THE CRAZY COMIC CON COUNTDOWN CONTINUES!!! TO 2014!!!

We are back!  Again!  And less than a month away from the biggest show in the world: SAN DIEGO COMIC CON!!!  Yes, excitement is really picking up as we inch closer to the first REAL SDCC in three years!  But first, there's another event making its return after three long years.  Which show you ask?  Scroll down and see!

Just like SDCC, HeroesCon in Charlotte, NC is also making its long awaited return to the con circuit, and with it, the Team Cul De Sac art auction!  As I mentioned last week, this very worthy cause is back and looking to raise money to help find a cure for Parkinson's disease.  Parkinson's affects all of us.  It doesn't discriminate, it doesnt pick and choose.  ANYONE is fair game with this disease and if we can find a cure,  then we all benefit!  So if you're going to HeroesCon this weekend, make sure to check out the art auction! In addition to the piece above, already framed I might add, there will be dozens of other items up for bidding by artists from all over, including legends like Sergio Aragones!  So don't miss out on your chance to own some original CRAZY art and give Parkinson's a swift kick in the ass while you're at it!  For more info, click the link at the top of the paragraph!

And now, it is that time again.  The year is 2014.  The place is San Diego.  The event is Comic Con.  I think y'all know what's next!  Keep a tight grip on that bag of Flaming Hot Cheetos because the CRAZY COMIC CON COUNTDOWN is a go!  Enjoy...

Not too many of the offsites had/have nighttime events, but the former Xbox Lounge at the Hyatt stayed open until 9pm and also had photo ops outside of the hotel for all to enjoy, like this monster from a game whose name escapes me at the moment! (Author's Note: After a fiasco at the Hard Rock Hotel in 2013, the Xbox Lounge moved to the Manchester Grand Hyatt and became an event open only to SCDD badge holders)

As I said last week, ad space is at a premium during Comic Con.  In addition to the buildings, trolleys, busses and sidewalks, even the sky is up for sale during this show!

Off in the distance, the Nickelodeon booth!  In recent years, Nick has done a great job of marketing their past onto tacky merchandise.  Too bad they refuse to listen the audience and market these shows on their actual networks and streaming service!  There's so much money waiting to be made off these old shows that people want to see again!

What part of the Labyrinth did they find him in?

Things are getting a little jenky over in Townsville!

WAAAAAAY off in the distance there, the legendary Assassin's Creed Parkour Challenge Course!  They had this set up for a few years along the MLK Promenade in Downtown, and it was always a blast to see it in action.  Many tried but few succeeded in finishing the whole thing.  The real highlight though were the two guys who dressed as Mario and Luigi and actually managed to run the table and make it through!

You don't see too much Gollum cosplay at cons, but when you do, it DEFINITELY ain't the Rankin/Bass version of the character!  bonus points for going with obscurity!

He ain't Gorilla Grod.  This guy literally just crawled around in an ape suit!

I don't remember what this was for exactly, but it looked really cool!

Behind the Convention Center, WB set up a small Godzilla offsite promoting the movie which had come out two months prior.  Needless to say, the lines weren't long for this one!

One attendee let their feelings be known about Godzilla 2014's noticeable lack of Godzilla in the movie!

Burt is such a helpful chap!  You should've seen the bathrooms BEFORE he took care of things!

The water feature in front of the Marriott isn't usually used for photo ops, but even they couldn't resist these awesome Avatar cosplayers!

We end today's post in Hall H!  It was the first time since 2009 that I'd been able to see a panel in their and boy was it a doozy: The Warner Bros Panel!  They have historically always kicked off Saturday in Hall H and 2014 didn't disappoint!  It started with the Mad Max: Fury Road that featured Chris Hardwick throwing a sick burn on some douche who actually tried to troll George Miller during the Q&A session.  Next we were surprised by Zack Snyder who showed us the first footage of Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn Of Justice and then immediately introduced Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman!  They topped it off with the The Hobbit panel which also didn't disappoint!  It was an amazing time for sure and I haven't tried to get into Hall H since!

And that was Comic Con 2014!  My first SDCC in my 30's was fun but not without some controversy on the work side off things going in, but I won't bore you with details of water long under the bridge.  The show was a lot of fun and it had some really cool offsites that year.  All in all, it was one for the books!

Speaking of books, another chapter's in!  We got one more week of June here and I promise we'll end the month on a high note. I mean, we're in the middle of the CRAZY COMIC CON COUNTDOWN here!  How can we not?  So be sure to come back next week!  Until then, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

THE CRAZY COMIC CON COUNTDOWN!!! CRAZY LUCKY NUMBER 2013!!!

Another week in and the CRAZY COMIC CON COUNTDOWN takes us quite literally to the middle of June already!  Where does all the time go?  Probably to the San Diego County Fair!  It's back and all about heroes this year!  Speaking of heroes, there's something very special going on in Charlotte, NC in a couple of weeks that I'd like to talk about for a moment if you'll just scroll down a bit...

For quite some time now, Chris Sparks over at Team Cup De Sac has been putting on an art auction at HeroesCon in Charlotte to help benefit the fight against Parkinson's disease in honor of his friend, the late Richard Thompson, the extraordinary cartoonist behind the brilliant comic strip, Cul de Sac.  Thompson was an incredible artist and writer and his series was hands down one of the all-time greats.  It broke my heart when he had to retire and stop the comic and it hurt even more when he succumbed to the illness several years back.  Since 2016, I've been donating art to the cause, though these last couple of years I couldn't get anything in because the auction and convention couldn't be held due to COVID.  Things are finally looking up now though, and the auction WILL happen on June 24th, so if you're gonna be in Charlotte and plan on attending, here's your chance to own a piece of original, CRAZY art!  All proceeds benefit Parkinson's research, so not only will you get a chance to take some CRAZY home with you, you will also get the satisfaction of saying that you helped deliver the final boot to the ass of Parkinson's disease once and for all!  Foe more info, click the link at the top of the paragraph!

And now, we hop from one coast to another as we prepare to head back to 2013 and visit a Comic Con from the not-too-distant past!  Yank the strap of your underoos off of your forehead and brace yourself!  The CRAZY COMIC CON COUNTDOWN is a go!  Enjoy... 

The Ice King saw all in this massive booth that Cartoon Network had set up in the exhibit hall with a photo op inside!  I went in and got my picture taken, but they never sent it to me.  Cheap bastards!

Was honored to be invited to take part in the Hero Initiative's Drink-N-Draw event that saw dozens of cartoonists add their characters to a giant wall.  And look who decided to hangout right next to Mike & Mindy: RAPHAEL!!!  When I went back later to see how the wall was coming, I got the surprise of a lifetime when I saw none other than Kevin Eastman himself had drawn his famed turtle next to my tiny tykes!  Was a very humbling moment for sure!

GO GO POWER RANGERS!!!  This year, some one needs to broaden things and do some VR Troopers cosplay!

The legendary and much missed Xbox Lounge.  This would be its last year at the Hard Rock before moving to the much larger, and more professional Manchester Grand Hyatt.  Although it wouldn't last, the move was definitely a huge upgrade.

The Ender's Game offsite!  I actually did get to take part in this one and it was pretty cool.  Have still never seen the movie and have no idea what it's about, but the offsite was fun at least!

Ad space is at a premium at SDCC, even the sidewalks can be bought and marketed!

Tin Fish Square is the site of two SDCC traditions: The NBC takeover and those jolly, fun-loving souls from a certain church reminding us about how immoral SDCC is while acting immoral themselves.

Es el Doctor Quien!

This is a pretty badass Loki cosplay!  Totally looks like him!

Some sweet family cosplay at the hotel tram stop!

Mega Books was always there for those who couldn't afford Legos!

See?  Darth Vader did do SOME honorable things after turning to the dark side.  Not many, but some!

These guys know where the Star Wars fan tables are!

We'll end this week with a bitchin' ride: A custom Wolverine street bike!  In addition to cosplay and swag, the streets of Downtown San Diego are also awesome spots to see some really slick vehicles during Comic Con!

And that was Comic Con 2013!  A fun year that once again ran the table for me as I set it up, went to it and took it down!  Lot's of cool things went down that year.  Hard to believe how long it's been already.  It was also among the first years I had both my brother's kids with me most of the time.  Not always easy to wrangle up two kids hawked up on sugar and toy lust, but I managed!  They'd only get wilder with age!

That's a wrap for this week but fear not!  We got a LOT of past SDCC fun surfacing in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!  Until next time, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

THE CRAZY COMIC CON COUNTDOWN 2019 MARCHES ON... TO 2012!!!

We are back!  Summer's in full swing here at the CRAZYVERSE and with any luck, I would've already made a trip or two to the Fair for some deep fried goodness!  Of course, the other big event of the summer is the real reason why you're likely here today, but first, just one more reminder about a very special event going on this weekend...

As I mentioned last week, I donated another piece of original art for the Team Cul De Sac charity art auction taking place at HeroesCon in Charlotte this weekend, Saturday I believe.  It's not only your chance to own a framed, hand-drawn work of original CRAZY art, it's also your chance to help give Parkinson's Disease a swift kick in the rear and send it packing once and for all as ALL proceeds go towards research for a cure!  So if you're gonna be in Charlotte this weekend, stop by and place a bid!  In addition to my art, there will be MANY other fine pieces looking for a new home to be displayed in!  So drop in and drop a bid!  For more info, check out the Team Cul De Sac Blog here!

And now, it's time to start the show!  We've set the Wayback Machine to 2012, the year it was all supposed to end, and put on our finest Batman Underoos so that the following pics can be viewed in absolute comfort!  Let the CRAZY COMIC CON COUNTDOWN 2019 continue!  Enjoy...

It's a Comic Con cliche these days to find Waldo cosplay, but huge props to the one guy that decided to go against the grain and dress up as Odlaw! 

The Ubi Soft booth, which has shrunk a bit in recent years.  Back in 2012, they were celebrating several big releases, including a new Assassin's Creed sequel, so they decided to go big, which included this LED wall that I can proudly say I helped build! 

The awesome Hilton Park display that Warner Bros put on for all to enjoy, badge or not!  These days, FX hosts it, although that could change with the Fox/Disney merger.  From 2010-2013, WB ran it and they put on a hell of a show and 2012 was no different!  They had all the different Batmobiles (up to that point) on display including my favorite one from the Tim Burton films!  Hot damn those were some bitchin' wheels!

Will the real Mad Hatter please step forward? 

The famed Gaslamp Quarter at a rare low point in the day.  I must've taken this pic fairly early in the day for the crowds to be this light!

The Frankenweenie offsite cohosted by Disney and HGTV!  Oddly enough, not a huge hassle to get into, but then again, the offsites were much better run when they first started doing them.  This one had life-size replicas of the animated sets and we all got a pretty nifty pin in the end!  Might have to dig that one out some day!  But the best part of the experience?  The whole tent was air conditioned!  Yeah, I was a big fan of this one!

The once great Nintendo Lounge.  This was its second year of operation and for a long time was a wonderful experience.  Last year, that all changed.  Hopefully this year, Nintendo can get their act together and make things right again! 

80's Mariachi fun here!  For those not old enough to know, those are the Noids and Rainbow Brite getting down in the Sails Pavilion with some random dude!  And yes, there WAS a Green Noid towards the end of the ad campaign.

Another very-missed offsite: The Shifty Look Retro Arcade.  It was a pretty cool little setup open to all at the Hilton Gaslamp.  That year saw the 30th anniversary of Dig Dug, so they were heavy in the theming Pookahs and Fygars all over the place!

As you might imagine, this room was popular! 

Sorry Slash, but there aren't any pianos for you to stand on while performing your wicked guitar solo! 

A nice overhead shot of the Hall H line, complete with fanatical zealots who think the people inside actually take this seriously! 

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOA!!! 

Galactus made his intentions clear: If Disney didn't get the Fox Marvel properties back in seven years, the world would end!  Luckily, Disney and Fox merged with three months to go, and we have all been spared!

And that was Comic Con 2012!  One of my all-time favorite years at the show!  Saw a lot, did a lot, collected a lot.  It was a LOT to take in!  Yeah I know, that's a horrible joke, but I've covered this year so many times now, its hard to find new ways to keep it fresh!

And that's all she wrote for this week!  Come back again a week from today for more old pics that are actually new!  Until then, take care and I'll catch y'all later!

THE CRAZY COMIC CON COUNTDOWN 2019 IS A GO!!!

Welcome to June my CRAZIES!!!  And with June comes many fine things!  Summer!  The Del Mar/San Diego County Fair!  And, of course...  COMIC CON 2019!!!  That's right folks!  We are roughly a month and a half away from the biggest show of the year and anticipation is already setting in!  To help keep our emotions in check, I will once again be delving deep into the CRAZY archives with a look back at the wonderful world of Comic Con!  But first, a little info about something CRAZY happening at another con across the country...

Long time readers will remember that I was a huge fan of the comic strip Cul De Sac by the late Richard Thompson.  I never met Mr. Thompson in person but interacted with him on Twitter a few times and found him to be a delightful person.  His comic was one of the greatest things to happen to the funny pages in a post-Far Side world and I, like many, were devastated when he was forced to retire in 2012 due to Parkinson's Disease, an ailment that he passed away from in 2016.  Even before his untimely passing, Chris Sparks of Team Cul De Sac has helped host a charity auction every year at HeroesCon in Charlotte and this year is no different.  For my fourth straight year, I'll be contributing a piece that will hopefully bring in a fair amount to help give this nasty disease the boot once and for all!  Parkinson's knows no bounds and does not discriminate.  The more research that's done, the better our chances are of finding a cure!  Many wonderful pieces of art will be up for bidding, so if you're gonna be in Charlotte, be sure to stop by HeroesCon on the weekend of June 14-16 for your chance to own some framed, original, CRAZY art!  For more info, click the Team Cul De Sac link here!

And now, as we do every year, it is time to delve into the past.  DEEP into the past!  The year is 2011.  The city is San Diego and the venue is the San Diego Convention Center.  The event, is Comic Con!  Let the CRAZY COMIC CON COUNTDOWN commence!  Enjoy...

As is tradition, here's another rare look at the show before the show!  Comic Con is a massive undertaking to put together. In addition to stagehands like me, there's electricians, riggers, deco-carpenters, truckers, janitors and a whole host of others that all work together to pull this show off every year!  I honestly don't recall building any booths that year, as I was pretty low on the ladder back then, but this particular shot is in Hall D where the new side of the Convention Center (Hall D) meets the old side (Hall C).  Easiest way to tell the two apart since the signs aren't visible: The support columns are different as you enter the new side from old!  It's also worth noting that the old side of the Convention Center is on the north end of the complex.

Oh boy.  Now THIS was a moment for me!  Weeks earlier, CM Punk had won the WWE World Title and then subsequently "left" the company.  During the Mattel/WWE panel, he "Crashed" the question and answer session as I was waiting to ask a question and the rest is history!  I've covered this before on the blog, but I'll never get over how badass it all was!

Gee, for being the leader of a global terrorist organization, Cobra Commander sure does get caught a lot!  

It's the Borg!  He tried to assimilate my mind, but then suddenly slumped to the floor and began crying.  Everyone's a critic!

BARF!!!  Half dog, half man.  He's his own best friend!  Well, her own.  Barf's being played by a woman here! 

You never know which stars you'll run into on the streets during SDCC.  Even Professor Snape was chilling in the Gaslamp Quarter! 

This R2 unit was kind enough to serve drinks to everyone waiting outside the convention center lobby.  He later let us all use him to play an impromptu game of Beer Pong!

I was briefly held captive by Cobra at the Hasbro booth!  Luckily, I remembered how horrible they are at succeeding, and I simply slipped away after yelling "Look over there!" and they did! 

And now ladies and gentlemen, the REAL hero of Comic Con: The Paletero Man!  Depending on where you live, this is probably a novel sight.  But here in San Diego, you know your hot day's been saved when you hear that bell and see his cart! 

I've been in tighter scraps than this! 

The local hotels near the Convention Center make out pretty well from the various studios that pay them to plaster ads for movies, TV shows and video games along the front.  Does it always work?  Sadly no, as the above pic shows.  Cowboys & Aliens was far from a blockbuster, but I've seen more spectacular promotional disasters, as anyone who remembers the Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow bombardment in 2004 can attest to! 

Would y'all believe that this is actually considered a low-traffic area? 

She's only a good witch on paper.  Look at all Dorothy went through only to learn she had magical shoes that could've taken her home in seconds! 

We end today's post with a prototype that I really wish WWE would release already: A Gobbledy Gooker action figure!  Seriously!  They've released a Shockmaster figure, so why not the Gooker?

And that's all she wrote on Comic Con 2011.  It's a year I remember well for the wrong reasons as my health had taken a rather dire turn just before the show.  Thankfully the main problem is somewhat fixed now, but it was making life pretty damn miserable for me back then.  Still, I had some great moments at show despite my health and got many great pics.  This is likely the end of the road for 2011 pics.  Although I do have more unposted pics, I'm simply starting to run out of interesting ones to post!  Who knows?  Maybe some day I'll do a mismatch post of all the leftover Comic Con pics!  Could be fun.

Week 1 of the CRAZY COMIC CON COUNTDOWN 2019 is in the books!  Buckle up and hold tight, as we got eight more weeks of this and next week will be no different!  Until then, take care and I'll catch y'all later!