Off to FallCon

Celebrating its 20th year, the Minnesota Comic Book Association's FallCon has come a long way from its humble beginnings in local VFW halls and the spectacularly kitschy, un-PC Thunderbird Hotel to become one of the premiere comic book conventions of the upper midwest. Having been staged at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds for the past several years, the 20th anniversary sees the FallCon moving over to the Grandstand, the sprawling site's largest building.

I'm told it will be a much roomier experience with tons of new cool stuff...but that remains to be seen.  I'll be heading over there later today with camera in hand, so I plan to post a brief report on my impressions tomorrow. As with most FallCon visits, I'll be there primarily to scoop up great deals on back issues (the deals are there, you just have to look around), since the FallCon's programming has traditionally been...well, let's just say "lacking".  Maybe that'll change this year.

Anyway, stay tuned.

UPDATE: It looks like my skepticism was well-founded. After paying a ridiculous $11 to get into this thing, it was pretty much the exact same experience as last year's FallCon. Yeah, I found some great back issue deals (really the only reason I bother going), but if you really want a report, read my 2007 post. I'm not writing another one. I may still blab a bit on the tottering comic book stack, but as for the rest...meh. 

Happily, I was only there for a couple of hours.  I mean, when it comes right down to it, I'd much rather enjoy a wonderful fall afternoon reading comics on my deck than...well...this:

Comments

[phillyradiogeek]

Yep, looks like a comic book convention alright. Maybe I shouldn't feel so bad that I rarely get to one.

[Brian]

Ha! Great image of rabid comics collectors! Sorry it sounded a little disappointing, but count me as one who's curious to hear about your "tottering comic book stack," and whatever good deals you've found.

I was thinking after your joke the other day about air-lifting the great John Romita in for the show-- you know this book, right? Sorry if you've mentioned it before, but I thought a fellow Romita fan would want to know about it -- it's full of great stories and (of course) illustrations.

[Mark Engblom]

Yeah, I've got that book on my bookshelf. I would love nothing more than to have Romita Sr. sign it someday. I just adore the guy's work and would enjoy the chance to tell him face to face.

[Brian]

I feel the same way! While I love Steve Ditko, and think John Romita Jr. and (more recently) Marcos Martin have done wonderful work on the character, for me Spider-Man will always be the version drawn by Romita, Sr. That period from '66-'72 or so (both when he was penciling and when he was inking Gil Kane) is easily my favorite run of the title-- just the perfect blend of adventure, romance, humor and angst. And as genius as Ditko was, Romita's pencils took the book to places it might not otherwise have reached. Really, to pardon the pun, an amazing talent.

[Shar]

Sorry that your experience at FallCon was less than exhilarating, Mark.

Regarding the Romita book: a great read, detailing not only his career but the goings-on of the Bullpen back then and what it really took to produce a comic book.

It's funny, even though we remember him the definitive Spidey artist, for much of his tenure he he didn't really do full pencils--he did "rough pencils", probably breakdowns and/or layouts, for Heck and Mooney (and later on did the inking for Kane, as Brian said). This allowed John the time to help on other books, doing art corrections, etc., at the request of Stan, who really relied on him. (John was on site at Marvel, as per his agreement with Stan.) But even when Jazzy wasn't doing the full art for Spider-Man, he was involved in the plotting and overall direction of Spidey.

[David Beard]

Fallcon is great for getting professional sketches and meeting up and coming indy artists.

If you treat it like Wizard world, it will let you down. If you treat it like an opportunity to meet and support the undiscovered, in addition to bare your plumber's crack, you will find more pleasure!

[Mark Engblom]

"If you treat it like Wizard world, it will let you down."

Believe me, David, I'm fully aware Fallcon is nowhere near Wizard World territory. But at the same time, I believe there are several things that could improve the experience, such as a clear schedule of events, maps of where various artists and dealers are, and a more official presence from the Big Two comic book publishers. Older FallCons actually had DC and Marvel reps discussing upcoming plans and hosting panels, which (for whatever reason) seems to have fallen by the wayside recently. As it is now, FallCon has little more than a "swap meet" atmosphere with a bunch of artists arranged randomly around the space.

As for "meeting and discovering the undiscovered", I respectfully part ways with you there. I have absolutely no interest in viewing the amateur stuff, especially when the artists don't make much effort to display their stuff in very creative, inviting ways. Instead of taking advantage of new technologies or using creative ways to display their art (such as on large boards for passers-by to see more clearly), just sitting there like a lump with your open portfolio doesn't exactly draw me over like a moth to a flame. You have to SELL YOUR STUFF, and not operate under the assumption of "rent a table and they will come". That's never been the case, and it never will be the case.

[Mark Engblom]

"It's funny, even though we remember him the definitive Spidey artist, for much of his tenure he he didn't really do full pencils--"

That's a great point, Shar. Romita was a very "on-off" presence on that era of Spider-Man, but even when he wasn't doing pencils, his overall "look" for the Spider-Man book was retained. The crisp, clean lines and tight storytelling remained a constant, most likely as artists sought to maintain Romita's high standards (as Romita himself tried hard to do following Ditko's run).

[Wes C]

I attended a record show a couple of months ago.

Before I went, I assumed the "bargain bin squat" and had my wife confirm that my shirt would properly cover my backside.

Also: I bathed before I went. One can never be too prepared ;)