The Never-Ending, Four-Color Festival: News On Cons, Shows, Events

By Tom Spurgeon

* this weekend is Heroes Con, the model regional comics show and in many ways the last great traditional North American comics convention for its resolute focus on comic books over all other related media. I can't imagine what a pleasure it would be to be a comics fan and have this show within a four hour drive. Actually, I sort of can from talking to fans at shows past: I've never heard so many matter-of-fact, appreciative con stories. Organizer Shelton Drum is a Prince Of Comics. I wish I were there, and I doubly wish I were there with $200 in my pockets to buy random issues of old funnybooks from the dollar bins.

* if you're going to Heroes Con have fun: both at the show and at the festive, sprawling bar con that takes place at night. Eat some food that's maybe bad for you. Visit the Heroes retail location if you get the chance. Explore the show's now-vibrant small-press section. If you can find anyone who's not insanely busy, pay them to do a sketch for you -- that's a show with a HUGE sketchbook culture, maybe the most potent one I've ever seen. As for the programming, I can't imagine a better panel than one featuring Roger Langridge, Evan Dorkin and Richard "I Just Won The Reuben" Thompson, moderated by Heidi MacDonald. Go to that one.

* the One Fine Sunday In The Funny Pages show will be making a stop at HC, too. Sounds like a great weekend.

* last weekend was Phoenix Comicon. Veteran writer-about-comics Marc Mason was on hand and wrote this report.

* there aren't as many thinkpieces and news story about conventions as you might guess given their central and still-growing importance to comics right now. Don't miss this one, then, about the fight to establish a major show in the Los Angeles area, and how that's led to a very crowded scene full of contenders.

* finally, the great Carlton Hargro sent along the following cover image for alt-weekly Creative Loafing's coverage of Heroes Con. Thank you, Mr. Hargro!


 
posted 11:18 am PST | Permalink
 

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