What DAN CON 2014 Taught Me About Life

To say that 2013 was a pretty low year for me would be....well, understatement. Drama. Grief. Isolation.

In other words, typical day-to-day stuff for the geek/nerd lifestyle.

So this year, I had resolved to be more social - to actually force myself to interact with others. (Thankfully, a pal's New Year's Eve invitation sweetened the deal). So it was in that spirit that I headed into Dan Con 2014, hoping for a reunion with some Comic Related (and other Chicago) pals that I kept at arm's length through 2013.

Admittedly, it was a bit tough - I've been attempting to reconnect with the things that I enjoy doing, to find the time to follow through. (This blog, in particular, suffered through the emotional sturm in drang of 2013).  Perhaps now that I'm seeing increased activity on the work front (both in terms of a current gig and requests for my time for potential future work), and with a nascent writing career budding, my time has been....well, at a premium.

But ironically....well, this is kind of a bit convoluted, but here goes. In many groups that share my interest, there's this belief that yes, we're all inclusive....but that often leads to groupthink. And groupthink leads to being unmutual.

And quite frankly, I think The Prisoner handled those themes extremely well.

OK, let me see if I can articulate it differently....I had a lot of irons in the fire. Some of them threatened to drag me down, and this year...I made a concerted effort to give up those things which weren't bringing me joy. There was some resistance - not on my part, but when you're leaving a group, sometimes the group feels like you're necessary, when you may not be. And sometimes, you need to ask forgiveness rather than permission.

I've been culling through and paring my life down to the most essential...and sometimes, I wondered if the kind of belonging I craved wasn't within my immediate reach. That the price of being part of a particular group meant feeling that ache of not quite fitting in...that somehow, belonging meant hiding what I truly felt.

Thankfully, Dan Con taught me that acceptance is within reach....and that sometimes, I forget that the people who care about me are not always within my line of sight.

And that maybe, if I'm feeling excluded from some groups - when I should feel included - that might be a sign.....

Enough ranting for today. More fun and joy in the future. I promise.

Turning Rebellion Into Money: COMIC-CON & THE BUSINESS OF POP CULTURE

Given some of the events of the past few years, you would think that comics are undergoing a bit of a renaissance....or a vital shake-up. With the comics industry attempting to engage an ever-shrinking readership while meeting the challenges of new technology, there is ample cause to be worried for the future of comics.

Thankfully, for fans, observers, and those interested in the comics and pop culture industry (like me), there's Rob Salkowitz's Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture. For anyone with even a passing interest in comics, this is a definite must-read, and should be placed on your to-do list for 2013.

Integrating both a business analyst's perspective with a comic fan's enthusiasm, Salkowicz uses his attendance at San Diego Comic-Con as a jumping-off point for exploring the various nuances and challenges within the comics industry. Thankfully, the book is written in an easy-to-understand prose style, and is a very brisk read. (It took me all of two days to complete, including two round-trips downtown from home). Neither dry-as-dust analysis nor overenthusiastic propaganda, Salkowicz's book manages to both entertain and enlighten.

It's the kind of book that would easily get ignored by many casual comics fans - after all, everyone knows a little something about the industry? But in Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture, Salkowicz deftly combines the best of both worlds to craft a book that anyone can pick up and read, and which anyone can gain critical insights about comics, popular culture, and the impact of San Diego Comic-Con.

In short, this book is the best defense against poorly informed opinions, overdramatic predictions, and overenthusiastic defenses. You'll be a better, smarter comics fan by reading this book. (And might I suggest checking it out of the local library as well?)

Easily my choice for best non-fiction book of 2012.

Your Unsubtle Reminder Video for Tomorrow Moment of Zen

I'll be here - won't you?

While I'm At Wizard World Comicon....

....feel free to click on the affiliate links in the upper right hand corner. Or even the new banner ad. Yes, I'm looking to get a few bucks for Ramen noodles while seeking work. (Thankfully, have press credentials to get into Wizard World).

And on an appropriately snarky note, anyone think that my experience at Comicon will resemble this cover?

From Inferior Five # 10, (1970)

Didn't think so.

(By the way, my weekly roundup/Zone 4 post will happen tomorrow. Honestly).

Wizard World, Comic Con - What's In A Name?

Spent most of today recovering from WizardWorld/Chicago ComicCon/whatever you want to call it this past weekend, and I have to say....I was sadly disappointed. My expectations were maybe a bit high, but the experience was a bit overstuffed. Although I'll probably be talking about it in other areas, some preliminary thoughts:

• All in all, Comic-Con was an attempt to reengage a name that hadn't been used in years. Quite frankly, the energy level of the convention was best described as "Um, yeah". Given rumors about a new convention hitting Chicago in April, this might be Wizard World's last gasp at greatness.
• Wizard attempted to ramp up more of a "celebrity" presence - more reliance on celebrity autographs (there were a ton of wrestlers), as well as the usual suspects. It was a bit overdone, like the punk band who played on Saturday (which ended up blocking traffic through part of the hall), the tattoo parlor providing live tattoos (I'm not making this up, folks)....Wizard is becoming as hip as your uncle Jim. And Uncle Jim's not hip. Not even my uncle Jim.
• Biggest mistake - having most of the high-end celebrity panels with high-end prices. Forty dollars for the John Ostrander auction - fair, it's a fundraiser. But $100 to hang with Mark Millar or Nichelle Nichols? $150 to chat with BSG or the guy who played Toad in X-Men? Granted, they need to eat, but that's a little steep.
• Noticed a lot of retailers selling trades for $5 and hardbacks for $10, and 85 - 90% of those were Marvel. Quick question for our favorite comics retailer who blogs: is this a matter of Marvel flooding the market with trades, or retailers ordering way too many copies?
• Best panel - Hero Initiative.
• Best moment - Brian Azarello at the DC Nation Panel on his upcoming Spirit series - "I will have things that you would expect, and things that you won't expect, and I'm not going to tell you the things you won't expect!"
  
• By the way, I spent 15 minutes in the Twilight panel in order to get good seating for the DC Nation panel, and for those of you who like Twilight, two words: Dark frakkin' Shadows.
• All in all, a very disappointing time - maybe this is proof that the Wizard magazine mentality is finally jumping the shark.
  

But enough of my yakkin' - here are some photos for you to savor. Enjoy!

While I'm At Comic Con

Since I'm heading to the Wizard Chicago Comic Con this weekend (thanks, Chuck!), just wanted everyone to know that I'll be away from the keyboard for a day or two.

To get your pop culture blogging jones, might I suggest heading over to Mark's, Nikki's, and Sea of Green's blogs? They're all really good blogs that are worth reading, and quite frankly, I think you should add all of them to your blogroll.

Also, I'm taking your questions for a podcast. Submit away!

Finally, my major psychic prediction for this weekend: Mike Sterling will post a picture of Sluggo.

Later, dudes and dudettes!

(Did I just blog that out loud? I think I did...)