My second romp at Wizard World Chicago was certainly no less memorable than the first - and I think much more exciting! While I didn't take many pictures, I did meet many people from the industry, many fans that I didn't even know I had, and a bunch of people who are in the web trenches like myself - and I have stories I can tell for the rest of my life.

Let's start off in the beginning, on Thursday.

Scott and I piled into his mini-cooper and started the 4+ hours drive from Ann Arbor to Chicago (avoiding the Dan Ryan like the black plague), stopping in good ol' Kalamazoo for some Campus Kitchen for lunch. Justin joined us for that lunch stop, and we continued on our way basically unhindered.

Upon arrival, we checked into the hotel, dropped off our stuff, and I went over to the con to pick up my badge (since they failed to send it to me in the mail). I was debating whether or not I should make a scene and demand my shipping back, but I was only in line for 7 minutes and didn't have any problems at the booth, so I decided to drop it and just get into the con.

Thursday was Preview Night, and only a select few people could make it in: namely, the people who were exhibiting, or the people who were advance ticket holders, like myself and Scott. We b-lined it for artist's alley to find our web comic friends: Joe, Phil, and Irv from the Digital Pimps, and Tom Brazelton from Theater Hopper.


Joe and Phil represent at the Digital Pimp Booth, while Irv gives a nasty stare to try to scare away the 12 year old girls.


Tom Brazelton is always excited to be at a con, but then Joe promptly bashes him over the head with a chair to remind him of his place.

Satisfied that Tom wasn't going to need medical attention, I continued to wander around the floor to find faces both familiar and new. I ran into my friend Taki Soma (You'll Never Die), who announced to me that her and Mike Omeng (Powers, The Mice Templar) had finally gotten engaged! I chatted with Mike for a bit about their drinking plans for later in the evening, and then continued on my trek around artist's alley.

I ran into Katie Cook (KatieCanDraw.com) and her husband, Paul Sizer (Moped Army, BMP) and his wife Jane Irwin (Vogelein), as well as several other tallented artists and writers. My friend Josh Elder (The Batman Strikes!, Mail Order Ninja) was a no-show, but his booth buddy (and my new friend from ACEN 2008) Russell Lissau (The Batman Strikes!) was there and we made dinner plans for the next night.

Steve (The Devil and Ted) finally arrived to complete the trinity that was our hotel room, and we went out to get pizza and booze, and then went back to the Pimps room for some GTA4 action. Then we went to sleep.

Friday was a late morning, and we ate some breakfast and went straight out for the con floor. Hung out with the Pimps and Tom a bit, and then went over to another booth hosted by some friends of mine from Drunk Duck:


Alan Evans (Rival Angels) flashes gang symbols at his booth in Artist's Alley.


The Dreamer creator Lora Innes and husband Mike show off their issues at their booth in Artist's Alley.

Alan and Lora from Drunk Duck were there displaying their various works, and I even went out to buy a print of my favorite character from Alan's Rival Angels, Brooke!



I networked around the con after that, talking more with Mike and Taki, and making some new friends at the vendor booths (Cyanide and Happiness among them, who I had met previously at NYC Comic Con).

After the con, Russell, Josh, Steve, Scott, and myself went to a Vietnamese noodle place and then went back to the hotel for drinks. The guys from Cyanide and Happiness called me to try to get my group to go see Wall-E with them, but we wanted to head down to the Hyatt bar to mingle and network with the industry people.

While there, I waved to Taki who was sitting next to Brian Michael Bendis (Powers, just about everything Marvel). He waved back, and I went over and shook his hand. "I'm sorry for the confusion, but I was actually waving at Taki," I said. "Oh, I'm sorry," he replied. "I figured because you were bald and I'm bald, that we were bonding." "Oh, we can bond," I said. "Bald brothers from other mothers, perhaps? In any case, I don't want to bother you while you're hanging out with your friends. I love your work, by the by - keep it up!" He told me to swing back by later (and when it was later, Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead, Invincible) was sitting next to him), but he was crowded by that time.

I continued to walk around and mingle, meeting several fans of my comics on Drunk Duck, hanging out with Alan Evans a bit, and watching Dan Didio running around like a chicken with his head cut off. Marc Silvestri even raised his glass to me when I waved.

We kept going back to the room for refills (I've had my fill of $15 drinks, thanks), and ended up closing out the bar around 2:30am.

Saturday was a sobering day for the industry, because we lost a great comic creator at a young age. I walked down to the show floor and someone told me that Michael Turner (Witchblade, Fathom, SoulFire, co-founded of ASPEN comics) had passed away. I thought it was a sick joke, but when I looked to see the ASPEN panel, I knew it had to be true. After an 8+ year battle with cancer that was an inspiration to everyone, Mike finally moved on.

I only had a single interaction with Mike, which was at the 2007 Wizard World Chicago ASPEN booth. I knew Frank from his earlier days at Top Cow, and had interviewed him for a show he did in Detroit. I was talking to him while Mike was signing in the background, and I told him, "Tell Mike to hang on, and that our thoughts and prayers are with him." At the mention of his name, Mike looked up, waved and smiled, and then went back to what he was doing.

I like to think that most other people might not have even bothered to see who was talking about them, but the guy took the 2-3 seconds to stop, smile and wave - and that means a lot.

Although he will be missed, his legacy of creativity and professional integrity will forever leave a mark for generations of comic creators to come. Although I only had that one interaction with him, it will forever be with me.

Thoughts and prayers to his friends and family, and a genuine thank you to him for everything that he's done.

I went to a few panels that day, including Josh and Russell's "Comics are for Kids too," which turned into "The Peter David Show." I met Russell's wife and kid, and then went to have some lunch.

My friend Rose was also at the con this day, and wanted to go swimming in my hotel's pool (instead of going to a con? Clearly, she's not a nerd). We took a break from the con and went swimming, and then we all piled into a car and went out to dinner at The Ram. Russell brought a few friends he met through comics, including Wonder Woman artist Tom Nguyen - who told some interesting and very personal stories. We bonded instantly. He's a great guy.

After dinner, many of us went to the bar for more drinking. Less industry people were about, some because of the influx of fan boys and some because of the loss of Mike Turner earlier that day. We closed out the bar again, though, and then some people thought it would be wise idea to go swimming again.

I started to herd my very drunk friends back to the hotel through hampster tunnel, leading the pack and looking over my shoulder to make sure I hadn't lost anyone. After a period of time, I realized that we were being followed by none other than Marc Silvestri (who was escorting a girl back to her car). He called out, "Anyone know where the con parking lot is?" At the sound of his voice, my drunken friends realized who was behind us and started embarassing me - something that's very difficult to do.

Petting the man's arm, trying to shake his hand, asking for locks of his hair - you could've pantsed me at that moment and I would've been less embarassed. I kept dragging people away from him and saying, "I'm so sorry," as I did so. I lead him back to the Sofitel / Embassy parking lot, and continued walking to the room thinking about the opportunity that had just passed me by. Perhaps for the best. Friends come first, to be sure - so I don't regret not being able to talk to the man. But it would've been nice to have been able to shake his hand.

The pool was closed, so we went into the sauna instead. I don't know if you are aware, but a belly full of alcohol and hot temperatures usually don't equal a good time. That said, no one got sick - but we called it a night after that. I escorted people back to their rooms before returning to mine - it was 4am, and I was going to meet Russell and friends for breakfast at 8:30am....

I woke up to a phone call from my friends Adam and Morgan, who live in Chicago, and got ready to meet them downstairs for breakfast. We went to a little diner attached to the convention center that has $5 omlets in the morning. Tom ended up strolling in eventually as well. We chatted a bit, and then took off to show them around the con and say goodbye to friends, both new and old.


Trevor gives a man hug to Alan on the last day of con, and then is compelled to dish out the manly kisses!


While her husband was walking around, Trevor decided to lay the smoochies down on the very talented Lora Innes! The DD group then posed together, trying to make their other DD friends jealous.

Scott and I then got into the car and headed home for a very long drive. The weekend was exhausting, but a ton of fun! I'm totally going to be attending again next year, and hopefully have a booth of my own (shared with Steve and Scott, is the plan).