Okay, so this report is like a week late, and I apologize. But I had a bunch of freelance work with looming deadlines that had to be addressed post-con, and making the money that pays the bills always has to come first.
Anyway, Wizard World’s Big Apple “Spring Edition” convention was held on May 21–22 at the Penn Plaza Pavilion, and truthfully the venue has always sucked: the pavilion’s a separate part of the Pennsylvania Hotel, and it’s cramped, has no air-conditioning, and has low ceilings with exposed pipes. It’s sort’a like being packed into a submarine…although I’m pretty sure submarines have better air circulation.
It’s also kinda dark. As artist Mike Lilly (who was across the aisle from me) pointed out, this place used to be a Sports Authority sporting goods store—hence the ceiling’s dark blue color that you see in the photo here, courtesy of Jennifer Aracena of Hound Comics (Blue is one of the colors used by the NY Knicks basketball team, and their home, Madison Square Garden, is across from the hotel on Seventh Avenue.)
Photograph © 2011 Jennifer Aracena
Con goers, on the other hand, were terrific! Lots of people to talk to, lots of folks now interested in reading the adventures of our resident Goth, Pandora Zwieback. Why, even costumed crimefighters like Green Arrow and Black Canary can’t wait to get their hands on copies of Blood Feud!
Bob Larkin stopped by on Saturday afternoon to promote the release of his Bob Larkin Sketchbook (soon to be available through our Web store!), and his fans quickly popped up. I managed to take a photo of one of the Spider-Man sketches he did before it was snatched away by eager hands. Nice, huh? And he hadn’t even planned to do sketches that day!
Saturday was also the countdown to the Rapture and accompanying earthquake that was supposed to destroy the planet. Guess God didn’t get the memo…
I did, though. Take another look at that photo by Jennifer Aracena. Notice the sign at the bottom of the pic? That’s right, I was holding an end-of-the-world sale! What you can’t see is the bottom of the sign: Sale ends at 6:00—and so do YOU!
I freaked out Bob by constantly taking out my phone to check the time and announce it: Half hour to Rapture…10 minutes to Rapture…5 minutes to Rapture… HAPPY RAPTURE! But…nothing. Well, from what I hear, there’s always October 21st…but at least the New York Comic Con will be over by then, before the end comes—again! 😉
Thus ended the Big Apple Con. Please note: I had to cancel my appearance at the Monster-Mania Con in June, so the next convention stop is the Brooklyn Book Festival on September 18. Hope to see you there!
