SDCC 2007 Friday

[betterthanezra]

I got up early because well the panel is this afternoon and I really needed a close parking spot. I got up at 6am. Out the door before 7 and started the 12 mile drive to the convention center.

Traffic is pretty smooth to the convention center but gets really bad once I hit G street down through the gaslamp district. I hate that the lights aren't synced up to run together and sometimes it takes like 3-5 minutes to get through one single light.

I'm disappointed that the parking at the center is already FULL...it's freaking 7:25am in the morning. I have two boxes of Tee-shirts a big batch of books that need to be signed and little time to play around.

I park pretty close on the top floor of a parking structure right next to the convention center...



Another reason I wanted to get there when it opened was David Peterson. The man responsible for the outstanding Mouseguard...
He told me he WAS doing sketches like he did for me last year but once the list fills up thats it for the day. I can't put myself on the list for tomorrow untill tomorrow.

We are finally let into the show about 10:15. I rush over to ASP the company that puts the book out. David who is just a very nice guy. Told me that he was going to be at panels all day and wasn't doing sketches at all. I told him I'll be seeing him tomorrow morning and try again.

I start looking through the comic dealers things looking for Valiant treasures I already have but can't stop buying. Somethings I found today
Pred/Magnus #1 Plat. $7.50
Solar #4-5 $5-7 dollars
Magnus #5-8 $5 dollars
Magnus #10 $2 dollars
Rai #0 $2.00
Harbinger #1 was seen several times at the show if you looked in the right places. One was $32 dollars, I don't think it could have graded even 9.0. Another dealer had two copies of Harbinger #1 both priced at $20.00
the nicer of the two isues didn't have the coupon...

Magnus #12 was seen a few times also, both on the racks with other supposed "HOT" issues. One priced at $20 and another for $16.00. One dealer who knows me as "that Valiant guy" told me he had a few books not out and when I'm ready he'll hand them to me to go through..

After a few hours of rummaging through boxes of comics it was 11:45am. I headed over to 24a that is the room that the Valiant Panel will be in starting at 2:30. There isn't a meeting taking place so I figured NOW would be a great time to start getting all the things I needed for the panel. I didn't have any help this year so I was going to take 4-5 seperate trips to my car and start hauling it to that room. After I finished doing that the first meeting of the day was taking place. close to 1:00pm. A crowd started to form outside of the meeting room like I'de NEVER seen before.



What could this be for? I look at the list of meeting set up for that room.

1:30-2:30pm Harry Potter/ Spiderwick Chronicles Fan Group Meeting

Wait I found another picture of Potter Fans waiting to get into that LITTLE fan room.



The meeting for the Potter group is open and they start filtering in. Granted this room seats like 125 people period. With over 700+ Potter fans outside in the hallway something had to give.
The Fire Marshal was called and stopped the amount of people going into the meeting which *SQUEE* a ton of Potter fans off TRUST me thats not a pleasant sight. I start to freak out because my books and tee-shirts are still in that meeting room and they were hidding under a table in the back. They took the tables OUT to accomidate more potter fans and made those people stand in the back.
I was told that my stuff was Safe...I didn't trust Potter fans...NOT ones that dress up like this. I walk in to get them and take them out where they are safe. I got wierd looks from these Potter fans.. maybe because I'm not dressed like them...

Some Valiant fans are starting to show up for the panel and I get to meet most of them, Kevin Van Hook and his wonderful wife Carol show up and I'm starting to get excited because thats a really good sign. My guests are going to show up

The Potter fans start to pile out of the room and since I only have an hour for the panel I don't have very much time. Pictures of the panel guests are here.


from left to right are Bob Hall, Andrew Pepoy, Mark Morretti, Howard Simpson, Kevin Van Hook, Jim Calafiore....not pictured but was there on the panel Bernard Chang.

Other Valiant alum that was in the crowd include Phylis Novin, Carol Van Hook, Fred Pierce, Charles Yoakum & Valerie D'Orazio

After a brief intro by me the panelists introduced themselves and said what they did at Valiant and what they are doing right now. I then opened the floor up to questions from anyone attending the panel. MOTA opened the questions and I'm sure he can tell you better then me what he asked.




I got the usual questions like "will we ever see the last three issues of Unity 2000" things like that. While the panel was going on I was having the guests sign Archer & Armstrong #0 copies. I'll have those available to the board very soon.



The hour moves by so quick as question after question is asked about what the panel guests would do NOW with the characters and such. I was told before the panel by Valiant Entertainments Vice President of Marketing Chip Carter he would like to say a little something at the end.
I introduce him and he says pretty much what we already know..."He says that they are working on a follow-up project to Harbinger but he can't say at this time what that is" Asked by someone if it's another HC he says again he can't say anything yet about it. I have to remember that the majority of people attending this panel have NEVER heard of valiantfans.com so to them this is News...just not what I was hoping for.

I get back on the mic and tell everyone that Bob Hall will sign the dust jacket art for them as they leave if they like...Here is what it looks like signed by Mr. Hall and again these will be available on the board soon



The panel ends and we have to get out as the next panel is trying to also get there thing going. I meet and shake hands with as many people I can everyone after a little while filters out and goes there own way. I'm chating with Ryan McLelland and we deside to sit down and just talk. Another board member was with us and as I write this I'm SOOOOOO sorry I can't remember there name. For the next 2 hours we do nothing but talk about Valiant....flat out the best time I had at SDCC this year. I could do this all day long. Ryan has to interview someone after 6pm so we go out seperate ways.

I go back to my car with the remaining shirts and books to put them away and get back to the show with about 45 minutes left of it till they close it down for the night. I take a picture of the great Sci-fi channel booth



For me this day was over I get lost on the way to Kyles so it really ends just after midnight. A great fun day and thanks to everyone who showed up at the panel both non-members & ones that I shook hands with that post on here.

Saturday is sold out in advance and I'm dead tired after today little did I know I would find an ashcan tomorrow that might change everything....

-Brian

[ManofTheAtom]

When did you take that? Had I seen the camera I'd have covered up, lol.

[Elveen]

thanks for the report B.

[Rubiks-Q-Bert]

Sorry I missed out. Would have loved to sit and chat. I will call in this weekend though.

[greg]

Keep 'em coming!

[depluto]

Great stuff, thanks BTE!

[slym2none]

When did you take that? Had I seen the camera I'd have covered up, lol.

I'm gonna guess that you are the guy in the white tee-shirt, glasses, and a full head of hair.





-slym

[JohnnyRnR]

I'm in that shot too. Lordy, I'm gorgeous! So hot I can barely keep my hands off myself!

[Rubiks-Q-Bert]

I'm in that shot too. Lordy, I'm gorgeous! So hot I can barely keep my hands off myself!

Do try.

[magnusr]

When did you take that? Had I seen the camera I'd have covered up, lol.

Who is everyone?

/Magnus

[magnusr]

Keep 'em coming!

/Magnus

[ManofTheAtom]

When did you take that? Had I seen the camera I'd have covered up, lol.

Who is everyone?

/Magnus

Front row, brown shorts, white tennis, glasses

[ManofTheAtom]

When did you take that? Had I seen the camera I'd have covered up, lol.

I'm gonna guess that you are the guy in the white tee-shirt, glasses, and a full head of hair.





-slym

Yeah, full,lol

And it's not white, it's the Harbinger t-shirt, you just can't see the text, heh.

[magnusr]

Front row, brown shorts, white tennis, glasses

Does anyone else dare to step up?

/Magnus

[ibreakhorses]

Great photos! Thanks for the update.

[slym2none]

When did you take that? Had I seen the camera I'd have covered up, lol.

I'm gonna guess that you are the guy in the white tee-shirt, glasses, and a full head of hair.





-slym

Yeah, full,lol

And it's not white, it's the Harbinger t-shirt, you just can't see the text, heh.

I was talking about the guy in the third row back... some sort of strap around his neck.....





-slym

[ManofTheAtom]

When did you take that? Had I seen the camera I'd have covered up, lol.

I'm gonna guess that you are the guy in the white tee-shirt, glasses, and a full head of hair.





-slym

Yeah, full,lol

And it's not white, it's the Harbinger t-shirt, you just can't see the text, heh.

I was talking about the guy in the third row back... some sort of strap around his neck.....





-slym

Ah, heh

[JohnnyRnR]

I'm the one in the bright orange (Invisibles) t-shirt. ManoftheAtom, I thought that you might have been you (and you were!), not that I've ever really conversed with you, but your questions lived very much up to your custom level.

[ManofTheAtom]

I'm the one in the bright orange (Invisibles) t-shirt. ManoftheAtom, I thought that you might have been you (and you were!), not that I've ever really conversed with you, but your questions lived very much up to your custom level.

[magnusr]

I'm the one in the bright orange (Invisibles) t-shirt. ManoftheAtom, I thought that you might have been you (and you were!), not that I've ever really conversed with you, but your questions lived very much up to your custom level.

Cool, two fans identified! Any more?

/Magnus

[UnknownTales]

I'm in the front row, middle...next to Manoftheatom. I have the maroon ASU tee-shirt with the gold lettering. I was the guy who asked if the new project was another hardcover. His facial expression led me to believe it was NOT.

John

When did you take that? Had I seen the camera I'd have covered up, lol.

I'm gonna guess that you are the guy in the white tee-shirt, glasses, and a full head of hair.





-slym

Yeah, full,lol

And it's not white, it's the Harbinger t-shirt, you just can't see the text, heh.

I was talking about the guy in the third row back... some sort of strap around his neck.....





-slym

[Daniel Jackson]

I got the usual questions like "will we ever see the last three issues of Unity 2000" things like that.

What was the response to this one?

[betterthanezra]

I got the usual questions like "will we ever see the last three issues of Unity 2000" things like that.

What was the response to this one?

I have been told that they (VEI) had at one time talked about collecting it in a trade or HC....the official word was "we will see if the market is ready for something like that"

Or don't hold your breath...

-Brian

[Daniel Jackson]

I got the usual questions like "will we ever see the last three issues of Unity 2000" things like that.

What was the response to this one?

I have been told that they (VEI) had at one time talked about collecting it in a trade or HC....the official word was "we will see if the market is ready for something like that"

Or don't hold your breath...

-Brian

Judging by the fact of how sought after the first three issues are on ebay, I would say that's a good sign that the market would like to see it finished.

[betterthanezra]

I got the usual questions like "will we ever see the last three issues of Unity 2000" things like that.

What was the response to this one?

I have been told that they (VEI) had at one time talked about collecting it in a trade or HC....the official word was "we will see if the market is ready for something like that"

Or don't hold your breath...

-Brian

Judging by the fact of how sought after the first three issues are on ebay, I would say that's a good sign that the market would like to see it finished.

Or it could be because there just hard to find in the open market....

-Brian