My Wonder-Con report

betterthanezra · Post by **betterthanezra** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 3:34 pm

Well I made the trek to San Fransisco yet again for another Wonder-Con at the Moscone Center.

I entered the convention floor optimistic to find something worth my time and money (unlike most years when I have found NOTHING Valiant related worth picking up)

Item I purchased were the following...

Eternal Warriors : Immortal Enemy
Magnus #10
Bloodshot #46
Bloodshot #48
Troublemakers retailer review
Shadowman #1 Retailer review

I also purchased Harbinger #2-4..... I was told by the dealer that they had coupons so I purchased them from him for a reasonable $5.00 each. He said that if they didn't have coupons he would have thrown them in the dollar bin.

This is where it gets better. I'm sitting in the Star Trek panel waiting for it to start and something told me I better check them out. I open them up and all three of them have NO coupon. I'm irritated to say the least and decide I'm taking them back to him for a refund. I left the Star Trek panel and called Dr. Solar. Shawn and I met up on the convention floor and I told him what I was doing...looking for this dealers table.

He joins the quest with me and remembers the booth because he had some Valiant Zelda books on his rack for $20-40 each

After 35-40 minutes of searching I find him again. I explain that the coupons are NOT in them like he said....he opens them and tell s me

"You didn't buy those from me".......

WTF I didn't buy them from you? Are you *SQUEE* serious? I hadn't purchased anything else at this point and he says I didn't buy them from him. I start getting *SQUEE* off. Can this guy be serious? is he just joking with me. He tells me to lower my voice stop making a scene.

"I'll lower my voice when you stop ripping me off"....

He tells me to leave. I told him I'm not leaving until this is fixed. Dr. Solar was chatting with someone he know in the same booth and asked "Whats going on" I told him he said I didn't buy them from him....

Dr. Solar was like "Are you Serious?" "Why would Brian Lie about this?"

The dealers name is "Logan's Pop Comics" he's a fraking crook. He told me to pick something out to get me out of his booth. I grabbed Solar #4 & #6... I'm still *SQUEE* off at his attitude and lack of customer service.

After this fiasco Dr. Solar and I went for some grub and a beer (I needed that)

Other things I noticed at the show

Harbinger #1 $45 (it sold BTW)
Armorines VVSS VF- $10
Shadowman #6 3rd series $45 SOLD
Several Valiant Golds going at $10
Turok retailer review $10
Unity 2000 retailer review $10
Solar #10 $20

Was told that many people are looking for last issues and key issues.

No Valiant original art at this show and I missed Charles Yo on Sat

-Brian

Brother J · Post by **Brother J** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:11 pm

sorry the guy tried to screw you. Just another reason why you should double check to make sure the coupons are present before buying.

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:20 pm

Brother J wrote:sorry the guy tried to screw you. Just another reason why you should double check to make sure the coupons are present before buying.

Good advice, but I probably would have done the same as Brian if the guy told me the coupons were inside. Who would think someone would flat out lie over a measley 15 bucks?

Brother J · Post by **Brother J** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:30 pm

Daniel Jackson wrote:
Brother J wrote:sorry the guy tried to screw you. Just another reason why you should double check to make sure the coupons are present before buying.
Good advice, but I probably would have done the same as Brian if the guy told me the coupons were inside. Who would think someone would flat out lie over a measley 15 bucks?

I've learned the hard way that some dealers see the part of the coupon (the stub?) that is left once the Harby coupon is removed and think that means the coupon is still intact. Not sure why, but it has happened.

betterthanezra · Post by **betterthanezra** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:49 pm

Brother J wrote:
Daniel Jackson wrote:
Brother J wrote:sorry the guy tried to screw you. Just another reason why you should double check to make sure the coupons are present before buying.
Good advice, but I probably would have done the same as Brian if the guy told me the coupons were inside. Who would think someone would flat out lie over a measley 15 bucks?
I've learned the hard way that some dealers see the part of the coupon (the stub?) that is left once the Harby coupon is removed and think that means the coupon is still intact. Not sure why, but it has happened.

I agree I should have checked before I left and regret NOT doing just that. When he told me to grab what I wanted to get RID of me I also check some of his Magnus books....All of those had the coupon cut as well...He also told me those were complete the first time I went through those books..

-Brian

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:58 pm

You should have cried "SHENANIGANS!" and gotten out the broom...

-slym

Dr. Solar · Post by **Dr. Solar** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:28 pm

Logan's Pop Comics was a joke. The guy was a rip off, no which way about it. He was a scumbag, and I'll let everyone I know hear about it. I hope his business hurts at least a little from somebody hearing about what a jerk he is.

I didn't hear all of the interaction, because I ran into another guy at that booth as Brian was talking to him, so I said something about how Brian wouldn't lie, and that it sounds like he is ripping him off. He said, "No, I'm giving him credit, and letting him get something else" so I backed off and told him that was great. I didn't want to be in his face and screw up even the crappy trade in deal that Brian was getting. Later, when I could get the whole story from Brian, I heard how much of a jerk this guy was.

On a side note, the guy I saw at that booth saw a special advance screening of Watchmen the night before. They had a raffle for the showing, and he won. I didn't win a ticket, but that worked out for the best, because I ended up meeting this chick Jillian at a bar we went to that night, and ended up having a wonderful time with her. We are going out again tomorrow night.

Anyway, my friend I was talking to said Watchmen was really good. He didn't tell me much about what was in it, but he told me that as a comic fan, he wasn't disappointed, which is what I wanted to hear.

I think this was probably the most fun Wondercon I have ever been to. I got to spend a ton of time with a lot of different folks, from hanging out with BTE, JohnnyRnR, and Iggy, to Zeph (who showed up for Sunday - he says hello to everyone he loves here on the board), to a ton of guys from the Comic Forums.

A bunch of us (about 20) from The Comic Forums and the Comic Geek Speak podcast forum got together for dinner Friday, this was after going to drinks after the show with my buddy Dan and some of the guys from the Geek Savants podcast. Later we went to Kate O'Briens and drank lots of beer, I hit on chicks, and life was good.

I hosted the Geek Savant Wondercon Poker Tournament 2009 at my apartment Saturday night, and had a dozen people over for a fun night of poker. It was a great time, with some guys I've known a while and some new guys I had never met before, including some very talented indy comic artists:

Dave Dwonch, has done Gnome, Special Ed, and has a web comic:
http://spacetimecondo.com/

John Williams/Super Ugly (I don't have his site), and a few other guys who's sites I don't remember. It was a great time.

I got to hang with Zeph today, as I mentioned, and Johnny, and ran into some other guys I know.

This was a great con, and a great weekend.

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:31 pm

betterthanezra wrote:I agree I should have checked before I left and regret NOT doing just that. When he told me to grab what I wanted to get RID of me I also check some of his Magnus books....All of those had the coupon cut as well...He also told me those were complete the first time I went through those books..

-Brian

Good thing you didn't snag those as well.

Elveen · Post by **Elveen** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:51 pm

Dr. Solar wrote:Logan's Pop Comics was a joke. The guy was a rip off, no which way about it. He was a scumbag, and I'll let everyone I know hear about it. I hope his business hurts at least a little from somebody hearing about what a jerk he is.

I didn't hear all of the interaction, because I ran into another guy at that booth as Brian was talking to him, so I said something about how Brian wouldn't lie, and that it sounds like he is ripping him off. He said, "No, I'm giving him credit, and letting him get something else" so I backed off and told him that was great. I didn't want to be in his face and screw up even the crappy trade in deal that Brian was getting. Later, when I could get the whole story from Brian, I heard how much of a jerk this guy was.

On a side note, the guy I saw at that booth saw a special advance screening of Watchmen the night before. They had a raffle for the showing, and he won. I didn't win a ticket, but that worked out for the best, because I ended up meeting this chick Jillian at a bar we went to that night, and ended up having a wonderful time with her. We are going out again tomorrow night.

Anyway, my friend I was talking to said Watchmen was really good. He didn't tell me much about what was in it, but he told me that as a comic fan, he wasn't disappointed, which is what I wanted to hear.

I think this was probably the most fun Wondercon I have ever been to. I got to spend a ton of time with a lot of different folks, from hanging out with BTE, JohnnyRnR, and Iggy, to Zeph (who showed up for Sunday - he says hello to everyone he loves here on the board), to a ton of guys from the Comic Forums.

A bunch of us (about 20) from The Comic Forums and the Comic Geek Speak podcast forum got together for dinner Friday, this was after going to drinks after the show with my buddy Dan and some of the guys from the Geek Savants podcast. Later we went to Kate O'Briens and drank lots of beer, I hit on chicks, and life was good.

I hosted the Geek Savant Wondercon Poker Tournament 2009 at my apartment Saturday night, and had a dozen people over for a fun night of poker. It was a great time, with some guys I've known a while and some new guys I had never met before, including some very talented indy comic artists:

Dave Dwonch, has done Gnome, Special Ed, and has a web comic:
http://spacetimecondo.com/

John Williams/Super Ugly (I don't have his site), and a few other guys who's sites I don't remember. It was a great time.

I got to hang with Zeph today, as I mentioned, and Johnny, and ran into some other guys I know.

This was a great con, and a great weekend.

Sounds like a wonderful, wonderful time Doc.

iggy101us · Post by **iggy101us** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:56 am

I was at the show Fri and Sat. Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher were at the show signing autographs. Mark was charging $100!

No, I didn't pay for any autographs.

I searched for Valiants on Friday thru the bins and had a couple of nice finds - a newsstand and some late issues for $2 each. I found a A&A #0 in a $0.50 bin. I picked up some X-Men trades from the 1/2 off booths on Saturday. I remember the Logan's Pop booth BTE mentioned and yeah he had some Captain N and Zelda books for $30-$40 each (VERY high even when everything is 50% off). I did get an Amorines 1 VVSS from Logan's Pop for $10.

This was the 1st time I attended WonderCon. Of course, it's a lot smaller compared to SDCC but it's still nice (especially since it's only a BART ride away for me). There were some nice costumes at the con and I will post some pics later on. I also had a good time hanging out with Dr Solar and BTE briefly.

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:27 am

iggy101us wrote:I was at the show Fri and Sat. Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher were at the show signing autographs. Mark was charging $100! No, I didn't pay for any autographs.

Please tell me no one took him up on that ridiculous offer.

iggy101us · Post by **iggy101us** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:29 am

Daniel Jackson wrote:
iggy101us wrote:I was at the show Fri and Sat. Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher were at the show signing autographs. Mark was charging $100! No, I didn't pay for any autographs.

Please tell me no one took him up on that ridiculous offer.

There were pretty long lines for both Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher on both Fri and Sat. Meanwhile Erin Grey was there and she charged "only" $20 and there was basically no wait.

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:34 am

iggy101us wrote:
Daniel Jackson wrote:
iggy101us wrote:I was at the show Fri and Sat. Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher were at the show signing autographs. Mark was charging $100! No, I didn't pay for any autographs.

Please tell me no one took him up on that ridiculous offer.
There were pretty long lines for both Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher on both Fri and Sat. Meanwhile Erin Grey was there and she charged "only" $20 and there was basically no wait.

Man, it's sad that the only way those people can make a living is to gouge fans for autographs.

Elveen · Post by **Elveen** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:10 pm

Daniel Jackson wrote:
iggy101us wrote:
Daniel Jackson wrote:
iggy101us wrote:I was at the show Fri and Sat. Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher were at the show signing autographs. Mark was charging $100! No, I didn't pay for any autographs.

Please tell me no one took him up on that ridiculous offer.
There were pretty long lines for both Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher on both Fri and Sat. Meanwhile Erin Grey was there and she charged "only" $20 and there was basically no wait.
Man, it's sad that the only way those people can make a living is to gouge fans for autographs.

It is sad. But if that's what you have to do.

I can't believe that there was a long line to pay a C note for Luke's auto. Crazy!

iggy101us · Post by **iggy101us** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:23 pm

Elveen wrote:I can't believe that there was a long line to pay a C note for Luke's auto. Crazy!

I know, crazy! I did take a pic of him at the show. If you want to see the pic, please Paypal me $25.

I will post his pic later. He looks old for his age (57).

Elveen · Post by **Elveen** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:50 pm

iggy101us wrote:
Elveen wrote:I can't believe that there was a long line to pay a C note for Luke's auto. Crazy!
I know, crazy! I did take a pic of him at the show. If you want to see the pic, please Paypal me $25.

I will post his pic later. He looks old for his age (57).

Bummer.

Heath · Post by **Heath** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:18 pm

Mark Hamill was at Dragon*Con one of the years I went. He was one of the draws for me and I took my Star Wars poster that had previously been signed by Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, and Jeremy Bulloch. He was only signing autographs on Saturday, so Saturday morning I show up early to get in line. It was only then that I found out that you had to have a separate ticket for his signing. And how did you get that ticket? You had to go to the Origin Systems presentation on Wing Commander IV the previous day. Nowhere was this ever announced or advertised. There were a lot of *SQUEE* off fans that day. A LOT of people had come on Saturday only just for Mark Hamill only to find out they couldn't even get in his line. I remember there was one guy there who had a "Revenge Of The Jedi" (not "Return") poster and he already had Carrie Fisher and James Earl Jones signatures on it.

JohnnyRnR · Post by **JohnnyRnR** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:01 pm

Dr. Solar wrote: I got to hang with Zeph today, as I mentioned, and Johnny,

Wow! What a well-hung group of nerds! I mean, so I've heard...

betterthanezra · Post by **betterthanezra** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 9:21 am

JohnnyRnR wrote:
Dr. Solar wrote: I got to hang with Zeph today, as I mentioned, and Johnny,
Wow! What a well-hung group of nerds! I mean, so I've heard...

Yeah I didn't run into you this shjow and that upset me....

Super-con in San Jose make plans in May Same Nerds will be Hanging out

-Brian