Free comics.

Last year, I only did one day of Baltimore, partially because I was dis-spirited over my first (lack of sales), and partially because I saw just about everyone I wanted to see. I also didn’t help that for the first time in years, I was commuting from home (an hour away) and didn’t have a hotel room right next door.

I only made a $5.00 selling two copies of my new book.

If it wasn’t for that damn porno convention five blocks away…

But if you had a choice - which would you rather see? Thousands and thousands of wall to wall adult film stars or goddamn Shatner’s toupee that makes your skin crawl?

~

Coat

I’ve done the show every year in Philly and each year is getting worse. I doubt I’ll do it next year. I may just get a pro pass and then walk around and sell original art to people I know in a prearranged setting. It’s not worth the $300 table fee anymore. Saturday was busy but it was a weird vibe that was more low key and subdued this year. Not many kids either again, just the same nerds. Even as I walked into the show this year, I felt like it was the same old, same old and I only do two shows a year! It must be con fatique or the fact that there are too many shows going on now.

Saturday was busy, and let’s be honest, it’s really a one day show. Get in and get out if you are a pro trying to make the money. Baltimore is a one day show as well. Heroes Con is going that way too (San Diego is garbage and comics and their creators are only 20% of the whole show now). Sunday was dead at Wizard Philly but surprisingly busy around 2-4pm and I made around $100 for the day which is shit in the grand scheme of things. I made my money all on Saturday and I made my goal financially that I was looking to make. Wizard Philly has seen it’s best days I think…it may be time for new blood or some kind of revamping to it.

Scott

Magoo, I don’t live under a rock or in a bubble. I’ve likewise been in the corporate world and seen how fast management will throw people under the bus to keep their jobs.

Again, just because this is standard behavior still doesn’t make it right. Or, for that matter, good business. I’m failing entirely to see the point of telling me “this is SOP.”
Maybe you can explain to me.

Excusing this as standard assists the other side and normalizes bad business, and suggests that it’s not worth commenting on.
Or did you miss Tom Spurgeon saying the same thing?

the con had a ton of people sat and a decent sunday and the few dealers i know more than made their money back. friday out of the gate was decent…but nowhere as good as the weekend.

can you let us know what this dealer was selling?? really curious here.

i did three panels that were standing room only , not a seat to be had. thats a pretty good showing…makes me think people came to the con for the right reasons.

jimmy

I did hear a funny story, from someone else that attended, that the image of the show was seeing Kevin Nash chatting some HeroClix players in one of the hotel bars Saturday night.

POW! BAM! BIFF! That’s the best line I’ve heard all day!

Lea, after a couple of downsizes (they didn’t attend the “rightsizing” seminar Heidi was talking about), I can vouch that that’s the way of the corporate world.

Honestly, is anyone still arguing this?

NYCC passed it in Year Two, if not their inaugural. Heck, Heidi doesn’t go anymore- how relevant can it be?

Because of economics, WWC is the only “big” show I can attend. Until last year I’d gone every year since ‘96. Last year, I passed but my friends went. They said it was no different than the previous year. Maybe worse - the loss of Knockers/Sluggers/KickersInc. (whatever that Hyatt sports bar was called) took away a central point in the evening activities.

This year? Who knows? The move away from SDCC doesn’t seem to have drawn a greater number of guests. The line-up is fair-to-middling. A couple of creative types I’d like to see, but otherwise not my cuppa’. The celebrity list is weak - excepting George the Animal Steele and The Iron Sheik - and yes, I’m counting Todd MacFarlane in that group. Even now, the only programming they list is about Batman Gotham Knight, not that “strong” and “WWC programming” have ever been credible in a sentence together. Add to these factors the rising cost of travel, and you’ve got a big expense for a little return.

Why should anyone be excited about it?

That said, I’m pretty much a meat and potatoes super hero guy, so I can’t speak to whether or not the show satisfied the criteria outside of my very specific demo. That said, I had fun (and am not under contract to say so).

Which doesn’t mean it’s okay, or shouldn’t be commented on, as you know. I fight and comment where my expertise is.
I am excited by how comics has changed in the past five years, which makes TP’s sins all the more obvious.
As other companies begin to publish graphic novels and don’t require surrender of rights, TP will become pleasingly irrelevant. Yeah, the very Platinum of manga.

I’ve attend WWP every year and the 2008 show was larger than the past few years and the attendance seemed about normal. Unfortunately the WW shows are starting to become a bit of “same old, same old”. With respect to the creators and celebrities that did attend there wasn’t that “must see” personality this year (Kevin Smith where are you when we need you ??) . As for the vendor who only made $14.00 on Saturday, what were you selling ? Artist alley is always hit or miss and most of the discount trades and back issues I searched through were the same overstocks that every other vendor had.

In Chicago with all the great museums, restaurants, bars, clubs, hotels, parks, beaches…not out in Rosemont with hotels and corporates offices.

As a Chicago resident and comic creator I attend WWC every year and was blown away by NYCC. A great con in a great city.

The city, fans, and creators deserve better.

Yes, Friday was dead, dead, DEAD, but things picked up Saturday and Sunday was surprisingly lively. It was nothing like an NYCC or SDCC, but for a regional show, it seemed to have a decent number of fans.

Now, whether they were there to buy comics from retailers and artists or whether they were there just to get Starbuck’s autograph is an entirely different story.

Yes.

It also could have been far worse. Instead of an NDA, it could have been a 2-year non-compete…