| WizardWorld
Chicago 2002
(click on images for a larger
view)
 Slightly
nervous at the prospect of flying on the Fourth of
July, Team Harris got to LaGuardia Airport and successfully
boarded a jet bound for Chicago.
There’s got to be something said about flying
when the rest of the country is scared. Each one of
us got out own row, and not only was the flight on
time, but we were early.
From one pleasant experience to another, and we
check into our hotel only to bump into a bunch of
pals from CrossGen. Ian Feller, Ron Marz, Tony Bedard,
and Jeff Johnson all had smiles; they were as eager
as we were to get the con started.
But first, to eat.
 Team
Harris hit the road for sometime in the big city,
where we got to attend Taste of Chicago, a long running
street festival where the city’s restaurants
serve up a bit of everything. And the Harris gang
– Yoshi Aino, Boni Alimagno, Jeff Marquis and
myself, Maureen McTigue – took to the sampling
and the walking and generally enjoyed ourselves. We
then hit a restaurant in the outlying area for a full
dinner and toasted to the weekend.
And what a weekend it was.
 We
set up the booth with no problems and eagerly awaited
the fans. And they didn’t disappoint. With us
pushing the new Anarchy Studios book, XIN:
LEGEND OF THE MONKEY KING and showing off
a bunch of upcoming VAMPIRELLA issues,
our booth was the place for some fun.
 Artist
Kevin Lau spent a lot of time signing and sketching
at the booth, helping promote Xin
to the masses. And the masses responded! If I had
to admit it, I’d say Xin was
the most popular thing at our booth.
 Until
Vampirella showed up, that is. Though a bit later
than expected, Maria DiAngelis flattered and pleased
the throng of fans who were awaiting her appearance.
And as always, she didn’t disappoint. Happily
making her first anniversary appearance, Vampirella
signed and posed and chatted away with everyone who
was these. She a big fan of her fans, and no one disappointed
her.
|
 Vampirella
artist Mike Mayhew made a guest appearance at the
Harris booth. Mike sat and talked up our girl and
signed and sketched and showcased his mad skills.
 As
for what we do after hours, well, there’s some
fun in that. Industry pros gather together to relax,
talk, joke, and just catch up with each other. The
yearly Wizard party is one of those events and buddies
like Georges Jeanty, John Cassady, JG Jones and others
all mingled and smoozed with the best of them. Celebrity
guest sightings were fun too. Wrestler Al Snow stole
the attention of Violent Messiahs artist
Tone Rodriquez. Actor Michael Rosenbaum, who portrays
Lex Luthor on Smallville and does the voice
of the Flash on the Justice League cartoon,
got chatted up by Superman editor Eddie Berganza.
 And
friendly faces were easy to come by around the convention,
like artist s Georges Jeanty, Todd Nauck and his wonderful
wife Dawn, artist Nelson DeCastro and The Splash.com
reporter Heidi MacDonald, writers Dan Jolley and Sean
McKeever, artist Christopher Shy and cover guy Dave
Johnson. We met up with the amazing likes of Greg
Horn, Ron Marz, Christian Gosset, Dan Jurgens, Phil
Jimenez, Geoff Johns, Amanda Conner and others.
Sometimes, it’s like one big reunion.
 But
it’s all about the fans. We chatted and sold
and talked up and explained, and we loved it. It’s
about all of you and that’s why we go year after
year.
 We
were happy to explain the difference between VAMPI
and VAMPIRELLA and show you how different
they are. We were glad when you responded to XIN,
our newest book. We’re real pleased with that
one, and glad you seem to like it as well.
We’re excited about what the future holds
and we’re glad to bring you along for the ride!
Maureen McTigue
Editor-in-Chief
|
We know
everyone can't make it to the conventions -- but you
CAN get the convention special editions!
Vampirella.01 Convention Edition
Vampi
#12 Holo-FX Platt Edition
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