Mini Comic Con!

Caesar and I returned...maybe 30 minutes ago from the Comic Con. Lots of people, many in costumes. Dozens of illustrators and comic book creators, including Mike Mignola of Hellboy fame and Steve Niles the writer of 30 Days of Night. And thousands upon thousands of comic books -- old, new, TV and movie tie-ins. (I think we were both impressed by the I Love Lucy selection.)

Surprisingly, neither of us spent too much money. I found a series called The Age of Insects after speaking with the illustrator Louis Pieper -- he even signed my copy of Book 1 -- and The Satan Factory, a novel based on a character from the Hellboy comics. Caesar found some issues of much-desired comic books and 13 More Tragic Tales for Ugly Children. which the author, Angus Oblong, illustrated with his signature in front of our eyes.

Something I enjoyed most was watching many of the illustrators at work, creating mini-masterpieces on the fly, giving tips and advice to up-and-coming illustrators and comic book creators. And the accessibility of the artists -- right there, just across a thin table, chatting away happily with on-lookers. I loved it!

I can only imagine what the larger Comic Con in San Diego must be like....