Late review - Tucson Comic Con 2009
I had really hoped to do some sort of write up about this year’s 2nd annual Tucson Comicon. As luck, fate, whatever would have it, by Monday after the con, I was already coming down with something that had invaded my pristine and healthy body. An insidious parasite that I no doubt picked up at said convention in the first place. Not the flu, but just enough of a bug to dull my senses and manifest my lethargic alter ego, Cantgetouttabed Boy. Oh, sure, I was able to generate the occasional Facebook quip, but by and large, I just felt too miserable to contribute anything more than that. It’s a week later and I’m still sneezing my fool head off, but I feel so much better. Thanks for asking.
I was really looking forward to this year’s Tucson Con. I managed to miss the first one somehow, so I was determined to make this one. Back in the 90’s, there was an effort to create a Tucson Con and it actually lasted a couple years before drying up and blowing away, but we’ve really been needing one ever since. And here it is: Thanks to Mike Olivares and his crew, this year’s show had an intensity usually found at bigger venues and has firmly planted itself as an annual Tucson event. I believe this is the start of something big.
My sister was out, visiting from Connecticut, and she’d never been to a comic book convention. Luckily, she’s adventurous type and ended up having a great day making connections and meeting people. I have to take a moment and offer a plug for her. She’s a professional musician in the New York / Boston corridor. She goes by ArleneWow!, and you can check out her site at www.arlenewow.com There are links to listen to her music, so don’t hesitate. You won’t be sorry.
But I digress. About a week before the show, I started to get a little worried as there was no confirmation or any information about set-up or floorplan. Turned out it was first come, first serve, pick the table of your choice kinda situation. That made me a bit nervous. I like my cons to be a little more structured than that otherwise it brings up horrible images of swap meets and yard sales. What was I getting into? Once there, my fears melted away. Mike was indeed orchestrating placement as it happened but with a sort of plan in mind, so we ended up with a good mix of different exhibitors throughout the hall.
In the final analysis, it was a great show. We meet old friends, made new ones and had sales that rivaled any of the other shows we do. The Hotel Arizona is a great venue for this sort of thing and a great location to boot. I hope the hotel thought well of us also, as there’s plenty of room to grow into there. Maybe next year we’ll start to have the things other cons have, like panels, costume contests, films…and after-con events, maybe a mixer here and there wouldn’t hurt. You did a great job Mike, we’re looking forward to the next one. And I hope to see the rest of you there too!
