This & That: BitBA hits the C2E2 Convention!.

Redartz:  Hello again, everyone, and thanks for joining us. Today I'd like to share some thoughts and images about a pretty remarkable day. Last weekend, in Chicago, there was a comic/ pop culture convention known as C2E2 (Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo). Also, last weekend (Sunday, specifically), was another notable event: the first face-to-face meeting between some of the folks who bring you BitBA, and also our predecessor the Bronze Age Babies. Representing the BAB was Doug, familiar to you all no doubt. He was joined by our friend and frequent commenter Charlie Horse 47. Also there were your cohosts, Martinex1 and myself. And if there's anything better than a comic convention, it's a convention in the company of friends (and how did we not get Charlie in the photo? My bad, pal; just wait until next year).

Martinex1, Doug and Redartz; as photographed by Charlie Horse 47

To give you a sense of how the day went, we have some comments by the attendees. And with no further ado, heeeeere's Doug:

Some fine wings on display

Doug:  I'd not been to C2E2 before, but was excited to check it out. As I expected, it was a massive show -- McCormick Place just allows that sort of sprawl. I had a little difficulty getting my bearings, as I'm used to the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL and the way WizardWorld Chicago is generally organized. But once I finally ascertained where the back issue vendors were, I found my comfort zone.


However, it didn't take long before a severe change in my sensibilities set in. I had not been to a convention since I sold my comic book collection and quite a bit of my memorabilia over 2014-16. This time around, I did not feel any pull toward the endless rows of longboxes, nor the booths packed to the brim with Marvel Legends, Mini-mates, etc. That made me feel a little melancholy. So reduced to seeking out vendors with large collections of trade paperbacks/hardcovers, I found that there were really only a half dozen or so dealers that I spent any time with. I'd printed an inventory of my library ahead of the trip, and had an idea of what I'd buy should it present itself. I was able to come back home with six books: volumes 1 and 3 of The Batman Adventures, The "Behold the Vision" Avengers Epic Collection, the "Man Without Fear" Daredevil Epic Collection, volume 2 of the Silver Surfer Masterworks (tpb), and the Adventures of Superboy hardcover (reprinting the first 20+ appearances of the character from 1945-46). I got deals on all books below what I could get online, so felt the day was successful.

But the best part of the day was spending it with three like-minded friends. Some might think it odd to call a person you've never laid eyes on a "friend", but I'll say that right from the minute Redartz pulled up at my house last Sunday morning there was a familiarity, a collegiality forged over the past three or four years that melted away any apprehensions that might have existed -- and that sense continued once we arrived at our point of final departure and met Martinex and Charlie Horse in person. Socially, the entire day was easy; it was rewarding, fun, mentally stimulating, and on and on. We've already discussed turning this into some form of tradition!

And now, Charlie Horse 47 shares a convention tale:


Charlie Horse 47: I was enjoying my time perusing the books at Basement Comics’ booth and spied a nice copy of Police Comics # 40 (Plastic Man w/ cover and stories by the genius Jack Cole) that was reasonably priced.  I asked the dealer if I could open the book and inspect it and he said, “Sure!”  Then he said, “Wait, that’s a ‘Chop Collection’ book. “ He then proceeded to explain… 

Cap, with an incredible shield

Chop was a young lad whose mother only allowed him to have “X” number of comic books.  She would count his comics to make sure he never had more than “X” and only the same “X.”  (The dealer thinks Mom did this to ensure Chop focused on studies or whatever kids did in the 1940s.)  Well Chop, being a clever lad, figured out a way to beat mom’s quota system.  He very carefully took the "X" comics apart, keeping the covers. He would then secretly acquire new comics, disassemble them, and re-staple their pages into the "X" covers.  (Yep – the dealer had to tell me that twice to ensure I understood what I heard.)

So, there was no telling what was actually inside… presumably some Plastic Man, perhaps from #40, and other stories from other comics.  

The dealer then told me how he had a Chop Collection copy of (Punch #12) that had a picture of a skull on the cover and he had sold it for $4,000 in Poor condition.  Though the cover looked great, the contents were uncertain, so he sold it as “Poor” condition.  (Presumably the innards weren’t from Action # 1 or Detective #27, lol.)

Chop did a great job “copy/pasting” 1940s style, LOL. 

 Martinex1: I couldn't agree more that it was just fun hanging out with "old" friends.  There is a great ability in the BitBA comments for participants' personalities  to shine through.  So it was good to finally meet some of the group, and put faces to the commentary.  We had plenty of time as the parking gods were not smiling on us and we probably spent an extra hour in transit as we toured the city looking for a spot.  Topics rapidly rattled off and included everything from job friendly college degrees to security screenings to nudist colony landmarks to the UK Dennis the Menace to the merits of swiping.  It was kind of like a month of BitBA crammed into a morning commute.

I enjoyed walking the floor and particularly looking at the original comic art.  While I didn't purchase any pieces, we did see some wonderful Perez Avengers covers, Kirby art from Kamandi and a page from Avengers #1, and a Colan Daredevil cover.  Seeing those in their original state was a highlight.

I picked up some random book.  For my sons I grabbed Sonic the Hedgehog, Little Archie, and a Jughead Digest and I am happy to report they dove into and plowed through them.  They seemed to get a kick out of the story in which it is revealed that Jughead's real name is Forsythe.

 

For myself, I picked up  few floppies including an old Gold Key Mission Impossible and a Charlton Judo Master.  I enjoyed watching Dan Parent sketch and ink the Jughead images for the guys  And I arranged for a commission from Jeffrey Moy to reimagine the cover from Legionnaires #61 to be delivered later.  The best cosplay costumes I saw included the Black Panther, Mr. Freeze, and a gang of Disney characters.

All in all a great day.  I am glad we got together...but I have to say I don't know how people attend for three days straight.  That has to be tiring.

Redartz:  I started the day with an early drive, but that was quickly forgotten upon the warm welcome Doug offered! It was a treat to see his 'stash' in person. And another treat was soon to follow, when we met up with Martinex1 and Charlie Horse 47 (and the fine breakfast Marti had prepared for us all). Indeed, the highlight of the day for me was, really, all day long- enjoying the company of these fine gents. The conversation was rich, wide ranging and entertaining; and full of comic lore. As Doug noted, the camaraderie was instantaneous. Anyone would have thought it was a meeting of four old school chums. And it may as well have been; it seemed as though I'd known them all for years. The witty, friendly voices behind years of posts and  comments were the same I'd known, the only difference was that now there were smiling faces and audible laughter to go along with them!

These two stepped right off the CW...

As for the show: it was pretty big, bigger than most conventions I've attended, and it was a bit disorienting (or was that simply the years?). Nevertheless, there was loads to see. Cosplayers were all around, many with remarkably made costumes. Artist's alley was full; never got over to see Neal Adams but did get a Jughead sketch from Archie artist Dan Parent. Also got to meet Don Rosa, the great talent behind some excellent Disney Duck stories (and bought a very cool Will Eisner/ Spirit parody poster from him, as well). Then went down the row further, and met Erica Henderson (artist of, among other things, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl). She was kind enough to sign the book I purchased and added a small sketch. As I try to pick up some form of original artwork at each con I attend, this show was quite fruitful in that regard.

 Of course, I also picked up a few actual vintage comics- an old Justice League, the first issue of All-Star Squadron (have never read it, but it has had many recommendations). And I re-acquired Amazing Spider-Man 135- for the cover. Yes, the cover made me buy that book again. 



One cool thing I noticed: many families were wandering around the convention floor, and many couples, many folks of all shapes and sizes. Kids, teens, young adults, older folks- it seems everyone likes to hit a con these days. That gives  me a little bit of optimism for our hobby's future. So all in all, this was one fine day...

 

 

Adventures in Comics: Discovering Back Issues!

Redartz:  Hello, friends! Time to relax, think back a bit, and remember. Specifically, can you recall the first time you bought a back issue comic?  I'd say almost all of us started out in comics picking up new issues off the stands and spinner racks (or being the recipient of some,perhaps earlier, books from a friend or relative). When  I first started my four color obsession, I considered myself lucky to find a few months' worth of a title stuck among the other comics in a rack, probably bent at the spine by now from being pulled down and looked over. I knew of older comics, but hadn't really considered how to get at them.

Fortunately, my pop culture mentor friend, upon learning that  I'd finally taken his advice and picked up a couple of comics , hauled me along to a new shop in our modest downtown: a comic book store! That in itself astounded me; I knew we  had a couple antique shops locally, and even a coin/stamp/hobby shop. But a whole store devoted to comic books?!?   I just couldn't imagine it. 

And so, on that early spring afternoon, after school, I opened the door to this shop and stepped into Wonderland. The first thing that struck me was the huge display of new comics! Every title I knew, and many that were unknown to me. And they weren't bent over and scattered around! Looking around, I saw a whole spinner rack devoted just to Archie comics, Disney and other 'funny' books. But the big discovery awaited at the back of the store. There was an alcove, filled with boxes of comics, arrayed by title. Old comics! Actual back issues, including many printed before I even existed! And in the display case , along one wall: some reeeeally old books, including the holy grail itself- Amazing Fantasy 15. It was a staggering experience.

 



It was hard to know where to begin; so many to look at. So I started thinking of my (earlier) childhood, when I first started reading comics. As noted a few days ago in our "Funny Books" column, one of the earliest comics I can remember having was Not Brand Ecch 5. That seemed like a good way to begin, and lo: they had a copy. Of course, the price was higher than the 25 cent cover price of current comics.  It was a whole dollar! But worth it to me, unquestionably. Besides, I'd saved up a few dollars just to make this buying trip.  I was just so excited at the prospect of mining comics history, little else mattered.  Choice number one was made. 

As I was still buying an occasional Archie, I next chose "Archie at Riverdale High" number 1. Another fifty cents on my tab. Finally, as my favorite title was Amazing Spider-man, I knew that my final purchase would be one of those. But again, how to choose? Well, as with the Brechh issue, I recalled a few specific books from my 7-year-old reading. One of those was ASM 66, with Mysterio. So I looked for it, and again: success! Another dollar to my total for the day. And what amazed me about this book: it looked like new!  After seven years, it looked like nobody had even opened it. Purchase number three was made. I walked out that door a new kid, no longer just a reader of comics. I was a FAN...

Oh, and one little side note about those three comics: after all these years, and the early 90's purge of almost my entire collection, I still have all three of these very books. Guess I made good choices that day.




So that was my first encounter with old comics. Countless  more would be following (oh, the impression made by that first convention; but that's a story for another day). Do you recall the first time you picked up a book from The Past? Can you name the first back issue you actually purchased, and why you chose it from among the thousands of comics to choose from?  Let's hear your tales...