I miss New York

This past weekend was the New York Comic Con, which means I've been feeling a touch wistful. It's not been a year since I was in New York, as this year's NYCC was moved up two months. And let's be honest, if I had to choose one to go to, last year's was the way to go. New York in mid-April is lovely; New York in mid-February is something else entirely.

Still, part of me wishes I could have been there. One of the best times I've had in my life was attending that con last year. Granted, I was in physical pain by the time the con was over from all the walking I had done over those few days, but it was worth it.

For those who care about such things, and want some of the highlights, here are a few websites to go and visit - Newsarama, Comic Book Resources and The Beat. If, like me, you get a kick out of the pictures of people wearing costumes that range from pathetic to marvelous to pretty bizarre, try this Flickr site.

New York won't be the last comic con. I'm already hoping to get to San Diego in 2010. And after that, I'm not sure. I'm thinking either Toronto or back to New York in 2011, although those last two are complete guesses depending on a wide variety of circumstances. But I have the con bug and I want to go and do more.

The other lingering effect from NYCC is that I've gotten hooked on sketches. I've already showed off the sketches I got last year here, here and here. Since then I've bought a few more. I've tried to be a good boy and buy sketches either directly from the artist or through charity auctions. This site has been particularly helpful, and it's nice to just look, which is what I'm doing 99 per cent of the time. Yes, there's a recession on, but you would never say so given the prices some of these pieces go at.

Anyway, here's what I've picked up since New York.





These two are by Colleen Coover. Well, I commissioned her to do one, mentioned I would have commissioned her to do one of Marvel Girl and the Scarlett Witch versus a polar bear, but couldn't really afford it. And lo and behold, she tossed in this quick sketch, which was awfully nice of her. I picked these two characters because she had been drawing them in a very cute and funny back-up strip in the X-Men: First Class series.



This is Power Girl by Amanda Conner. I'm ashamed to admit I bought this straight off eBay and I feel a touch bad about that. However, I've always loved her art and did try and get a commission from her once, but she was booked. If she's at a con I'm attending over the next few years she's at the top of my list.



Ahem This one got me a look or two when it arrived home. It's by Molly Crabapple, one of the best burlesque artists going these days. It's not comic book art, strictly speaking, so why buy it? Well, it was an auction by the Comic Book Legal Defence Fund, which is a good cause. And I put in what I considered to be a very low bid. And yet, here it is.

Let's just say I got a look when it arrived in the mail and leave it at that. I still think it's a lovely piece. And hey, the first three artists are all women.





Fred Hembeck, who is known more for his funny comics than "serious" super hero books. Still, I bought these two pieces he had up for auction and I'm pretty happy with them. They're fun. The characters, in case you don't know, are Batman and Superman in one sketch and Dr. Strange in the other.

So that's the collection so far. As I've said, the bug has bitten, so I'm sure there is more to come.

Last Five
1. All because of you - U2
2. Is that all you got for me? - The Donnas
3. Walk like a man - Bruce Springsteen*
4. D is for dangerous - The Arctic Monkeys
5. One flight down - Norah Jones