Charlotte Comicon

The best comic convention in this part of the South is the Charlotte Comicon. I rarely miss one, and sometimes I'm even a guest there. The next one is this Sunday, but as it turns out I have to be out of town. My apologies to the organizers, Rick Fortenberry and David Hinson.

But if you like picking up great old comic books and searching for new comic publications and taking part in local comic and fantastic literature fandom, this is the show for you!

Old comics!!! What it's all about, man!

Comics and SF/Fantasy Fandom!

Charlotte Comicon

I went to attend the local Charlotte Comicon today. I'm usually a guest there and I always get a kick out of attending. Lots of old comic books for me to look at, professional comic artists and writers to meet, and cosplay people to look at!

Today was typical for the show run by Dave Hinson and Rick Fortenberry: non-stop fun!

Early set-up. Only a few dealers and artist folk had arrived.

Artists and dealers begin to fill up the room.

One of my favorite people! Budd Root: creator of CAVEWOMAN!

Andy Smith, well-known professional inker at Marvel Comics.

My favorite back-issue dealer, Earl Shaw of Georgia.

Costumed cuties!

I ran into an old pal, Sean Conley. It was great to see him after a number of years.

Charlotte Comicon

I'll be at the Charlotte Comicon tomorrow!

I always have a blast at the show, the best comic convention in the Charlotte area!

While there I'll be selling and signing copies of:

THE LIVING END: A Zombie Novel.


and

THE FLOCK!

Charlotte ComiCon

Last Sunday I went to Rick and Dave's one-day Charlotte ComiCon. This place is where I get my back-issue fix. I always walk out of there with lots of old comics and a lighter wallet. What can I say? It's a great show, so plan to attend if you're in the area.

Opening time at 10:00 am. There was quite a line!

From left to right: Andy Smith (Marvel comics artist--no relation), Budd--Cavewoman--Root, James R. Smith hisownself, and Brad Parton.

Guy behind the table is my main back issue pusher man, Earl Shaw.

Lovely retro-style model Vera Van Munster and her husband...um...Mr. Munster.

Who ya gonna call?

Comic book artist Al Bigley has a discussion with tattoo artist and painter Elf.

These Monsters Ate My Lunch!

I met up with my pal Rick Fortenberry for lunch today. He brought me two more additions to my comic collection that I'd purchased from another mutual friend, Earl Shaw.

From good old Earl I got an AMAZING ADVENTURES #4 and and STRANGE TALES #90.

I especially love the cover for STRANGE TALES #90. Sometimes I think Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby was constantly trying to outdo one another in creating outrageous monsters for the covers of the various science-fiction and fantasy comics they were writing and illustrating for Stan Lee. This particular monster is just so over-the-top that it's one of my favorites from Jack Kirby. And it's classic Kirby--he excelled at these kinds of giant, blocky, reptilian creatures. Orrgo is one of his best (although it's obvious that Stan Lee named it).

Strange Tales #90 featuring Orrgo! What a great monster! What red-blooded American kid could possibly resist that cover? Not this one!

The issue of AMAZING ADVENTURES gets me closer to completing that set. It's an interesting series to own for the simple reason that technically speaking, it's the very first ongoing Marvel superhero comic. One story in each issue of AMAZING ADVENTURES featured a character called "Dr. Droom" who was a kind of master of the mystic arts. The stories were simple and naive yarns, but for all of that Droom stands out as the very first attempt at an ongoing superhero at the fledgling Marvel Comics. (Keep in mind that they weren't yet calling themselves 'Marvel'.)

Amazing Adventures #4 featured several typical stories from Kirby and company, and one Dr. Droom yarn.

First page of the Dr. Droom story which was relegated to the back of the book in this issue.