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Where in the world is Joe San Diego? Part 1
2006-07-25 12:52:47
Miss me?
So, I’m near the end of my tour across the states as my trip to San Diego Comic Con is over but I now begin to prep for Chicago. While San Diego is amazing and akin to a rock concert, it really isn’t a comic’s convention any longer. Reports or perhaps rumors have attendance numbers at 150,000 people and from what I saw, I believe that number is off by an additional 50,000. The show has become more of a pop culture event sprinkled or themed by comic characters and creators. I landed on Wednesday and it was basically non-stop from that point.
Wednesday
My hotel room wasn’t ready so I meandered over to the bar and ran into Olivier Jalebert. Olivier is the manager of the Album store in Paris, the largest comic chain in the area and also represents several magnificent European artist. I had the pleasure of doing a signing at Album and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had doing an international signing. The fans were great, the staff was knowledgeable and helpful and Olivier has become a dear friend. I can’t wait to go back! Anyway, we caught up a bit until it the front desk contacted me and my room was ready.
Unpacked and a quick shower later, I ran off to do an interview with some folks from Canadian TV. We started to shoot at the Sea Port until a security guard came over and said we needed a permit to shoot video footage there. It seemed strange to me as the camera was facing out towards the bay and horizon and not towards the shops in the seaport? Regardless, we started to pack up and asked the gentlemen where we could shoot that didn’t require a permit. He pointed to an area literally five feet away that was no longer considered part of the seaport, I kid you not. We shuffled over and finished the interview.
From there I ran off to dinner with David Engel from Circle of Confusion. David is one of the top managers in Hollywood and reps some industry hacks like Bendis and Oeming. Over the years, David has also become a very good friend so we sat at the Kansas City rib joint, made famous because they filmed portions of Top Gun there (and they never let you forget it), and we caught up a bit and chatted about story and concepts and such. About three quarters of the way through dinner I started to feel myself fading so I headed back to my hotel room and got myself to sleep and hopefully by the morning I’d be adjusted to the time difference.
Thursday
I purposely kept breakfast this morning to myself. Got up early, did a little sketching for a special Hulk piece I’m doing that you all will hopefully see later this week and then took of to the con to get my day started. Today is my lightest day so I’m going to try to enjoy it as best as possible.
Hit the con floor and it’s beyond description, all I can think of is the end of Indianan Jones when they load the arc into the warehouse that goes on forever and ever. That’s what the con floor is like. The DC booth is so far away from the Marvel booth that we can’t even see it from where we are due to atmosphere and the curve of the earth.
The Marvel booth is one of the best we’ve had in quite some time. We partnered up with Activision who was promoting their Marvel Alliance video game that looks absolutely amazing! I’m not a gamer, but I may have to go out and buy this one, it’s crazy off the hook!
The Marvel booth has a nice size conference room constructed within it and that’s where I met with Scott Kolins. Scott and I discuseds his upcoming post Civil War project and coloring approach to his work and just the direction that Marvel and comics where taking. I love Scott’s work and while his next project is going to blow you all away, if you’re not reading Beyond, his current book, then you need to do so RIGHT NOW!
Next up was my first signing of the con, I was floored by how many people where in attendance considering it was a Thursday. In between signing books, Tom Defalco and I chatted and gossiped about Marvel, currently and in his day, it was a good laugh.
The weather was so spectacular today that Paul Jenkins and I decided to find an outdoor cafe for a bite of lunch. Paul and I discussed Front Line, his upcoming film work and his next big Marvel project.
Three o’clock and the Civil War panel began. The sign on the wall of the room said capacity 1400, but I believed they packed an addition 200 people, standing room only, until they had to stop people at the door because of fire regulations. Let me say this here and now, I have never been to a livelier panel than this Civil War panel. The fans were a riot, sometimes heckling questioners, all in good fun, but a real blast! At one point, I introduced a guy named Mike as the writer of Civil War, the crowd went silent, they couldn’t figure out what I meant. Mike came up to the podium and then I explained that Mike had Mark Millar on the phone and was acting as mark’s surrogate. Mark proceeded to take on fan questions and answer them from his home in Scotland, it got pretty crazy very quickly. A bit later in the panel, Jeph Loeb made one of his patented walk-on appearances and revealed that he and the brilliant Simone Bianchi were going to be doing a six issue arc beginning with Wolverine #50, the crowd went wild! Simone also made his first panel appearance and charmed the crowd with his surprisingly good English but thick Italian accent and his mastering of English profanity. When the panel was over we were all thrilled with the reception that Civil War has gotten. Thanks to everyone who was at the panel.
If you ever wondered what these were like, here’s some video of the panel courtesy of Comic Book Resources. Be forewarned, there’s some adult language used here.
http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=7955
Shortly after, Publisher Dan Buckley, Jeph Loeb and I walked out of the con to have a bit of a strategy meeting. For brevity’s sake we ducked into a San Diego landmark called Dick’s Last Resort. The theme of Dick’s is that it’s a dump and the wait staff treats you like dirt. While back in the day I found myself drinking way too late in the night at Dick’s, this afternoon we were just there for a nosh and a chat. Word to the wise, don’t eat at Dick’s, while the beer is cold, the food is horrible!
After the meeting, Loeb and I walked back to the Hyatt where we planted ourselves in the lobby for a bit just to decompress and chat. Robert Kirkman stopped by, he was waiting for Arthur Suydam and Renee Witterstaetter, they had lunch plans. Rob Leifeld stopped by and we chatted about a project which just blew me away! We all just hung around and had a good laugh until I had to excuse myself in order to prep for my next stop.
Next up was the Hasbro/Marvel party at a club called “On Broadway.” Wow, what a bash, this party rocked! Stan Lee was there and he charmed the crowd. We also got a peak at Hasbro’s upcoming toy line along with some clips from Ghost Rider, Spider-Man 3 and some upcoming Marvel animated stuff. Color me impressed! As we exited the party we got a goody bag filled with all sorts of cool swag including a laser pointer, which I love because it freaks out my cats!
After the party, it was straight to bed for me, big meetings tomorrow and I have to be sharp. Jeeeesh, when did I become so responsible?
More tomorrow.
Yep did Miss you! ^_^
..........Wow. @_@ I got dizzy just reading everything you did! It sounds like an amazing experience though! I wish I could have attended. I'm glad you had fun!
Posted by TwilghtDragon on 2006-07-25 13:30:53
wow lots to do being you..!
same here i got dizzy just reading and thinking that wow maybe i should of been there.so much fun and not lots of time to do it in. joe you are a the top and lots happen coz of you.so the bell hop said no more people in the room he means it ok.i mean when you go and rent a room isnt it just for a couple of people not the whole department and guests.oh well must of been a blast.just wish i could have been invited.oh and thanks for going to bed at a decent hour coz my marvel adventures need to be on time ok mister....so till when joe goes off the wagon and stays out late make mine marvel...two cups of joe for joe....haha
Posted by image21972 on 2006-07-25 13:54:39
i wonder...
if u would better off blind and i did not miss u in fact i ''hate'' you
korn rules
Posted by tarhaun on 2006-07-25 14:12:43
Awesome...
That sounds unreal... Must've been SO much fun...
Posted by astrosapien on 2006-07-25 18:38:58
Can't get enough of Joe
Love the work, love DA MAN.
If you want more of Joe, then you've got a lot more up to date reading to do at: www.newsarama.com
Also check out Simone Bianchi's art work at:
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Page=1&Order=Date&Piece=99828&GSub=10946&GCat=0&UCat=0
Thanks Joe for your time.
p.s. Today's 7/25 Tuesday. Is he writing about Wednesday a whole week ago and it's just being posted today?
Posted by Batteryteam on 2006-07-25 23:30:05
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Hey there True Believer! Ever wonder what a day in the life of Marvel’s Editor in Chief is like? Well, wonder no more o’ faithful one! Join Joe Quesada as he takes you through the hallowed halls of Marvel in his very own "Cup of Blog!"
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Joe Quesada is Editor in Chief of Marvel comics. |
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