Morning all,
That ‘twas a hell of a comics week. Feels like it was only a couple of ours ago that I was sitting in the departures lounge writing the last one of these. But the week has whipped round and I’m home again, exhausted and heading back into work. It was worth it.
Heroes Con in Charlotte, North Carolina is a long way to travel for comics for a lad in the South-East of England. But, it’s an actual comic convention that is all about comics. That’s a sentence that you shouldn’t have to say out loud – but one I say often sadly. Sure, there is some Lego and plastic dead-eyed Fuckos. But they exist in a little island on their own between one large area for comics and another. I guess they are there for the bored kids being dragged round by their parents and those emotionally abstracted adults who take selfie photos with their gobs open and their heads empty.
I was rolling with some buddies all weekend. One of them being my brother in comics and more Mr Cliff Cumber. We shared a room, meals, laughs and comics art with broad languaged enthusiasm 24/7! Have a read of Cliff’s column for his local newspaper right here. It was also a privilege to hang with the 11 o’clock Comics massive – a more welcoming bunch you couldn’t hope to meet. As well as threse dudes I got to hang with brilliant artists like Nathan Kelly, Mark Buckingham and Scott and Callie West!
The guest list is to die for! Above are photos of some of the folks I met. Steve Englehart, friend of the pod Doug Wagner, Charles Vess (we chatted Rupert Bear and more) Scott and Callie West, and Jim Starlin. In the same weekend I got to meet, chat to and thank both the creators of my favourite comics series. I’ll admit that I got quite emotional. Not to mention Al Milgrom, Pat Broderick, John J Pearson, Jim Rugg, Greg, Fake & Marc, Alan Davis and so many more!
I also got to buy a bunch of comics and art for myself and as presents. The two Alex Toth sketch pages being a high-point. One for me and one for a buddy. This was my second pilgrimage to North Carolina for this event. It holds a special place in my heart for it’s knowledge and love of the comics industry and those who built it. A lesson that some conventions in the UK could well learn.
Myself and Cliff called in from our hotel room on the new ACP episode. We rant on about how great the convention was for us. We also have a quick chat with Doug Wagner about his new series. Not to be missed. Have a listen here.
On to the task at hand. I choose my favourite comic from the last seven days and my least favourite. Not sure how many it was this week but after two long flights and a five day holiday – it was a lot.
Top.
Ghost Machine continue to be the place to get the best crafted comics. Professionalism and skill present in every panel and page. Gary Frank and Geoff Johns form an excellent team in storytelling and Frank shows movement and emotion perfectly. The best he’s been imho. This bunch of dudes are really showing other companies what not just can be done but what should be done in the medium. (DC and Marvel should REALLY learn lessons!)
Add into this action-packed mix a lesson to be learned about the value of books and this was a nice pause (albeit full of violence and mutants) in the road trip so far. Highly recommended.
Bottom.
What can you say about this sort of nonsense? It must have taken all of an afternoon to produce.
Somebody has probably written a ‘review’ about how great this comic is or how it represents something or other. It’s actually just rubbish.
Thanks for reading, see you next week.
Never Iron Anything - The Comics Review Website 