Mignola at Phoenix Cactus Con

[Tad]

Or maybe it'll be under another name. In any case, here's (http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=8446) a glowing report of how well the Phoenix guys run a convention. Mike's mentioned in the last line.

[Neil Hill]

As a quick testimonial, I attended Cactus Con this past weekend and got to meet many of the creators listed in that article. As reported, the attendance was steady and people seemed genuinely glad that big name creators were showing up to what had in previous years been kind of a smaller show. As far as size it still doesn't hold a candle to shows like WonderCon and isn't even in the same zip code as SDCC, but the people who put on the show really seem to care about getting the right people there and making sure everyone is well taken care of.

Hopefully Mike will enjoy the show in January. He'll be more than welcome in good ol' PHX! Also, as an added bonus, it shouldn't be nearly as hot come January. :D

[THE REAL kirk]

Wha..wha...WHAT?!

Mike in Phoenix?! Sweet day!

I didn't get to the convention as fate conspired aganist me again. But the news that Mike will be attending in Jan. makes it a no brainer. I'll be there. I am glad to read that it went well and that it actually wasn't the cluster that previous Phoenix Cons have been. Maybe we are finally going to get on the map.

[Neil Hill]

I am glad to read that it went well and that it actually wasn't the cluster that previous Phoenix Cons have been. Maybe we are finally going to get on the map.

Yeah, no clusters going on with this one, thankfully. :) It was odd though attending a much smaller show after the absolute beloved circus that SDCC can be. It was a fun time. One that I look forward to repeating in a few short months.

[THE REAL kirk]

I hope I can finally link up with you, Styg. I am surprised that we are getting another one so soon. But, it being winter and all, the weather will be awesome and would be a great excuse for some of the big names in the frozen lands to make the trek, so I hope we get a great turnout.

[Pumpkin King]

I worked with Mcfarlane toys a few years back at the con. It was VERY slow. Nice to see it is growing! :) I'll be there to check it out in Jan.

[Neil Hill]

I hope I can finally link up with you, Styg. I am surprised that we are getting another one so soon.

Yeah, I think it may have been a case of the convention folks working around the schedules of some of the bigger name guys, then them necessarily thinking that the valley needs another larger convention so soon. I know for instance that Mike is pretty busy and may have had to sandwich this one in between other stuff. I would imagine that G. Perez and the other big name creators have similar scheduling issues. That's just a guess on my part though.

I worked with Mcfarlane toys a few years back at the con. It was VERY slow. Nice to see it is growing! :) I'll be there to check it out in Jan.

No McFarlane booth this year. I'm pretty sure McFarlane is too big time these days to work a local show, but I could be wrong.

[THE REAL kirk]

No McFarlane booth this year. I'm pretty sure McFarlane is too big time these days to work a local show, but I could be wrong.

Kind of sad since he lives here and all. I would think he would support the local scene a little more. I know he is busy making toys but come on!

[Neil Hill]

Kind of sad since he lives here and all. I would think he would support the local scene a little more. I know he is busy making toys but come on!

Yeah, I don't know what the deal is with that. I guess Todd is forgetting his roots. :D

[Pumpkin King]

Mcfarlane Toys has been sidetracked. "Lost" figures? Besides that, Todd has a huge ego these days. Too bad, the reason we were at the con a few years back was to SHOW support for local smaller cons. Guess maybe it isn't worth their time any more. Oh well, no big loss.

[Neil Hill]

Mcfarlane Toys has been sidetracked. "Lost" figures? Besides that, Todd has a huge ego these days. Too bad, the reason we were at the con a few years back was to SHOW support for local smaller cons. Guess maybe it isn't worth their time any more. Oh well, no big loss.

I respect the guy for the status and prestige he's obtained in life, from such humble beginnings (as the saying goes) and I'll leave it at that. I buy his action figures from time-to-time, so I can hardly complain. :)

To bring things full circle though, I'm really looking forward to the Jan. con. It seems an odd time of year to get the season kicked off, but as I mentioned, the weather will be perfect and it should be a great time!

[Pumpkin King]

Nice thing about Mike being in Phx is I can take whatever I want to have signed and not worry about how I am going to get it home! SDCC is great, but transporting swag back home is a pain sometimes. :)

[Neil Hill]

Nice thing about Mike being in Phx is I can take whatever I want to have signed and not worry about how I am going to get it home! SDCC is great, but transporting swag back home is a pain sometimes. :)

Yeah, that's why I drive every year. The buddy of mine who flies out from Kentucky each year to do the show with me (chiascuros is his handle) isn't so lucky though. This year he ended up packing like 50 pounds of TPB's in both his suitcase and carry on bag for the flight home. It was quite interesting watching him go about trying to delicately place all of these books just so in his bags, so that he could get it all on the plane and not be turned away because his bags were too heavy. Anyway, that's why it's driving all the way for me. :)

[Pumpkin King]

Yeah, we drive as well. We tried flying a couple of times and were less than happy with our baggage issues and lack of caring from the airline. :) No serious damage though thankfully.

[chiaroscuros]

the airline had instituted a weight limit on luggage. 50lbs was it, any more and you had to pay a bunch extra... and after weighing my stuff, i found out i had about 50lbs of luggage and 50lbs of trade paperbacks....

but with a little thought, i found a loophole! carry on luggage has a size restriction but not a weight restriction. so i carried 50lbs of books onto the plane in a shoulderbag.

i probably cause permanent spinal damage to myself lugging 50lbs between connecting flights, but i saved some money :) mental note for next year, get a small wheeled bag that will fit in the overhead compartments! assuming that you will be allowed to have carry on luggage... stupid terrorists inconviencing us.... rrrrr....

[Neil Hill]

the airline had instituted a weight limit on luggage. 50lbs was it, any more and you had to pay a bunch extra... and after weighing my stuff, i found out i had about 50lbs of luggage and 50lbs of trade paperbacks....

but with a little thought, i found a loophole! carry on luggage has a size restriction but not a weight restriction. so i carried 50lbs of books onto the plane in a shoulderbag.

i probably cause permanent spinal damage to myself lugging 50lbs between connecting flights, but i saved some money :) mental note for next year, get a small wheeled bag that will fit in the overhead compartments! assuming that you will be allowed to have carry on luggage... stupid terrorists inconviencing us.... rrrrr....

Yeah, but I can imagine you strapping TPB's to your person underneath your clothing if there are no other options Michael. Remember, where there's an extremely inexpensive deal on TPB's to be found, there's a way. :D