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BOB GOES BACK-TO-BACK WITH TORONTO CON & NEW YORK CON!
Last month, to coordinate with the release of the first issue of my new Marvel mini-series, IRON MAN: LEGACY OF DOOM, I attended two fantastic events back-to-back. Unique to these two events was the appearance of my best friend and co-plotter David Michelinie. David and I have not attended a con together for 7 years, so for many hardcore Iron Man fans, it was a rare treat to have both of us at the same venue. And David wound-up having huge autograph lines throughout the event, showing that Canadians have great taste in comic book writers! First up was the Toronto Fan Expo on April 12th-13th. This annual event is one of my favorite cons to attend, in part because of the great staff who always treat their guests like...well...guests! I love the fans in Toronto as well, who are highly-respectful and a delight to talk to about all things Iron Man. During the two-day show, I sat on a "Men of Iron" panel with David and superstar Mike Grell, did a television interview on Iron Man with the SPACE network (Canada's version of the SCI-FI CHANNEL--see this month's video blog) and, the craziest TV spot I've ever done--an on-camera interview with the lovely Katherine Curtis (check out her pic below--she's the one in the vinyl Phoenix costume) for the NAKED NEWS. If you aren't familiar with that show, the NAKED NEWS is shown internationally on the internet, cable TV and mobile phones where the anchors engage in a slow striptease while reporting international world events. As I told the associate producer before agreeing to the spot, I'm not opposed to taking my clothes off, but unlike Katherine, I don't think it would do a whole lot to further my career! Fortunately, everything proceeded fully- clothed and, hopefully, you'll be seeing that spot on next month's video blog. Thanks to the con, I had a chance to chat with some old friends like the aforementioned Mike Grell and my Valiant alum, Star Wars artist David Ross. I also had the opportunity to meet some creators whom I've never had the pleasure of crossing paths with before, like the super-talented Steve Epting (and his bombastic wife Michelle) and Image's INVINCIBLE artist Ryan Ottley. I have to thank promoter Ahmad Gupta, coordinator Tiziano De Santis and the rest of the terrific staff of the Toronto Fan Expo for showing David, Sorah and me a terrific time in the Great White North.
Two days later, it's off to the 'City that Never Sleeps' for the annual New York Comic Con at the Jacob Javitz Center. This year's event saw an incredible 70,000 fans in attendance. For me, it was one of the most hectic, whirlwind public appearances that I've ever undertaken. Before the show, I spent a full day meeting with the editorial folks at the Marvel Comics offices (a place I haven't stepped foot in for almost a decade). Everyone there was extremely gracious and gave me, and the fabulous Sorah Suhng, the red carpet treatment. I was introduced to nearly everyone in the facility and got a chance to put faces to the names that I've seen frequently since returning to work at Marvel. I had the opportunity to chat with folks like Molly Lazer, Tom Brevoort, Bill Rosemann, talent coordinator Chris Allo and the Incredible Hercules editors Mark Paniccia, Nate Cosby and Jordan White. All of those staffers, up 'til now, had been only voices on the phone or faceless e-mailers. Even Editor-In-Chief Joe Quesada took time out from his busy schedule to invite us into his office and show the Fabulous One the latest in Wacom Pad and artistic software technology. Oh...and later that evening, there was the Marvel cocktail party that looked like a Who's Who of the comics industry! At the New York Comic Con itself, there was an incredible crush of attendees, who were abuzz over all things related to Iron Man. Needless to say, I was swamped from the moment they opened the doors each day until closing time. There were some fantastic specials for the con that featured my work prominently, like the Iron Man Toon Tumbler and the limited, 5,000 copy sketch cover edition of Iron Man: Legacy of Doom #1. (You know...I didn't even snag one of those suckers for myself! Damn!!) At the show, like Toronto, I had the opportunity to get reacquainted with some old friends, the ever-enduring Iron Man fans (and my legion of long-time supporters from overseas) and make some new pals like superstar illustrator Bryan Hitch, current Hercules co-authors Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente and Oliver Copiel . Needless to say, I left the party on Sunday pleased... but extremely exhausted. However, there was no rest for the weary, because, coming up was the Marvel private screening of the new Iron Man motion picture back in New York. So, with only about 48 hours to get caught up on the ten days that I was out of my studio in Tampa, I turned around and flew back to New York for the event at the spacious Ziegfeld Theater on 54th St. But, thanks to the fantastic people at the Wingate Inn in Midtown (35th St, between 7th & 8th Ave), they kept my room ready for me like I had never left. Next time you plan a visit in Manhattan, I highly recommend that you stay at this clean, modern and fully-appointed facility. I want to extend my thanks to Assistant General Manager Elvis Gonzalez, Manager Jessie Tang and their courteous staff for running a top-notch hotel and for making my two stays in the Big Apple memorable this year. Also, I want to thank my art agent and pal, Spencer Beck, for his relentless and unwavering attention to making my stay at the New York Comic Con eventful and rewarding. And --I've succeeded in turning them all into hardcore Iron Man fans!!! Once I finally got back home, I thought I could relax and rest up for a while. But--I suddenly remembered: "OH MY GOD!!! I'VE SCHEDULED TWO, SEPARATE STORE APPEARANCES FOR FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!!!!!" But, more about that next month.
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