thoughts on this past con

thoughts on this past con; -con report and haul
Topic Started: Mar 8 2010, 10:52 PM (52 Views)
Dominic Guglieme	Mar 8 2010, 10:52 PM Post #1
the human MICROscope!! Posts: 2,084 Group: Reviewers Member #5 Joined: February 9, 2007 Gender male Favorite Collectable Transformers	Hookay, as many readers of this blog know, I often give harsh reviews. I actually have something of a reputation, undue though it may be, for giving harsh reviews. So, let me go on record right now. I friggin' love Harrison's Comics. If I did not, I would not hit their Medford store as often as I do. When I go to the beach in Winthrop, I try to stop by that store. I honest to golly do. On the rare day I find myself in Salem, I try to visit their flagship store. That being said, it is fair to say that the Northeast Comic-Con run by Harrison's is a bust. I know that the show's history has been tumultuous. But, the lack of publicity, (and consequent low turn-out) for earlier shows seem to be catching up to Harrison's now. Despite having an objectively good guest list, (fantastic for the scale of the show actually), turnout was low among both dealers and fans. I saw empty tables. And, many of the tables that were full were manned by Harrison's staff. I got the impression that Harrison's was trying to fill as much space as possible. Bill Tucci and Norm Breyfogle, two very impressive names, brought in some people. But, this past Sunday was the most anemic show I have seen in at least 6 years. 6 years ago, I would have said that a show like this could sustain itself by building word of mouth. But, 6 years ago, the Boston convention scene was not what it is now. It is far more competitive. Fans, and creators, can be more selective about which shows they attend. Harrison's needs to push this show hard if it is to survive. Their inventory alone can fill a room. And, the chance to buy cheap back-issues, compilations and runs of recent books, along with being able to paw through bins of silver age comics is good. But, few dealers means less dynamic product. It has gotten to the point where I can recognize dealer tables by the inventory...because it changes so little. The problem is that the last few shows were not publicized well at all. Turnout was low. This discouraged dealers...which led to the problems this past weekend. Harrison's can turn this around. But, it will be hard. It will take advertising. It will take publicity. It will take a concerted effort to reclaim good will and credibility that may have been lost over the last 6 months. I have sentimental attachment to this show. I fondly remember going to the old Monkey House shows with my friends in the lat nineties and early part of this decade. I met guys like Ron Marz, Mark Waid, Jim Starlin and scores of others at those shows. I was more than a bit saddened when Monkey House bowed out. Lest anyone think I was in a sour mood about the show, I actually had a pretty good haul. The $10 I spent to get in was more than justified with the savings on comics I have been meaning to pick up, including some recent Bendis Marvel. I also picked up a compilation of Everett Soares' "Sky Pirates of Valendor", (published by Free Lunch Comics), as well as an anthology of the same title. (Reviews coming...whenever I have a chance to read them.) And, I snagged some ultra-cheapo back issues: (Cue flashback sounds.) Avengers West Coast #102: Ah, anyone else remember the 90s? The turmoil? The tacky character designs and redesigns? I am in no way nostalgic for that decade. (It nearly pushed me out of comics.) But, there were moments of truly great writing, where writers and editors would take insane editorial decrees and made the best of what they had. Dammit if Abnett and Lanning did not give AWC a damned good send off. I could even forgive soem of the really bad character models. (Why the hell were members of Marvel's teams wearing bomber jackets? Really.) Shadow of the Bat #10: I forgot how much I love Alan Grant's writing, especially on the Bat-books. At around the time that "Tales of the Dark Knight" started to lose its luster, and the "Elseworlds" concept became diluted, "Shadow of the Bat" dilled the void and offered most self-contained stories featuring Batman. As many bas associations as I have with the character now, I admit to feeling a certain comfort while reading this old gem. Dom -has still not read "Last Stand of the Wreckers. No foolin'.
	Keep it local. The healthiest leper in the colony is still very very sick. www.theanimalrescuesite.com


1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)


« Previous Topic · HS - General Talk · Next Topic »