Yesterday, I saved the lives of many attendees of the Comic-Con. I turned back the scooter I was given.
My knee was giving me grief and I decided to accept the convention's offer of a little electric vehicle in which I might toodle around the hall. I toodled up half an aisle, hung a right and took it right back to where I got it and turned it in. That's how little time it took to convince me that the way folks walk around the convention, looking everywhere except where they're going, I would wind up hitting someone.
Others, I am well aware, manage these little go-carts very well. Maybe the new, deluxe one I was given just had too much pep or maybe driving one is simply a skill I lack. I'm a pretty good driver in a real car but after about three minutes of fevered braking every time someone blindly walked into my path this morning, I decided I was bound to hit someone…and I'd rather limp. So limp I did, all around the convention center. It didn't feel great but it felt better than injuring another human being or even an editor.
We had a good panel with Elliott Maggin, Gerry Conway, Paul Levitz, Marv Wolfman and Marty Pasko on the days when Superman was edited by Julius Schwartz. A lot of folks video'ed it so I would imagine it'll be up on YouTube before long and will direct you there when it is. For all of the writers, myself included, those assignments were a double dose o' pride. There was pride in working on Superman and pride in working for Julie Schwartz.
Later in the day, we had The Sergio and Mark Show with our special guest, Stan Sakai. We reported on the status of the long-delayed Groo Vs. Conan mini-series (should be scheduled any day now) and told what else we'd been up to lately. One news site is reporting that Sergio and I announced we're collaborating on a history of MAD magazine but we're not and no such thing was said on the panel.
For those of you scoring at home: That's two panels down, eleven to go.
The hall didn't seem oppressively crowded today except one time when I made the mistake of limping my way down an aisle lined with gaming companies. Many of these exhibitors deliberately and successfully plot how to keep a huge crowd clustered around their booth…which means "in the aisles." Mostly, this is accomplished with offers: If you stick around a bit, you'll see something really cool and you might get something for free. Do your best to avoid those areas. If you can, it ain't bad in there.
I met with my new editor for a new comic I've agreed to write starring characters you know and love. It was supposed to be announced at the con but there's a bit of a delay so it won't be…though a lot of people seem to already know about it. I'll tell you all about it when I can.
Before I go, I'll leave you with something I've learned as a comic book writer of forty years: If someone comes up to you and says "You are one of my two favorite comic book writers," the other guy they mention will always be the person you consider the worst writer in the business.
Good night from Comic-Con Nation. Round Two starts in eight hours.