Can't See the Forest for the Trees

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.