San Diego Comic-Con 2007

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Above: Me (middle), flanked by actors portraying Bladerunner characters Pris (left) and Roy (right).

I am home from Comic-Con, and I can safely say it was my favorite SDCC ever. I got to hang out with two of my oldest and best friends, attend several jaw-dropping panels and I was invited to sit on one panel, promoting Mego 8" Super-Heroes: World's Greatest Toys!™

With the book completed, I am thrilled to start blogging again. Comic-Con seems like the ideal platform for discussion of the book and all things geek. If you are (supposed to be) working, bored or curious, I invite you to check out the Book Blog. Over the coming days, I will post fun stories and pictures.

Read the blog.

Benjamin

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Nice Beard Benj!

LOL!

John, I recognize your signature sarcasm all too well, but — believe it or not — I received a surprising number of compliments on my ridiculous King Tut!

On Saturday, while standing in queue for a bottled water, I heard a voice behind me. "Nice beard," it said. "Thanks," I politely replied while turning. I came around to find a cat with a similarly pony-tailed beard.

… that nearly reached his belt-buckle.

"Wowwwwwww..." I slowly revered.

He smiled.

"Master..." I said facetiously.

"Yes, Padawan learner," he jokingly replied.

"How long...?" I stammered.

"Four years, with trimming. You?"

"A little over a year," I effused, awkwardly adding, "with trimming!"

This is one of the truly magical things about Comic-Con: Not only are you not judged by the public, you can run into someone wearing the same proverbial prom dress and — with no animosity at all — become instant friends.

I LOVE Comic-Con.

But John, not so much.

Just kidding, John!

Benjamin
p.s. The Jedi Beard-Master told me he is a professional framer and that he has to tuck his beard into his shirt before work every day. I suspect if I were in construction, I'd just shave. But I sure admire his perseverance!

[jwyblejr]

Did you get to meet Seth Green?

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Did you get to meet Seth Green?

I don't know if Seth Green was even at San Diego this year. I've met him before, but I did not read about, hear about or see him attending Con this year. If he was there, I missed him. But he is an uber-Geek God… and very cool, based on what little I know.

Viva Robot Chicken!

Benjamin

[Hulk]

I enjoyed the blogs, its been too long since we've gotten to hear you wax prophetically!

[Meule]

Cool photoblogs Ben, little Leia is most impressive

Nice Beard Benj!

Hey, don't laugh John, you should see my goatee, got two braids in it

[batmanmc]

thats a cool pic. sounds like you had fun.

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Thanks for checking it out guys.

I updated the Comic-Con photo blog with a couple cats I really admire… and Iron Man.

Read the blog.

Benjamin

[steelcouch]

I actually visited your booth while you were out and got to see your preview of the book. Some awesome stuff and cant wait till it is realeased.

[Meule]

Iron Man looks great, but dude, you met Henry Rollins, how cool is that

[batmanmc]

littl leia is adorable. she loks like a younger leia. cool blog and pictures. mike

[Bizarro Amy]

I wish I had realized you were going to be there. I would have stopped by your panel.

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I actually visited your booth while you were out and got to see your preview of the book. Some awesome stuff and cant wait till it is realeased.

Dang! Sorry I missed you.

Here's an interesting tidbit: On Thursday afternoon, I stopped by the TwoMorrows booth and was apprised that, while I was in the panel, a "business man" (reportedly working a deal on his bluetooth headset) slowly went through the Mego book sample, one page at a time. Pausing his cell phone conversation occasionally to read the book, the stranger concluded his business deal and hailed Tom “The Comics Savant” Stewart, who was working the booth (and related this story to me).

"When is this book coming out?" the stranger asked.

"In October," Tom replied.

"This is my family," the stranger ominously stated.

"Ummm....?" Tom shrugged expectantly.

"We made these toys," the stranger clarified, pointing to his name tag.

The badge read "Ken Abrams."

Tom was unaware of the significance the "Abrams" name holds. An avid collector and toy aficionado (with a noteworthy Captain Action and Mego Super-Hero collection), the name "Abrams" sadly rang no bells.

After hearing the story, I explained who Ken Abrams is, and Tom replied, "Oh.... Cool!"

Iron Man looks great, but dude, you met Henry Rollins, how cool is that

Oh man, you have no idea. Henry Rollins is a cult hero to me.

I remember seeing Rollins perform a spoken-word concert in San Francisco a few years ago. Discussing his first mattress purchase — he was a self-described "Floor Samurai" throughout his rock-and-roll touring youth — Henry described the experience of testing the mattress:

"It was like laying on puppies!"

Heh. Henry is too cool for school.

By the way, I updated the blog tonight!

The TwoMorrows Panel and Attack of the Spider-Mans! are brand new photo-blogs:

Read the blog.

Benjamin

[batmanmc]

i like the spiderman pictures and captions.

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i like the spiderman pictures and captions.

Thanks! The funny thing about that photo series is the last diptych of Spider-Man "leaving" the con. The way the images are presented, it might appear that I took the shots sequentially. In fact, I took the right-hand shot (Spidey walking away with his roller bag) on Friday afternoon. I just happened to see the same guy— with his mask off yet again — standing in queue for the Comic-Con Masquerade Ball on Saturday night. I instantly recognized him and opted to shoot a detail shot of his costume.

I'm glad I got the second shot of him, the following day. I think it worked out quite nicely for the photo-montage.

Glad you dug it!

Benjamin