Comikaze Day 2 Equalled Mind Blown Away

Mind Blown Away is the only way to accurately describe my day 2 at Stan Lee’s Comikaze.

The day started out normally enough.  Get to the convention center and say hi to a few friends which obviously means that since the Top Cow booth is situated as you enter the doors it meant first stop was saying hi to Betsy and Elena.  Then wandered off for a bit and in the process managed to come across Joe Jusko who I had not seen since years ago asking him at San Diego Comic Con for a sketch.  He wasn’t sketching that day but agreed to sign my sketchbook. But what made it cooler was he gave me a story for the page.  I mentioned it to him and he got this big smile on his face as he commented on remembering having done that.  Was awesome being able to thank him for that all these years later, not sure if back then I was able to speak to some of the writers and artists without stumbling, oh wait… that’s not much different than with certain ones still today (keep reading it will make sense).

Continued on stopped to see a few other people on my way to saying hi to Shannon and Rahsan Ekedal, still haven’t spent the kind of time with them that I really wanted to.  Must remedy that on Sunday.

Next was another wonderful surprise, that though I had to pass on in because of other commitments, still was a wonderful surprise.  But I think it was fate that I had to turn down this interview opportunity because if I had accepted it something that happened later in the day most likely would not have occurred.

True to her word, Bridget Silvestri arrived sporting an adorable pink tutu as she continued with her support of Keep A Breast and breast cancer awareness.

The next few hours became a bit jumbled as events led up to a personal goal being achieved in the most unexpected of ways.  I remember heading over to Keep a Breast with Emily Lazar when I ran into her.  I remember some fun and laughs there and then being told by Bridget that I needed to speak with these two guys, and when I had a puzzled and questioning look being told it’s a good thing.  Shows my level of trust in Bridget that I took her at her word and walked away with them.  I remember thinking it was probably going to be to talk about either an interview opportunity with somebody or a chance to take some photos as I couldn’t think of anything else it could be related to.  So as we start weaving our way through the crowd, we had crossed about half of the hall before one of them told the other to wait for him outside the green room (or something to that effect).  “Green room” was where my brain clicked.  I had been there yesterday.  I knew who most likely would be there considering who it was that sent me on this mysterious trek… I looked at the guy I was still following as we quickly weaved our way through the crowd and asked… Is what I think happening, happening (again or something to that effect).  He told me that I most likely had figured it out, but didn’t say anything else that would 100% confirm what my brain already decided was true.  Yes, Bridget had taken my passing comment about my being one step closer to achieving my goal of meeting Stan Lee and decided to make it happen.  I was taken to the green room for a quick hello and photo op (as in having my photo taken with him) with Stan Lee.  My brain still has not recovered.  I have been in a daze ever since.  Why?  Because I got to meet one of the legends!  One of the men that made such an undeniable mark on the industry.  I can’t tell you if I said anything to him or not.  And if I did, I definitely can’t say it would have made much sense, I most likely would have totally stumbled on my words.

When I left the green room, the nearest friends I could think of were Rahsan and Shannon Ekedal so I headed to artist alley but was in such a daze that I couldn’t remember how to find their table. Even knowing the number, I stood in artist alley looking this way and that trying to figure out which way I needed to go.  I never did make it to their table as I decided that maybe I should head back to Top Cow because surely I wouldn’t get lost getting there.  It was a close thing, as I did take one or two wrong turns as I walked in a daze. Once I got there I must truly have looked in shock as I was promptly told to sit down LOL.  Yes I couldn’t speak coherently and I couldn’t believe what happened.  I may have mentioned before that Bridget Silvestri is a warm big hearted person and this was more proof of that. She cared enough about making something amazing happen once she knew I had never met Stan Lee and that it was something I wanted to happen. I have never had me shed tears of happiness at a convention before, but I knew I shed a few tears when I finally was able to thank Bridget for making my wish (goal) come true in such a surprising and unexpected way.

In one day I was able to speak with Joe Jusko, hanging out with Marc and Bridget Silvestri, see Emily Lazar again and to top it off meet Stan Lee.  Can you see why day 2 equalled mind blown away?  And the day wasn’t over yet.

There was still Marc’s panel “Judging a Book by It’s Cover”  I always enjoy listening to an artist speak about the creative process and this panel was no different.  But what made it even better was without realizing it after this panel I managed to make a friend happy. One of my friend’s was there and we managed to connect at the end of the panel. As we were heading to leave the room I asked if he has met Marc before.  His answer was no so I told him to come with me.  Don’t know what made me do it, but on impulse I took him to meet Marc.  Wasn’t until hours later that I learned that I had helped him meet one his favorite artists in comicdome.  Wonder if his brain felt anything like mine did, but regardless I am happy that I was able to make it happen.

Even with all that, would you believe there was more?  But this is already longer than I planned for tonight so I will wrap this up so I can get a little sleep before I hit day 3 of Comikaze. Hope you enjoy the handful of teaser shots.  More will follow once my brain is functioning once more.

But I will leave you with one last message for Sunday.  Be sure to stop by the Keep A Breast booth early and buy your raffle ticket for $5 or even better if you buy for $20 you get a headband of raffle tickets.  This is a worthy cause and the people involved are amazing.  Who knows you might go home with an amazing piece of art (or I think the other item on raffle is a backpack of KAB items).  Spread the word and let’s make KABs first foray into a comic convention an overwhelming success.