff and finding some cool new stuff. In those terms, Heroes Con 2006 was a success.
entrance to the convention
Friday:
To be perfectly frank, the weekend did not start out as hoped. Due to circumstances beyond our control, my family and I got a very late start on Friday. The trip up I 85 from Atlanta to Charlotte is a 3.5 to 4 hour ride, depending on traffic. Unfortunately we did not get on the road until shortly after 1 pm. We made good time though, eating lunch in the car and only stopping briefly for pit stops. We arrived at the hotel about 4:30 and by the time we got the car parked and checked into the room, I made it to the convention center shortly after 5 pm. I met up with my friends Rob Jones and Andrew Hurst from Hero Street Press, who had graciously offered to share their space with me for the weekend. Once I got there, Rob and Andy introduced me to Eric Miller, the editor in chief of Hero Street, and showed me what I believe to be one of the coolest promo items I've seen in quite awhile. The Hero Street crew published a ton of copies of The Hero Street Press newspaper. It's an 8 page newspaper containing articles and ads promoting their newest publishings. I believe just about everyone who attended the con got their copy. Nice job guys!!! Within minutes of sitting down, I got my first piece of good news for the weekend. Cory Evan Laub, a friend of Rob and Andy and a very talented artist whom I met at MegaCon this past February, was not going to make it to the convention. So instead of cramming in the Hero Street table, I was able to take Cory's space and have my own table. Thanks for not coming Cory, although it would've been good to see you again!
Heroes Con Captain America image by Travis Charest
I moved my stuff to my new spot and introduced myself to my neighbors for the weekend. A very talented artist and extremly nice guy named Manny Aguilera and his equally lovely wife Sue, who had made the trip up from Miami. Manny creates some very interesting cartoons with pencils, inks and watercolors. Please, go check out his stuff and show him some love!
Considering I got there so late and was set up for only about the last 90 minutes or so of the day on Friday, sales were pretty good. I sold some prints and a few copies of BOTS and as well got to meet two of my Indie Asylum buds and BOTS contributors, Randy Parker (BOTS page 44) and Lyle Pollard (page58). Ever since I started going to cons, I always get a kick out of meeting people in person, whom you've known on the 'net for a time. Because unless you've already seen pictures of them, they NEVER look like you think they do from talking to them!
After the show closed on Friday, I grabbed some dinner with my wife Bonnie, my son Ben and Bonnie's parents, who had come down to Charlotte for the weekend to spend time with Bonnie and Ben while I was at the convention. Ben's Grandparents will look for any reason to spend time with their Grandson, which is a great thing because then we all get to enjoy the weekends. After dinner Bonnie and I met up with Rob, Andy and their friend Stephen to go check out Superman Returns, which I really enjoyed. When we finally got back to the hotel room it was nearly 2 am so it was straight to bed in preperation for my early start in the morning.
