18 / OCT / 06 - 2201 CST : Valleycon report...

Yes, even though I never did get around to doing one for Keycon '06, I have finally managed to sit my ass down and write a con report for last weekend's Valleycon in Fargo.  Unfortunately my partners in con crime Travis ("Vitamin-T" on the GT forum) and Steve (who goes by the handle...sigh..."Furburgler")  didn't get a whole lot of pictures this time around, but I'll do the best I can here with what I have. So here we go...

No Shatner, no problem...

I figured I'd address this right off the bat and get it out of the way.  

No, in the end William Shatner didn't end up attending the con.  However, I was happy to see that this fact seemed to have little or no affect on the folks who attended this year.  In truth I half expected to hear a lot of grumbling about Kirk's absence, but it really didn't appear to damper anyone's spirits over the weekend.

Instead everyone was more than happy to have a chance to meet and chat with this years media guests Gary Jones (SG-1), fellow Winnipegger Dean Haglund (X-Files / Lone Gunmen) , and Claudia Christian (Babylon 5 / too many movies to even try listing).  

Of the three I have to say my personal favorite to meet was Claudia Christian.  Not to take anything away from Dean and Gary mind you, but as a fan of both Babylon 5 and beautiful women Claudia had an edge.  On top of which, she was just a really cool person to talk to (I had a chance to chat with her briefly in the hotel lounge as we were waiting for our drinks) and she certainly wasn't shy about milling around with the fans and checking out the con suites.  

Best new thing about this year's Valleycon...

Having the dealer's room in the same venue as the rest of the con.  To say this was more convenient would be a huge understatement.  Maybe for some folks it wasn't that big of a deal, but when you've got three guys who all want to do their own thing at times and you only one car to get around the city in, being able to just pop in and out of the dealer room without even leaving the hotel was a nice experience.

Best surprise about this years dealer's room...

More artists showing their work!

Last year there was only three or four artist showing there work. The year before that I'm told there was only one.  This year however there was what one might call the beginning of an actual artist's alley.  Or more of an artist's dogleg really as the tables kinda...never mind.

I don't think it'll really come as any great surprise for you guys to know that this is what I enjoy checking out the most when I come to cons. And this time around not only did I get to meet some artists who's work I've never had an opportunity to see before (Justin "Spanky" Cermack, Even Nelson, and Sherwin Schwartrock, who I don't have a link for, but given his fairly distinct last name I doubt you'll have any trouble tracking him down on the web), but I also got a chance to say hi to some folks who I haven't seen since last year.

Speaking of the folks I haven't seen since last year... 

Joe Rheault & Meg Mickelson

Joe (who's work you can check out on his myspace page) and Meg (also showing work on myspace) are a couple of talented artist from Minneapolis, Minnesota who each have very different styles and areas of interest when it comes to their work.  Joe's exists mainly within the world of action and adventure comics, while Meg's recent projects include illustrating a children's book and creating a series of portraits of famous women.  Aside from being artists, they're also a couple of really friendly and interesting people whom I enjoyed getting a chance to talk with again this year.

It should also be noted that they've recently gotten engaged and will be getting married sometime next year.  Congratz you two!  Now I don't know if they plan to have children or not, but if they are, damn is that gonna be one talented kid!

Zach Miller & Taki Soma

I have such a high amount of respect for these two people both professionally and personally, so of course I was thrilled to have the chance to catch up a bit with them this year. Now I know you've heard me rave on about them in the past, but hopefully you haven't quite gotten your fill yet 'cause here comes some more.

I'm sure y'all know this already, but Zach Miller is the creative mastermind behind one of my favorite webcomics, Joe and Monkey.  A webcomic which by all rights should be one of the biggest one's out there at the moment.  Seriously, how this guy doesn't get PvP type numbers going to his site is a mystery to me.  

Zach was also one of the very first established webcomic artists that I ever had a chance to meet face to face, and once again this year he showed an amazing amount of patience with me as I proceeded to ask him a never ending stream of fanboyish type questions.

"What do you use to ink the strip?"

"How do you go about making your merchandise?"

"Are you a boxers of briefs man?"

"Can you please just hold me and tell me my comic is good?"

By the way, he gives a very good hug.  Gentle, yet firm.

Anyway, if you haven't already, check out this man's strip!  Or buy one of his cool t-shirts.  Or better yet, buy me one of his cool t-shirts!

As for Taki Soma, well up until a month or so ago I always took comfort in knowing that despite the fact she is a much stronger artist than I am, at least we're not in the same field so I don't have to worry about competing with her.  Then of course she had to go and bust an artistic cap in my ass by launching her own webcomic called "You'll Never Die...".  A webcomic that, given how incredibly funny this woman is, I was surprised to find out had a rather serious tone to it.   There are only a few installments up at the moment, but it's still well worth checking out.

Okay, I think I'm pushing the limit as to how long I should make this con report so lets just finish it up with a few quickies, shall we?

Favorite dealer table...

Switchplate by  Ramona.  Each switchplate she makes is one of a kinda, so you know you're getting something unique if you buy one. So if you get a chance, check her stuff out. I know I fully intend to send her off a few GT pics in the future so I can decorate my house with Noname, Frank and the boys.

Favorite non-alcohol related activity...

Getting a chance to ride a segway!  Kinda nerve racking when you're on it, but man is it ever fun!  

Favorite alcohol related activity...

Playing blackjack with my friends (two of the worst blackjack players you'll ever meet), and watching in amused horror as they doubled down on a 20 and a 17...and still managed to win their hands (the bastards!).

Least favorite "tradition" that carried on from last year...

Having the person parked beside me at the hotel leave a huge freaking dent in the side of my car.  I'm giving serious thought to sticking little plaques by each of the dents that read "Valleycon '05" and "Valleycon '06". 

The two biggest  things about 'south of the border' that I once again forgot...

The beer is weak (but cheap), yet sweet mother of god do the bars ever give you a lot more when you order shots then they do here.  Seriously the shot glasses in the hotel lounge were like tumblers.  And I can only assume that the white line that runs around the side of them are there simply for decoration purposes and are in no way meant to be used as a gauge for measuring.

Favorite costume...

Belonged to the guy who was such a GT fan that he went as Frank dressed up as V.  Thanks for supporting the site man!

Oddest observation made about the people who attended the con...

There must be some sort of correlation between Sci-fi and Fantasy fans and the need to grow facial hair.  At minimum it seemed that every second guy there had a full beard.  I don't know how I never noticed this before, but it's true.  I'm thinking there needs to be a University study conducted on this phenomenon.   

And last but not least...

The one thing I will never wear to a convention again...

My Green Lantern shirt.  I loved Green Lantern when I collected comics ten years ago or so, and I was happy to hear a lot of people at the con say stuff like "Hey, Cool shirt!"  and then walk on. But as the night progressed folks all of a sudden seemed to feel the need to play 'grill the drunk guy about all things Green Lantern'.  

Who was Green Lantern engaged to...What was the name of the alien who wore the ring before him...How many member are in the corps...Is Hal Jordan circumcised...

For the love of god people, it's a shirt! I use it to hide my nipples! That's all! You don't see me asking people trivia questions regarding The Battle of Trafalgar when I catch them wearing an Old Navy shirt, do you?

Okay, so it didn't really bother me that much, it just made me realize I've been away from comics waaaay too long.

That's all folks!

All in all I had a great time at the con.  However, next year I really hope to be part of the fine group of artists showing their work in the dealers room.  Even if I'm not though, if the last two years are any indication of what Valleycon is like, I'm sure I'll have more than enough fun just the same.

Oh, and I'd like to give a huge shout out to Tony Tilton and all the staff and volunteers who worked so hard to pull off another great con.  You make it well worth the trip across the border for me and my friends...but if my car gets dinged one more time, I'm sending you the bill!

Later,

-Ed