I'm nervous, excited, sleep deprived, and in need of a nice pastrami on rye with whole grain mustard.
October 14th is rapidly approaching, and the reason that date is so significant, is because of The New York Comic Book Convention. For comic books geeks, cosplay adventurers, and fanboys alike, this event is our version of the mecca that San Diego Comiccon is for East Coasters. However, that's not the only reason, for there are several reasons, this event is gloriously anticipated.
The trouble with listing those reasons, is that I could ever encompass what NYCC means for anyone other than myself. So that's where this blog will journey.
I love comics, as anyone who's known me for longer than two minutes can attest. I've read them all my life, spanning both child, callow youth, and now adult. My dream to be in the comic book industry was the reason I trundled my well worn duffle bags, filled with art supplies and guitar strings, to NYC, with only 300 dollars, and a return bus ticket in my pocket, back in 1993.
Now we fast forward to 2011, and the unfortunate truth is is that it's taken awhile to get to this point, where I'm actively pursuing a career in comics. And now that I am, the comiccon has taken on a new meaning for me. And the further interesting bit, is that this year will only be my second time attending this event.
Being a comic book fan for more years than I'm willing to tally, I'd never attended NYCC. I'd not gone even as a fan. All things considered, I was far too occupied with living the life of a young man in NYC, which anyone who's lived that particular kind of life can tell you, that while it's exciting, it can suck away years, before you're even aware they're gone.
It wasn't until 2009, when my mother asked me to attend a comic book convention with her, in Novi, Michigan. My first ever Convention experience was the Motor City Comiccon, where I met Doug Jones (who's now one of my mother's favorite actors, and knows her by name...yeah.. my mom's awesome), and spoke to one of my comic book idols, the late Dwayne McDuffie. Who I'm not ashamed to say, I stalked for the remainder of the convention, attending his panels and hanging out at his booth. And it's all due to my mother, and Dwayne McDuffie, that my passion for comics, was re-ignited, and burns as intensely as it ever had before.
During the interim, I've fostered collaborations with artists, to join me on the path to a career in comics as a writer (I'd originally started as an artist, but I'm now a victim of an incurable for of worditis, and it's grip is unbreakable), and together with those artists, I believe we've done some incredible work for non-professionals. This, and my insatiable appetite for all things iFanboy, the fervor for this upcoming NYCC, is now at the level of, a small child waiting on Santa Claus.
So, with October 13th looming, and with NYCC hanging in the air, like a gigantic candy filled pinata, I'm bouncing in my chair with childlike anticipation. The excitement of meeting my writing and artistic idols, legends in the industry, eager wannabe's (like myself), and publishers alike, will culminate in a series of days, that will live forever for me. I can't wait...cya there.
