Posts Tagged ‘Wizard World Chicago’
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I have a lot of stuff that I want to talk about today, so be sure to check back to the site often for updates. Right now, I plan on putting messages together as I have time since I’ve had to ramp back up to "real-life" speed in a fairly short amount of time after a 6-hour drive home from Chicago yesterday. I’m wiped out, but I’m excited!
First, let me say that my attendance at the 2006 Wizard World Chicago comic book convention was my best convention EVER! I was really nervous about going because, for me, it was the culmination of an effort that started back in October of 2005 when I first set out to put together "Theater Hopper: Year One." My expectations for Wizard World Chicago were very high and felt that my success or failure there was really going to set the tone for the larger goals I hoped to accomplish with Theater Hopper.
Well, I can say with confidence that "Theater Hopper: Year One" was a resounding SUCCESS! I sold dozens of books and a bunch of t-shirts. I met all kinds of great people and passed out a ton of fliers. If you’re one of the people I talked to who is visiting the site for the first time, welcome! If you like, feel free to start from the begining and work your way through the arcI have a lot of stuff that I want to talk about today, so be sure to check back to the site often for updates. Right now, I plan on putting messages together as I have time since I’ve had to ramp back up to "real-life" speed in a fairly short amount of time after a 6-hour drive home from Chicago yesterday. I’m wiped out, but I’m excited!
First, let me say that my attendance at the 2006 Wizard World Chicago comic book convention was my best convention EVER! I was really nervous about going because, for me, it was the culmination of an effort that started back in October of 2005 when I first set out to put together "Theater Hopper: Year One." My expectations for Wizard World Chicago were very high and felt that my success or failure there was really going to set the tone for the larger goals I hoped to accomplish with Theater Hopper.
Well, I can say with confidence that "Theater Hopper: Year One" was a resounding SUCCESS! I sold dozens of books and a bunch of t-shirts. I met all kinds of great people and passed out a ton of fliers. If you’re one of the people I talked to who is visiting the site for the first time, welcome! If you like, feel free to start from the begining and work your way through the archive. Of course, I’m up to 589 comics counting this one, so that could be a daunting task! If you’d like to skip around a little bit, visit the archive page and pick a date! Or, take advantage of our database search function that allows you to type in the title of nearly any movie you can think of and it will return the comic that spoofs it!
I think what really amazed me most were the fans who came to the convention looking for me. I never expect it. Despite the fact that Saturday marked the beginning of my fifth year doing this comic, I never expect anyone to know who I am or appreciate what I do. So it’s very mind-blowing when someone walks up to the table and says "I’ve been looking for you!" or when they approach you wearing one of the t-shirts you designed. I mean, in a convention hall that’s selling literally everything and that covers so many facets of entertainment – not just comics… For someone to wake up, throw on a Theater Hopper t-shirt, march down to the convention and say "THIS is what I’m into." That’s awesome.
I mean, I had someone come up to me with their cell phone so I could say "Hi" to their friend who was stuck at work. I’m more than happy to do it and it was a really fun conversation, but who the hell am I? I’m just some guy that does a web comic! Who wants to talk to me on their break?
I’m stumbling around. But it’s my way of saying thanks. What an incredible validation.
I think the other thing I was surprised by was the almost instant feedback I was getting about the book. I was actually able to sell a lot more of them to people unfamiliar to the comic than I had anticipated. I’m not complaining! Just surprised. But I had a few people come back to me on Sunday who had either bought the book on Friday or Saturday and told me how much they liked it!
I didn’t really get a chance to get out from behind my table and walk around, but I’m not complaining. That’s a good problem to have. All the same, it kept me away from the members of the press I wanted to talk to about the book. Fortunately, a few of them came down to Artist’s Alley and I was able to hand out a few press releases. I’m gonna follow up with you guys!
I should also mention that Saturday’s book release party was a real success. It was mostly people from the Digital Pimp crew – including the fabulous Joe Dunn, plus Gordon McAlpin from Multiplex, Zach Miller from Joe and Monkey, Mitch Clem from San Antonio Rock City and myself. But there were also a few fans in attendance and we had a great old time. I seriously never laughed so hard in my life!
I feel like I’m leaving out a bunch of details. But, truthfully, the whole convention went by so fast and I think I’m still processing it. 3:00 rolled around yesterday and I had to pack up in order to get home at a reasonable hour. I didn’t want to go!
Sincere thanks to everyone who took the time to stop by my booth and talk to me about Theater Hopper. If you bought a shirt or a copy of the book, extra SPECIAL thanks for giving me a chance. I mean, Wizard World Chicago is HUGE. Maybe the second largest convention of the year after the San Diego ComiCon. For anyone to walk through those doors, past every exhibitor and dealer and to say "This looks good. I want to buy your book." Well – don’t think I don’t take that for the miracle it is.
Come back later in the day. I still have lots to talk about regarding last week’s guest strips, Talladega Nights and the winner of the Fandango mailing list sign-up drawing!hive. Of course, I’m up to 589 comics counting this one, so that could be a daunting task! If you’d like to skip around a little bit, visit the archive page and pick a date! Or, take advantage of our database search function that allows you to type in the title of nearly any movie you can think of and it will return the comic that spoofs it!
I think what really amazed me most were the fans who came to the convention looking for me. I never expect it. Despite the fact that Saturday marked the beginning of my fifth year doing this comic, I never expect anyone to know who I am or appreciate what I do. So it’s very mind-blowing when someone walks up to the table and says "I’ve been looking for you!" or when they approach you wearing one of the t-shirts you designed. I mean, in a convention hall that’s selling literally everything and that covers so many facets of entertainment – not just comics… For someone to wake up, throw on a Theater Hopper t-shirt, march down to the convention and say "THIS is what I’m into." That’s awesome.
I mean, I had someone come up to me with their cell phone so I could say "Hi" to their friend who was stuck at work. I’m more than happy to do it and it was a really fun conversation, but who the hell am I? I’m just some guy that does a web comic! Who wants to talk to me on their break?
I’m stumbling around. But it’s my way of saying thanks. What an incredible validation.
I think the other thing I was surprised by was the almost instant feedback I was getting about the book. I was actually able to sell a lot more of them to people unfamiliar to the comic than I had anticipated. I’m not complaining! Just surprised. But I had a few people come back to me on Sunday who had either bought the book on Friday or Saturday and told me how much they liked it!
I didn’t really get a chance to get out from behind my table and walk around, but I’m not complaining. That’s a good problem to have. All the same, it kept me away from the members of the press I wanted to talk to about the book. Fortunately, a few of them came down to Artist’s Alley and I was able to hand out a few press releases. I’m gonna follow up with you guys!
I should also mention that Saturday’s book release party was a real success. It was mostly people from the Digital Pimp crew – including the fabulous Joe Dunn, plus Gordon McAlpin from Multiplex, Zach Miller from Joe and Monkey, Mitch Clem from San Antonio Rock City and myself. But there were also a few fans in attendance and we had a great old time. I seriously never laughed so hard in my life!
I feel like I’m leaving out a bunch of details. But, truthfully, the whole convention went by so fast and I think I’m still processing it. 3:00 rolled around yesterday and I had to pack up in order to get home at a reasonable hour. I didn’t want to go!
Sincere thanks to everyone who took the time to stop by my booth and talk to me about Theater Hopper. If you bought a shirt or a copy of the book, extra SPECIAL thanks for giving me a chance. I mean, Wizard World Chicago is HUGE. Maybe the second largest convention of the year after the San Diego ComiCon. For anyone to walk through those doors, past every exhibitor and dealer and to say "This looks good. I want to buy your book." Well – don’t think I don’t take that for the miracle it is.
Come back later in the day. I still have lots to talk about regarding last week’s guest strips, Talladega Nights and the winner of the Fandango mailing list sign-up drawing!
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One more thing before I forget.
I’m getting read to go to Wizard World Chicago in a couple of weeks and I need everyone’s help.
I’m putting together a small booklet with my best comics to give away to people who come to visit me on Artist’s Alley and I’m using the Top 10 of the Top 50 Comics as my sampling.
So if you guys have a little free time to go through the archive and rank your favorite strips (don’t be afraid to use that search bar to find them!), I would appreciate it. I want to give new readers the most accurate representation possible of what Theater Hopper is all about! Who better to let them know than the fans!
Thanks for your feedback. It’s always interesting to check in on the Top 50 from time to time to see what you guys are enjoying!
Later!
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Before I forget, everyone needs to listen to The Triple Feature talkcast tonight at 9:00 PM CST at TalkShoe.com. Gordon, Joe and I were all at Wizard World Chicago this weekend, so we’ll likely be talking about that. So if you’re tired of us talking about movies all the time and maybe want us to give you a little behind-the-scenes web comics talk, tonight is the night to listen!
As a matter of fact (and I’m just thinking about this now), I’m going to see if I can get some of my web comic buddies to call in and provide a little extra commentary. Will they make an appearance? Listen in live to find out!
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People who have been reading the site for a while know that traditionally, I like to do a little wrap up for each of the conventions I attend. Typically, I end up seeing a movie with whomever I’m with and I talk about it here.
The only problem with going to Wizard World Chicago this year is that there weren’t any good movies to see!
We toyed with seeing Rush Hour 3, but frankly, too many people were against it. If they went, they’d be going to rip it a new one. Myself likely included. The inside joke of this comic is that Gordon is the one suggesting we go see it. He was probably most against it of anyone.
Oh, and Brandon J. Carr’s wife really did make him swear not to see Stardust without her.
And for the record, the other two guys in the comic are Joe Dunn from Joe Loves Crappy Movies and Zach Miller from Joe and Monkey.
As always, it was a treat to attend Wizard World Chicago and exhibit on Artist’s Alley. I would have liked to have sold a little more merchandise, but I did about as much business as last year, so at least I’m not backsliding.
The Spoiler shirts are always a big hit at conventions. I have one of them pulled over a mannequin torso I stand up on my table. Invariably people stop to comment on it. Either they laugh and walk away saying “That’s a great shirt!” Or they laugh and say “I gotta get that shirt.” I suppose the third option is when I get to talk to the person and explain which spoilers come from which movies.
I’ve been selling the Spoiler shirt for the last three years. At times, I wish I could come up with another t-shirt design that would sell just as well. A t-shirt design that isn’t Spoiler II. But what can I say? They’re the breadwinners and you gotta stick with a winning horse.
I don’t know that I sold as many books as I would have liked to. But I think I hit on a new merchandising structure that I’ll probably employ in the store soon – everything will be $15 and you’ll get 15%, 20% and 25% discounts the more stuff you buy! I think it will be really attractive to you guys and will help me keep things organized on my side.
I don’t mean to harp on the money aspect of things so much. That’s really only a small portion of the exhibiting experience. I’m grateful that I’m able to sell anything at all! It always amazes me.
I did a lot of good networking at this convention. I got to meet Brandon for the first time and DJ Coffman from Yirmumah and Hero By Night as well. They couldn’t have been nicer. Really easy to talk to and a lot of fun to be around. We all kind of share the same sense of humor, so it makes things easy. For all practical purposes, someone like Brandon is a complete stranger. But within minutes I was joking around with him and having a blast.
I was interviewed by a few online and offline publications and that was pretty cool. I have a wallet full of business cards on stuff I want to follow up on. Professionally and socially, I would say it was a really successful convention!
That said, the last day of a convention is the worst. Part of you is counting down the hours until you have to pack up your stuff and ship out and that’s never fun. And then, for me, the car ride home is tortuous. I have no one to help me cover the 6 hours from Chicago to Des Moines, so I’m often left with my own thoughts.
We talked a little bit about this on Monday’s Triple Feature broadcast, but there is no way you can go to one of these conventions and NOT compare yourself professionally to the other artists in attendance. You end up looking around and asking yourself “What am I doing WRONG?”
Every convention is a good learning opportunity to see into other artist’s process and business practices. I constantly find myself taking mental notes for things to try when I get home.
As exhausting as it can be to constantly compare yourself, going to Wizard World Chicago has revitalized me. I think also having crossed the five-year anniversary milestone has inspired me make Theater Hopper stronger. Not just the comic, but the entire Theater Hopper experience.
I want to rid the THorum and the front page comments section of spammers and bring back the positive, excited atmosphere. I want to be seen more among my peers in online communities and talk more about comics with them. I want to do more guest comics – just because. I want my site to look better. I want to try new things. I want to advertise in unconventional places and spread the word about Theater Hopper.
I’m proud of what I do. Five years and two self-published books under your belt can do that for you. But it doesn’t mean there isn’t room to improve. I’m at the point now that I’m considering outside help to spruce up the site. In some respects, if Theater Hopper is going to be taken seriously, I have to treat it like a professional venture. This is much more than a hobby site we’re talking about. I’ve experimented with a lot of things. Now it’s time to make them stick.
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Sorry, guys. But I’m afraid I won’t have any comics for you today or Friday. I have a good reason, though.
I’m dying.
Okay, that’s a little over dramatic. I only FEEL like I’m dying. I’m not really dying.
Brother, I don’t know what hit me upside the head yesterday, but I was feeling bad. Like, REALLY bad. I was light-headed, feverish, sweating one minute, shivering the next, back and joint pains… I had to stay home from work because of it. I was so dizzy, I couldn’t walk a straight line.
Basically, I ended up sleeping a full 24 hours. That’s not right, is it?
Anyway, as a result, I couldn’t produce today’s comic for you.
Truthfully, I don’t know if I’m any better on the wellness front. I forced myself to come into work today, but I would say I am at about 50%. I’m sure a lot of that has to do with not eating or drinking very much yesterday. I weighed myself this morning and I had lost five pounds overnight. Probably water weight from sweating so much.
The point is, I have to start feeling better and in a hurry because I’m going to Wizard World Chicago this weekend. Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Tom, if you’re so dizzy you can’t walk, should you be driving 6 hours to Chicago all by yourself?” Well, I’d be lying if that doesn’t worry me a little, too. But I’ve invested too much time, money and resources into making sure Wizard World Chicago will be the best convention possible and I’m not going to back down now. So I’m going. Period.
Hence, the reason there will be no Friday comic.
I know it sucks. I had a great follow up in mind for Monday’s comic. Shame on me for not having a buffer of strips, I suppose. That’s a lesson I still fail to learn. But between a full time job, a baby and everything else, there’s little time for extras.
At any rate, if you’re going to be at Wizard World Chicago this weekend, be sure to visit me at table #4308 on Artist’s Alley. You can find out if I made it there in one piece!
Thanks for your patience and understanding. I’ll see you guys back here on Monday.
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I would have been content to let the message I posted about my illness on Wednesday run throughout next week, but this guest strip from Josh Anderson was too timely – and too funny – to pass up. I love how he tossed Gordon and Joe into the mix. And, frankly, the hundred-yard-stare he gave Tom was pretty much how I was feeling for the last two days. Only clammier. Also, a chance to infect Shia LaBeouf? Priceless!
I got a couple of e-mail from people who were spooked when I said I was dying on Wednesday. Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to put the fear of God into you, or anything like that. Sometimes I forget the impact words have.
So, to clarify – NOT dying. Just felt like death.
I went to the doctor yesterday and it turns out I have acute tonsillitis. That sounds bad, like I have to have my tonsils removed, or something. Not the case. It’s basically an upper respiratory infection that causes white spots on the tonsils – and they’re filled with pus! Yum!
The good news is I’m no longer contagious and he has me on a steroid to reduce the swelling an antibiotic to kill the infection. As of this writing, I’ve already taken two doses and I feel much better. Not 100%, but not wincing from the back pain and migraines my body was delivering as part of the fever that was trying to get rid of the infection. So, yeah. Better.
I still plan on going to Wizard World Chicago this weekend. So if you’re in attendance, look me up at table #4308 on Artist’s Alley.
Oh, and be sure to send thanks to Josh Anderson for his guest comic by visiting his site Game U. I think you’ll like what you find there.
Thanks again for the well wishes and concern. I’ll see you all here on Monday!
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You might recognize a special guest in today’s comic as none other than Gordon McAlpin from Multiplex. Gordon and I saw Wanted last Saturday while we were both attending Wizard World Chicago. We missed out on hanging with the fabulous Joe Dunn and the rest of the Digital Pimp crew because they decided to go into downtown Chicago for dinner that night. The joke was on them, though. Because they couldn’t find a theater showing Wanted! Sorry, guys!
Gordon and I saw Wanted at the palatial Muvico 18 in Rosemont – a theater suggested to us by one of our listeners during The Triple Feature broadcast a few weeks ago. This listener swore up and down about how great the theater was and expressed shock that we had never heard of it before. We were befuddled as to what he could be talking about. For years we’ve been going to this dirtball theater one town over. It was unimpressive, but it met our needs.
Pulling into Rosemont on Thursday, however, my questions were answered. From the interstate I could see the Muvico 18. You couldn’t miss it! The thing was huge like the Roman coliseum. I literally shouted an expletive as I took the exit toward the hotel and convention center, I was so shocked. To have a movie theater of this grandeur within walking distance? Priceless!
As for the movie we went to see – Wanted – it was a visceral thrill. I walked out of that movie so nerved up, I felt like punching a cop and sodomizing a grizzly bear. Seriously. There hasn’t been a movie to push my repressed white guy angst button like this since Fight Club.
A lot of critics have been making note of Wanted’s knuckle-dragging brutality. But for me, that’s a selling point. I’m so sick of action movies pulling back, failing to take risks or show us anything that isn’t a digital bath of computer generated effects.
While there are more than enough dumb CG moments in Wanted, the film also delivers real grit courtesy of director Timur Bekmambetov. Some people call Bekmambetov the Russian Michael Bay and you can see where they draw the comparison with their "eat the action" lensing. But Bekmambetov is doing stuff in Wanted that Bay wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole – for fear of offending his sponsors. Wanted is a huge calling card for Bekmambetov. You’ll see his name more often. Trust me.
As for the plot of the film, I liked it – even though it’s tale of a corporate nobody transforming into a super-powered, gun-slinging bad-ass pretty much steals from The Matrix wholesale. The big difference is tone. Whereas The Matrix insisted you could change your life if you were brave enough to fly, Wanted tells you to shut up, quit crying and get on with it already.
Despite being a big comic book fan, I never read the original graphic novel on which the movie was based. I’ve been told it takes some real liberties with the plot. Apparently, in the book, it’s a secret organization of super-villains, not righteous assassins at the center of the tale. Like I said, having not read it, I can’t express any outrage over the changes. But I would say that they certainly created something unique for the movie. Especially with The Loom of Fate – a concept that says that fate wants certain people dead and these assassins are only expressing fate’s will.
That said, after seeing the film, I would love to read the original books. They sound great.
Regarding the performances, I have a new found respect for James MacAvoy – and actor who I’ve always recognized for his talent, but one I had come to resent for his pretty boy status. After Atonement, he was on deck to become the next Colin Firth, or something. You know, the charming Brit your girlfriend won’t shut up about.
I think MacAvoy tries a little too hard with his American accent and his first act narration is distracting, but his transformation from an anxiety-ridden weenie into a gun totting bad-ass is completely believable and mesmerizing to watch.
Angelina Jolie is interesting to look at, but her character doesn’t have a lot to do, it seems. Still, I prefer Jolie kicking ass and taking names here like she does in Mr. and Mrs. Smith any day over the earnest, quasi-political Jolie of A Mighty Heart.
Morgan Freeman turns in his two millionth turn as a wise old man shepherding a confused white guy, but he’s still a gravitational force and you’ll be hooting and hollering at his delivery of a certain line in particular. I wouldn’t dare spoil it here.
All things said and done, I had a blast with Wanted and the movie stayed with me for a long time. I question if it’s kinetic spirit will hold up over repeat viewings or not – especially now that I know all of its tricks. But I’m looking forward to finding out when it comes out on DVD in the future.
That’s it for me. Be sure to check back on Friday. There will be a new comic here despite the 4th of July holiday.
See you then!
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Last Monday I posted to the site my goal of selling some merchandise to help me raise the money I need to send the Spoiler Alert t-shirt design to the printer. Consequentially, I would complete the pre-orders and take the rest of the inventory to Wizard World Chicago on August 6 and take the profits made from the convention to help bankroll the production of Theater Hopper: Year Three.
I created a little graphic that went into the blog posts but realized pretty quickly that a visual aid such as this was easy to ignore. So I made a little cosmetic change to the header of the site in hopes of strongly reinforcing my goal and the progress made so far.
Please help me meet my goal of selling 50 shirts by July 31. It doesn’t have to be the Spoiler Alert shirt. It can be any of the shirts. They all cost the same and the money goes to the same goal.
Thousands of you come to the site every day. I only need a fraction of you to help make this possible. If you’ve been thinking at all about buying a book or a shirt, now is the time to do it.
I appreciate your support.
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