My niece is 13 and a pretty cool girl. We already have a date set up for us to go see Guardians when it comes out in theaters. So, a trip up to the Philadelphia region was planned and my wife and I took her to her first comic convention.The trip into the city was fairly routine. Not extremely long lines of traffic to get in. Once there and once our $165 was spent four three Friday passes it was time to hit the floors. Almost, we had to wait in line until the doors were open at noon. The lines were orderly and well managed and people were kind to each other, which is always appreciated. Once in, there was a barrage of booths waiting for us. Everything was on sale, from swords and knives to cops lay items, bootleg DVDs to old toys, Lego mini figures to cellphones to direct tv to foot stimulators to cosmetics. Do you see where I am going with this?
there were very few actual comics for sale. In total there were about ten booths selling comics out of the massive floor space. Everyone had the same spec books, Rocket Raccoon, Preacher, Scalped, and all priced about the same. There were a few gold and silver aged booths, but for the most part it was not a comic show at all. I walked in with $500 spending money to get good deals, and walked out with $494 and three blind pack Aliens Kubrick figures. Kind of disappointing.
Other than that the com was very popular for celebrities selling autographs and the various other sundry pop culture items for sale.
I last sat went to Philly for Wizard World about five years ago, the weekend before my dad passes away and came home with six long boxes of comics. Today, nothing.
Money key was saved and will be spent at the Baltimore Comic Con, a show that still focuses on comics.
Wizard World Austin last fall seems to be about the same from what you described, although the shops that were selling had huge amounts of comics to sell, they had the biggest booths out of all the booths. There was a lot of crap gimmick shops but the nice thing I liked about it was there was a huge artists row, it took up half the floor space and that’s where I hung out most, talking to artists, etc.
Ya know I was tempted to go since I haven’t been to Philly in 30 years but decided not to. Apparently I made a good choice. Looking forward to Baltimore as well.
Should try Heroes con in Charlotte. It’s slammed with comics. Sucks the Philly con was the same weekend, as Neal Adams would have likely came here instead. We still have some solid writers and artists though. Matt Fraction, Kevin Eastman, Esad Ribic, Roy Thomas and Matthew Roberts to name a few.
Great story man, I just read it out loud to my wife, and we both decided that we’re going to Baltimore Comic Con this year. I’m sorry your experience in Philly stunk though. Did you niece have a good time at least?
It wasn’t bad. It was actually really good. It was just as a comic com it was not a great show. The day started off pulling into a parking lot behind a big black Mercedes and out popped the little bald man from Toy Hunter. Not Jordan but his side kick with the blonde hair. My wife and niece had fun, she bought a signed print by Jim Calafiore the former artist fromExiles and current artist on Red Lantern. I went digging for hidden treasures and there were none to be had.
I might do a treasure hunt in Baltimore depending on how many readers will be there. A track me down for a free signed book kind of deal.
lol Bootleg DVDs
I was thinking of going..lol now im not
Don’t let me sway you. I was just disappointed by it comic-wise. Would have had better luck hitting shops.
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To attract customers, conventions appeal to many markets. Comics, video games, science fiction, fantasy, anime, costumes and celebrities. Unfortunately, comic sellers or collectors are in the minority.
In this case it was really the minority. I understand the desire to attract other people, there were a ton of cosplayers there, but when the comic dealers are saying how lame it is, as they often deal to each other too, and that the people there were not looking for comics, the primary group that kept it going initially disappears. Marvel and DC used to have a presence there. Now it was a Guardians of the Galaxy and an X-Men Days of future past movie booth. DC had no presence. The only comic companies that were there were Big Dog and Zenescope.
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Big Dog and Zenescope hahaha
just what a blooming 13 year old girl needs.
She didn’t go to those booths, I did. Will always take free signed comics. She spent her time down artist ally checking out the celebs, and shopping.
Oh man was just a bad joke lol.
Awesome you got some signed books thou. I have some early zenescope books. but they have become over the top lately.
I collected Grimm from issue one to issue 60. Made good money selling them.
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I live in Philly and have accepted the sad fact that our “comic con” isn’t geared toward comic book collectors so much as TV and movie fans who will pay big money for autographs, t-shirts, swords etc. Last year I spent a good few hundred on comics. I went Thursday and spent less than $20, so the rest of my cash went to getting books graded, a couple prints and sketches.
Philly is a great show if your sole purpose for going is CGC grading. Dropped em of Thurs, picked em up today
Nice. I skipped the on site grading but think Baltimore has it this year too
did you see any Malignant Man prices?
Not yet, will look