So my plan for Sunday, the last full day of ComicCon, was to revert to fanboy mode and spend the day bin-diving for old comics and picking up a graphic novel or two (or three, or four, or…)

After days of getting up early and heading to the Con floor before opening time, I started Sunday with a leisurely brunch with friends before braving the crowds.

It was close to 11:00am by the time I got to the show floor and was amazed to see that the Sunday crowd was just as big as Saturday’s. The most pleasing part was that the comics end of the hall was busy too – people weren’t here just for the movie studio giveaways, they were actually buying comics (and lots of them.)

So what did I emerge from the scrum with?
– A tribble (my last one had died after three years so a replacement was needed).
– Some Batman themed costume jewelery for my youngest daughter – purchased from the Christopher Reeve Foundation so that the $$ went to a good cause.
– A bunch of 1960s Western and Motor Racing comics.
– Some cool Western pulps.
– A stack of signed graphic novels and a couple of artists sketch books.

During my shopping spree I was hanging out at one publishers booth and got chatting to a guy who turned out to be their senior commissioning editor – so much for not pitching today. But you have to take the opportunities when they present themselves.

My plan for the evening was to attend the post-con party being hosted by the FABLES crew. Didn’t happen. After lugging my purchases back to the hotel I had a shower and lay down for "a second." Next thing I knew it was midnight.

One rule I learned this year – if you want to keep going at ComicCon – stay vertical!

All though the Con was officially over, Monday morning saw me back at Con-Central (aka The Hyatt) with a signed copy of BATMAN Unauthorized I’d promised a friend. While there I was invited to join a few people for brunch and ended up sitting opposite Stan Sakai – we ended up having a very intense 2 hour conversation.

Reluctantly I had to leave to get back to my hotel, check out and head for the airport.

It had been a long and intense six days in San Diego – but also the most exhilarating and productive ComicCon I’d experienced in the 10 years I’ve been attending.

Roll on ComicCon 2009.

Saturday was the busiest and longest day at ComicCon. I started the day on the empty show floor at 8:30am and it finished at the Hyatt "BarCon" around 2:30am the following day.

Here’s a few selected highlights.
– Walked the floor before the doors opened taking a bunch of photos.
– Had an impromptu meeting with my editor for a upcoming gig on a licensed property and pitched him some story ideas – he loved them, now we just have to get the license holder to sign off on them.
– Learned a whole lot about some of the design secrets in Watchmen from Dave Gibbons.
– Got to meet the original (and best) Bionic Woman: Lindsay Wagner.
– Had two publisher ask me to send them the proposal for a book idea I’ve been pitching.
– Stopped off for a chat with a movie producer who is interested in the concept behind a novel I’m working on.
– Being introduced to and having a long chat with a couple of high profile artists.
– Wondering why I keep bumping into the same two or three friends around the show floor, while I don’t see other friends for days.
– Friendly informal "Tokyopop alumni" dinner with fellow creators and our ex-TP editors.
– BarCon at the Hyatt – mixing with what seemed to be most of the professionals at the con. So many people that the crowd spilled out of the bar into the lobby and even into the plaza in front of the hotel.

While it seemed most people were lining up for, and not getting into, The Watchmen panel I spent the day tracking down various editors. So it’s been a seemingly continuous round of pitching ideas, or setting up follow on meetings.

All the meetings went well and in terms of work it could be one of the most productive convention days I’ve ever had. More details as things firm up in the coming weeks and months.

But otherwise not too many general comments today – Sorry folks – maybe more tomorrow.

Oh my aching back and feet and it’s only day two. A solid 15 hours of networking, pitching, meetings, panels and even a little comic book shopping.

Highlights of the day included:
– Using the "exhibitor" badge my publishers got for me to get on the floor about an hour before the doors opened. With the walkways almost empty you can actually get a sense of just how insanely huge the expo space is.
– Getting time to chat, and get sketches from, old friends I haven’t really talked to in a couple of years.
– Starting my traditional "end-to-end" walk of the hall in comparative isolation and finishing it among the throngs – took me 90 minutes to navigate a route that took me past every booth.
– Sitting out on the sun-drenched decks at the back of the convention center that very few people seem to know about – always a great place to get away from the crowds and take a break.
– Surprisingly entertaining panel featuring Stan Lee and Grant Morrison – they made a good double act.
– Excellent Doctor Who presentation that was basically a Stephen Moffatt appreciation hour.
– Best panel of the day – Torchwood – John Barrowman knows how’s to work a crowd. Session ended with an impromptu duet between "Captain Jack" and "Tosh" reprising their stage roles from Miss Saigon.
– Some very productive pitch meetings.
– Invitation to pitch for a four issue arc in a newly announced media tie-in line.
– Hanging out in the Hyatt bar drinking and chatting with an amazing range of folks.

And it all starts again tomorrow…

This year’s PREVIEW NIGHT at ComicCon seemed a lot less crowded and I spent a pleasant three hours basically roaming the floor with no real agenda, just seeing what there was to see.

The following are a few hopefully coherent random thoughts presented in no particular order.

– There seemed to be a lot of vehicles on the floor (or maybe its just because I’m a gearhead that I notice them) – Bond’s Aston-Martin, The Owlcraft from Watchmen, Chuck’s Nerd Herd car and even Marco Andretti’s Indy race car with Clone Wars artwork on it. (But no Batmobile or Bat-Pod)

– The Small Press area seemed bigger with more indy publishers and more interesting comics to make sure I go back and take a closer look.

– Some of the aisle space seemed wider hopefully making it easier to get around the show floor.

– While the major publishers booths were busy there was no real sense of "buzz" around any of them like there was last year – this may change during the week depending on announcements.

– Actually thinking about it there was no one booth dominating the hype as in previous years.

– Several major toy and collectibles licenses have switched around leading to some interesting new products from some new names on the scene.

– SF themed TV was as prominent as the movies at the media end of the hall.

– As always Artist’s Alley was only about 30% occupied on Preview Night – why pay for space and then not use it when the floor is full of the more hard core fans and collectors?

– One thing that was noticeably absent was a rash of people in costumes – I’m guessing they will crawl out of the woodwork as the week progresses.

– Badge issue seemed a lot smoother this year and I didn’t hear any complaints.

– Best give-away so far – large purple shoulder bag from the SiFi Channel with the words "Big Frakking Bag" emblazoned across it.

A few days ago RevSF’s esteemed Comics Editor Jay Willson kindly reminded me that I haven’t updated anything on here for a while.

But MAY ! Wow I hadn’t realized I’d been that remiss.

So next week I’m off to the annual Nerd-Prom in San Diego and because of other writing commitments I will be lugging a laptop with me.

I will try and post a few San Diego notes and observations on here as I go. No promises – but I will try.