My morning at the Long Beach Comic Expo

[john h.]

I attended both days. Picked up some stuff from Stan.

Added a few more signatures to the Sakai project book 1) Dennis Culver 2) Chris Burnham 3) Nick Bradshaw 4) Dave Johnson 5) Blond

(colorist).


John H.

[BuckRogers]

I bought my advance ticket from my local comic book shop a few weeks ago, so was able to get into the LBCE a little early this morning.



That was my day.

I hope some of you that attended will share what your day (Saturday or Sunday) was like.

Okay, I have to ask, is that the original Jake and Elwood car from the movie???

[maichan]

Thanks for all the comments everyone.

Is that an Usagi window decal?

Here are some better pictures.
I'm not sure if it is an actual sticker, or if it might be more like a cling? I don't want to test it....





Date on the back indicates 2006.

[maichan]

That is correct, as verified on the inside cover. Too bad he wasn't at the Expo... or was he?

Travis was at the Expo, just a couple of booths up the aisle. He was next to buddy Mike Kunkel of Herobear and the Kid fame.

Darn.... I'm sorry I missed him.

[maichan]

Is that an Usagi window decal?

I like this one

Yes, that is a window decal. The Usagi/martian drawing will be included in the Senso collection along with the other cover ideas.

I was so surprised and excited about getting the two drawings from Stan.
So excited as a matter of fact I forgot to ask Stan to sign them... but then afterward, I was wondering if they should even be signed or left 'original'?
I've loved both of them ever since I first saw them. I never thought I would be able to own them. I really enjoy seeing Usagi in his more 'candid' moments.
Both these drawings will get framed soon and put up on the wall.

[maichan]

Ah dang, I grabbed the big bag of freebies dedicated for the trivia contest giveaway, but I forgot to ask if Stan had brought my personal bag of goodies (I had requested a bookmark, finger puppets, and "any other free things he might have laying around"). I guess I was so impressed by the big bag of stuff for the trivia giveaway that it didn't dawn on me until I was on the way home that I had also requested some stuff for me to keep as well. Oh well, maybe I can get myself a bookmark and finger puppets at WonderCon.

Ahh, bummer.... have you tried asking Stan if he still had them bagged for you? I know my stuff was all bagged, but it included some magazines and items for Mayhem.
Maybe Stan can hold them for you until Wondercon?

[maichan]

It was good seeing you again. I always like to meet fellow Dojo members at the conventions. Yeah, Stan's beard was a surprise (I told him later if he wore an eye patch and tied a water gourd to the end of his walking stick, he would look like Katsuichi. Got a good laugh from Stan afterwards) Glad you had a good time.

Robert, it was good to see you too. Sorry I disappeared abruptly without talking more or saying goodbye. This was only my 3rd con and I still get overwhelmed by everything, and unfortunately I was pressed for time so I wandered off to accomplish various objectives. Hopefully we'll meet again at another con one day.

[maichan]

I also got a few more signatures in my Sakai Project. Katie Cook had a really long line at SDCC every time I tried to go to her booth, so I missed her there. This time, however, the line was much more manageable. I also got a little Usagi painting from her.

Awesome Usagi watercolor from Katie! She's a really nice person, very friendly. I watched her interact with the father & son in front of me... very kid friendly!

The only others in attendance that I hadn't gotten signatures from yet were Dennis Culver, Dave Johnson, and Dan Panosian. I managed to get Dennis and Dan to sign, but Dave wasn't at his table any of the times I wandered by. But with the three I added at the show, that gets me up to 61 signatures now.

Wow, that's a lot of signatures! I need to count how many I have now.

[maichan]

Okay, I have to ask, is that the original Jake and Elwood car from the movie???

I don't know.....
There was also a Jurassic Park SUV and some other car, but I just blew right past them when I arrived and left.

[Maka]

Ah dang, I grabbed the big bag of freebies dedicated for the trivia contest giveaway, but I forgot to ask if Stan had brought my personal bag of goodies (I had requested a bookmark, finger puppets, and "any other free things he might have laying around"). I guess I was so impressed by the big bag of stuff for the trivia giveaway that it didn't dawn on me until I was on the way home that I had also requested some stuff for me to keep as well. Oh well, maybe I can get myself a bookmark and finger puppets at WonderCon.

I can't speak for the rest of the dojo, but I would be fine with you taking out a bookmark, finger puppets, and another item or two for yourself. In my book, you are doing something for the dojo, so that can be your "payment."

---

I had a great time at LBCE on Sunday. I got to talk with Stan and Robert in the morning. It was a lot of fun hearing updates and seeing some of the work that Stan is working on. My only regret is I didn't ask Stan for an updated sketch for my self-portrait sketchbook. It would have been cool to have a bearded Stan Sakai self-portrait sketch. But I didn't think about it until Cheryl said, "This sketch of Stan is from 2008, you could have asked for an update." Next time.

I got all the artists Maichan listed to sign my copy of The Sakai Project. And Stan signed it with a sketch! This book is awesome.

I went to the Dark Horse and the Young Adult Panels that Stan was on. Stan did announce that there are plans to create two Artist Editions (but he called it something else) in the future. I also went to see Katie Cook talk and she is sassy, in a good way. I laughed a lot.

I also got a self-portrait sketch from Katie Cook (She was only charging $10 a sketch). Super cute with cats. I'll try and post it here when I get time.

Finally I got to talk with dojo member Aderil, who I hadn't seen since SDCC in 2009. That was cool to connect again.

I managed to get out of LBCC with only paying for parking, the French sketchbooks, a donation to the JANM, one indi-comic ($5), and Katie's $10 sketch. That's was a cheap and fun comic con.

Peace, maka

[Steve Hubbell]

Ah dang, I grabbed the big bag of freebies dedicated for the trivia contest giveaway, but I forgot to ask if Stan had brought my personal bag of goodies (I had requested a bookmark, finger puppets, and "any other free things he might have laying around"). I guess I was so impressed by the big bag of stuff for the trivia giveaway that it didn't dawn on me until I was on the way home that I had also requested some stuff for me to keep as well. Oh well, maybe I can get myself a bookmark and finger puppets at WonderCon.

I can't speak for the rest of the dojo, but I would be fine with you taking out a bookmark, finger puppets, and another item or two for yourself. In my book, you are doing something for the dojo, so that can be your "payment."

---

I had a great time at LBCE on Sunday. I got to talk with Stan and Robert in the morning. It was a lot of fun hearing updates and seeing some of the work that Stan is working on. My only regret is I didn't ask Stan for an updated sketch for my self-portrait sketchbook. It would have been cool to have a bearded Stan Sakai self-portrait sketch. But I didn't think about it until Cheryl said, "This sketch of Stan is from 2008, you could have asked for an update." Next time.

I got all the artists Maichan listed to sign my copy of The Sakai Project. And Stan signed it with a sketch! This book is awesome.

I went to the Dark Horse and the Young Adult Panels that Stan was on. Stan did announce that there are plans to create two Artist Editions (but he called it something else) in the future. I also went to see Katie Cook talk and she is sassy, in a good way. I laughed a lot.

I also got a self-portrait sketch from Katie Cook (She was only charging $10 a sketch). Super cute with cats. I'll try and post it here when I get time.

Finally I got to talk with dojo member Aderil, who I hadn't seen since SDCC in 2009. That was cool to connect again.

I managed to get out of LBCC with only paying for parking, the French sketchbooks, a donation to the JANM, one indi-comic ($5), and Katie's $10 sketch. That's was a cheap and fun comic con.

Peace, maka

I second Maka's suggestion concerning Jaba getting a personal prize package for helping in the distribution of upcoming contest prizes since his package of goodies got left behind at the LCCC.

Very happy to hear that there was some mention of Dark horse planning on producing a couple of the Gallery Edition hard covers for Stan, something to really look forward to. I have been wanting something like this for Usagi ever since I bought the Groo Artist Edition.

Here is a link to the previously released Gallery Editions.....
http://www.darkhorse.com/Search/Gallery+Edition+HC

I hope it is not an ongoing trend for these Gallery Editions to keep getting small in size
!

[maichan]

I can't speak for the rest of the dojo, but I would be fine with you taking out a bookmark, finger puppets, and another item or two for yourself. In my book, you are doing something for the dojo, so that can be your "payment."

I second Maka's suggestion concerning Jaba getting a personal prize package for helping in the distribution of upcoming contest prizes since his package of goodies got left behind at the LCCC.

Not that my vote matters... ...but I agree with Maka and Steve, and I feel that it would just be proper and fair for Jabba to retrieve his items from the prize bag.

[BuckRogers]

I can't speak for the rest of the dojo, but I would be fine with you taking out a bookmark, finger puppets, and another item or two for yourself. In my book, you are doing something for the dojo, so that can be your "payment."

I second Maka's suggestion concerning Jaba getting a personal prize package for helping in the distribution of upcoming contest prizes since his package of goodies got left behind at the LCCC.

Not that my vote matters... ...but I agree with Maka and Steve, and I feel that it would just be proper and fair for Jabba to retrieve his items from the prize bag.

I completely agree 100% for what it is worth, esp since jabba helped me get some stuff from Stan at the LCCC!!!

[jabba359]

Thanks guys for the support, but it's not a big deal. While I do like cool extra items, most of my enjoyment comes from reading the books and purchasing the occasional print or original piece of art. I've got the books. I've got a couple prints. I've got an original watercolor (and will likely commission something original at WonderCon or SDCC). So I'm happy already. That said, I wouldn't say "no" if Stan had a leftover bookmark, as I read a ton and would put it to good use.

[Jubei]

Thanks for sharing the pics, looked like a lot of fun and your art haul was most impressive. That reminds me, have to check the guest list for HeroesCon, see which artists who contributed to the Project book may be in attendance so I can work on acquiring some signatures for my own copy.