The Phoenix Comicon is a very well-run, very well-attended comic book convention where everyone seems to be having a very good time. The place was, as advertised, packed yesterday. I would imagine that the biggest complaint most attendees have is how long it sometimes takes to get anywhere due to the massive crowds. That is, in a way, a recommendation for the event. I have no idea what the final attendance figures will be but I'll bet the con organizers are very happy with them.
I did encounter one dealer who was less than delighted with his sales. I dunno what the guy was selling. Our conversation occurred at the Hyatt while waiting in line for the elevator and as I've learned, when a dealer bitches about insufficient business, that could mean the convention hasn't attracted enough people eager to spend money…or it could mean that that guy brought the wrong stuff to sell and/or has it way overpriced. In any case, this particular dealer's gripe was how many of the attendees were cosplayers in costume. Said he, "They just come to parade around and be seen and block the aisles and none of them ever buys anything. Hell, most of them don't even have wallets or pockets to put a wallet in."
I offer the above without comment.
I am not wild about the Phoenix Convention Center. It's confusingly laid-out and it seems like its designer didn't pay ample mind to the issue of crowd control. I can also imagine some cellular company someday doing a commercial in which they boast, "Our coverage is so good, there's actually a slim chance you could make or receive a call inside the Phoenix Convention Center!" Still, the folks behind this particular con did a fine job working with what they had to work with and they treated their guests pretty well.
Friday night, I went back to that revolving restaurant for dinner, this time with Len Wein, Chris Claremont, artist Todd Nauck and his lovely wife Dawn. Food was great, company was great and there was a terrific fireworks display over the adjacent baseball stadium. It was a bit odd to be watching fireworks from the 24th floor of a building, thereby putting us closer to them than usual. It was just like being in the opening of Love, American Style except that Charo wasn't there. As far as I know.
Last night, Len and I went with my friend Phil Geiger to a barbecue restaurant to eat barbecue-type food. Len told us he's getting unnerved to meet children who have been named after comic book characters he named. It was okay when it was Logan (as in Wolverine) but now he's coming across kids named Colossus. I told him to brace himself for the day when a young girl comes up to him and says, "My parents were big fans of your comics. My name is Swampthing O'Reilly!"
I just got back from a little room here in the hotel where they serve breakfast to their guests and I had nice conversations with Billy Tucci and Gini Koch. I'm going to post a video link to Eric Idle singing the only song he knows, pack, check my luggage and get over to the con. When next you hear from me, I will be back in my office in Los Angeles. I hope.