Well, we got back into Ohio last night, or… this morning, I guess. It was a long drive, and Mike was heroic enough to do the entire thing himself because I was so wiped out from the show. (It took us 45 minutes to get the two blocks from the convention center to the Interstate because the Ravens game had let out the same time as we were leaving!) Apart for the late departure from Baltimore, there was not much sleeping for me over the past few days, and I even started biting my fingernails again, which is not good. But the suspense is over, and I’ll end it for you, too: we didn’t win either of the Harveys. But the not knowing was worse than the not getting!
My dear friend Bryan Glass won Best New Talent, and there is no way that I could have appreciated that award as much as he will. It wouldn’t have meant to me what it means to him. I know that we comic people love what we do, and we’re mostly chipper and happy in public, but making comics is really, really hard. Selling them is hard. Finding a publisher is hard. Getting them into bookstores is confusing and tricksy. And making money is nearly impossible. I think everyone in comics starts out doing it for the love of the game, and it’s that passion that keeps you through long, hard years where the dream seems impossible. Bryan has been working in comics since the early nineties, and now, nearly twenty years later the industry has finally recognized his talent! All the suffering is not in vain, and sometimes we creators just need that morale boost. For my friend, it came in the form of a Harvey Award. And I’m really happy for him. Congrats, Bryan! You really are the best!
(And if you haven’t read Mice Templar yet, by all means, put it on your Christmas list or something!!)
Now about the show! The best moment of the weekend for both Mike and I was when Sarah Gillig, long time Dreamer fan, walked up to our both Saturday morning looking like… this!
Best. Cosplay. EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I swear that Sarah is going to be my new model for Bea. Next Graphic Novel cover will involve a photo shoot with her! She was so adorable, and she wore it all day, both days! And even took flyers with her so that when she walked around the Con she could direct people to The Dreamer! We kept her at our table at least 50% of the time and she was the perfect booth babe!
My buddy Brian Maze (Freak Central) showed up Saturday morning and threw a MOUNT VERNON GIFT BAG at me and said, “Congratulations on the Harvey Awards!” Contained therein was a metal Continental Solider (which I put on my table all weekend and is now on my desk!), the Women in History bumper sticker and… GEORGE WASHINGTON TEMPORARY TATOOS!
We hung out with our awesome friend Steve Sunu all weekend. He writes for Comic Book Resources and he was sort of like the Flash all weekend. A big, Steve-colored blur that kept passing our table on his way to interviews and panels.
(I think his awesome velocity is pulling mike into his speed-vortex! It looks painful!)
I did some fun commissions this weekend! I love when someone brings me a blank sketch cover comic and asks me to draw on it. I seldom draw Super Heroes anymore, but they’re the reason I got into comics. Here’s a Black Cat cover I did:
I did another Rival Angels/Dreamer team up pic for Alan Evans (who’s table was right next to ours). This one completes the set! It’s Brook “Aphrodite” Lennox posing with Bea’s favorite classmate, Shantel the cheerleader:
And while I was working on a Harley Quinn commission, Harley Quinn herself came up! I was relieved she didn’t steal it, because, you know, Super Villains, it’s hard to trust ‘em! But she posed nicely with the drawing and even returned it when done:
Speaking of the Cosplay… the Bolder (from Avatar!) was walking around with a giant stuffed Appa, and was selling stuffed Momos & Appas out of a bag. No one stopped him. I guess because The Bolder takes issue with rules!
Whether or not I got a stuffed Momo well….
Speaking of plushies, Scott Sava (The Dreamland Chronicles) stopped by my table on Sunday and dropped me off a stuffed Pattington! I was so sleepy that I hugged him the whole drive home. He made a good pillow when I was curled into a ball.
I look so sleepy there. I didn’t sleep much all weekend. That’s because the night before was the Harveys! I hung out with Robin Dale and Thom Zahler (Love & Capes) before dinner, brushed elbows with Frank Miller at the bar, and at dinner we sat with… well, my parents! :)
And we also got to eat with… Steve Englehart and Chris Claremont. No, I’m not making that up. And the guest list outside of our table was pretty surreal. Joe Kubert, Neal Adams, Terry Moore, Jim Valentino, Brian Bendis, and Scott Kurtz emceed the evening. I dunno… pretty much everyone was there! And us. :)
(You can read Steve Sunu’s LIVE from the Harvey’s full report here!)
As for this Friday… I think that I’ll only be able to update one page. Advanced warning! I’m sorry! We’ve just been on the go for the past few months and it all caught up this weekend. I was down to the wire Thursday night, working till 11 PM the evening before we left for Baltimore, so any semblance of a buffer I may’ve had is gone. And my sister’s birthday tomorrow so I can’t work late because we’re going out to celebrate. And also… I slept through most of today. :)
Love you guys! Thanks for understanding!
Okay, the first thing I have to address is that I really want a Momo plushie.
Now that that’s out of the way, I’m sorry you didn’t win a Harvey. =[
I am glad Bryan finally got some well-deserved recognition after all of these years, though. The comic industry is difficult, but it seems that the passions of the creators keep the magic of it all alive despite this. I'm truly glad for that, because fans like me wouldn't be able to wholly appreciate their works it if they didn't.
Oh, Sarah's cosplay was so awesome! The whole Con looked like a blast. I’m glad you had fun there. =]
I had SUCH a great time hanging out with you and Mike!
We have to do that more often.
Columbus isn’t THAT far from Nashville…right?
:)
Happy Paddington has a good home. He DOES make a great pillow. Doesn’t he?
Sounds like it was an awesome time, Lora! I was there with you in spirit, rooting all the while! Next year, I think I’m going to be attending this con.
Oh! I want that outfit!! ^^
Sorry you didn’t win a Harvey… That stinks… But hey! You have something to strive for!
Lora, you got to sit at the Big Kids Table!! Very cool. I had a great time again being your artist alley neighbor and thanks the commission doing my 20 questions thing. Your Alan Warren commission was so great too, btw!
How awesome that she dressed up! I totally dig it! <3 Wish I could have been there to meet you! Looks like you had a ton of fun and were full of friendly visits! Keep up the amazing work!
Again I say… So fun!!
Ack! I would so buy a Momo and Appa plushie from the Boulder! XD Actually…I’d bet he’d make an awesome Earth-Rumble-merch salesman in the Avatar world, lol ;P
I love cosplays~! I’ll have three once I finish my Freddy one, which I have to have done (minus the hat and coat, which I’ll get at a later date) by tomorrow for speech class! Giving an informative speech about Thomas Knowlton~ Fun fun~! lol XD
I totally understand about the one-page update. Honestly, I was surprised you were able to get two done last week! Make sure you get some rest okay? Cons can really drain your energy, not to mention two whole weekends in a row!!
Anyway, it’s back to writing an essay on George Orwell for me… haha Glad you had fun! ^__^
Oh, this just makes me wish even harder I could have gone (my grandma passed away days before, and I couldn’t get away). Y’all look like you had a marvelous, fantabulous, awesometacular time!
AngelVixen :-)
@Scott: It’s not *that* far! and in fact, it’s half way to New Orleans. Which, you know, we’re always scheming to go back there and our friends are always asking when we’re coming back down…!
@Trevor: If you’re lucky, Alan might even hang out w/ you at the show. But don’t hold your breath… I was like… number four on his list of desired table mates.
@Albone: I think I was in such a hurry to get him the drawing before he had to leave that I didn’t even photograph that one! :(
@Erin: No one was more shocked that I finished last week’s pages than me. :) Good luck with your Knowlton report!!
@AngelVixen: that stuff trumps everything else. There will always be other comic cons! I’m so sorry. :(
I love Mouse Guard! I’m so happy the comic won an award! Even better would’ve been if The Dreamer won too!
BTW–I totally understand about the 1 page deal. Also the girl who came dressed as Bea is totally awesome in those photos!
The Baltimore Con is always loads of fun. I gotta say, Sarah looked EXACTLY like Bea. It was nice talking with you and I can’t wait to start reading the book… once my wife is done with it. :)
Well I’m sure I’ve said it before…but I’ll say it again.
You and Mike are ALWAYS welcome to come stay here.
I’d be happy to show you around all the civil war sites and plantations.
:)
Ok, I am so glad you included a picture of Mike from the Harvey Awards dinner! Mark and I did a search on Twitter as it was going on, anxious to find someone who was there and updating on the winners. One of the entries Mark found had a picture, and in the right corner was this blurred figure. I jumped forward on the couch and was like, “That so looks like Mike!!!”
So I’ve waiting to see what he wore so I could confirm the “Mike sighting.” It was indeed him!
The Comic con was awesome!! Im so happy I got to meet you and Mike! And thanks for signing my sketchbook. I went straight for your booth!! Also Sarah looked EPIC! Im so glad she went!!
OMG girl, you’re living my dream. Keep up the great work and soon you’ll have an award to match Bryan’s :)
Steve Sunu is actually a friend of mine and was kind enough to lend me his autographed copy today (I’ve taken especially good care of it). Spent the evening reading it and have enjoyed it greatly. Really, all the more so, being a bit of a Revolutionary War buff. Having grown up in New Jersey and now living in Boston, it’s fun to be so familiar with both the 18th and 21st century locations (though, I’m a little mystified where Bea lives and goes to school). And since I’m also a Freemason here in Massachusetts, it’s great seeing M.W.G.M. Joseph Warren getting his due.
Oh man, if you’re #4, then I must be like #14 or something. Nevermind the fact that I sold more than half of his books from the first day at Mid-Ohio. ;)
[begin Alan vs Trevor rivalry on The Dreamer comment thread]
Cons sound like they’re SUCH a blast. I’ve been to one really small one, so imagine what a not-small one would be like! 8D I’m glad you got that “Paddington pillow” (I know it helps to have a huggie when sleeping in cars), and it’s nice to get such a detailed con report. :) Sounds like you’ve been really busy, so the one-page update is totally understandable. The life of a comic creator is a stressful one, it seems; don’t collapse on us, Lora! D8 Take care of thineself.
Awesome! Love the cosplay <3
MOMO!!!!!!!!!! Oh I am SOO dying for the Last Airbender movie. I mean, M NIGHT SHYAMALAN is making it; have you SEEN the pics!?!??!! $%^$ @#$^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s going to rock.
I am soooooo in love with Sarah Gillig’s outfit – how completely adorable and amazing is that?! Go all Dreamers!
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I honestly didn’t know that you were going to be at this con and when I walked past your table I thought, “Hey! Hmmmmm that art looks familiar…Oh WOAH it’s the Dreamer comic!” I felt bad for not buying anything, but I ran out of money.:(
It was really awesome seeing you at the con. This has been my favorite comic book convention I’ve ever been too.
Take care and toodles!!
~Michelle ^_^
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