karl.tsakos.us/blog

So, some updates.

My whole running plan which I talked about at the beginning of the year sort of fell by the wayside. It wasn’t for lack of trying. I was running and I was on track. Then, I came down with one of the worst colds I ‘ve ever had. It lasted for about three weeks. I coughed for threes weeks. It was pretty miserable. But then I got over it. I started running, picking up where I left off. That lasted a week. Then I got my second chest cold of the year. That lasted about two weeks.

I decided that I was pushing it with the cold, dry air. Now that I’m feeling better I’m taking a new tact to get the cardio going again. I cleared a space in the spare room (which is still box storage for items I haven’t unpacked) and setup my road bike on a stand. I’ve started riding again while watching Futurama on my laptop. So far, so good.

What else? The house. Winter time; not much to be done during this season. I’m planning several projects though and will see how much I can do myself. I’m planning a vegetable garden based on the French kitchen garden concpt. Inside, there’s rewiring the upstairs so the majority of the house isn’t on one circuit. Then, I want to insulate the attic. I’m planning a new layout for the kitchen which will most likely require tearing down the walls to the studs and the moving of a door. Then there’s the worlds smallest bathroom. Oh, and the drainage problem with the plumbing.

I just made myself sad. No, overwhelmed.

Then, there’s the band with no name. We’re finishing up recording an album and writing stuff to follow it up. But that’s all I’m going to say about it so as not to upset Dave by talking about the band.

Finally, I’ve been thinking of reviving the Hudson Highlander. I’m thinking of getting a smaller HD camera which I hope will be more convenient to use (and less bulky) than my current camera. I did recently get a gorilla pod which will be great to use in the field. I’m also thinking of breaking the show out from just hiking. I may do a five borough bike ride with my brother and niece. It might make for a fun episode.

Well, that’s it for now.

Yes, I did it. Something for which I know some will look down upon me and for which I make no apologies. I went to the 2009 New York Comicon at the Jacob Javits convention center in Manhattan. An event which in four short years has grown to become the second largest comic convention after San Diego. And, a large convention it was. I have been to Jacob Javits before to attend other conventions including Mac World (while they were still held in New York). This convention was as large as I recall Mac World being. For comparison, at the same time as Comicon, the New York Times Travel Show was being held in a hall almost half the size as the Comicon’s.

The Comicon is a place first and for most for comic book collectors and fans. It is an opportunity to meet some of their favorite authors and writers from the genre. From the elderly statesmen who helped mold comics into the widely appreciated art form it has become to the independent writers and publishers of today. There is a giant section of the hall dedicated to the artists where the loyal can try to commission drawings of their favorite characters from their favorite artists. I would have said, “where they can commission,” but due to the sheer number of attendees, the artists were backlogged by the second day. That didn’t stop them from chatting with their fans or autographing a drawing or book.

Among my favorite autographs was one my friend Jim received. Jim brought the cover from the DVD for the movie Mystery Men based on the comic by Bob Burden. Even though the movie was live action, Bob signed the front cover. He then proceeded to flip the paper over and, while balancing the paper on the edge of a box, drew the head of Casanova Frankenstein, the villain from the books and movie. He then handed it back to Jim saying, “secret drawing,” because of course you’ll never see it unless you take the cover out of the DVD’s case.

Other attractions included acre upon acre of comic book sellers where you could buy everything from one dollar back issues of your favorite series to tens of thousands of dollar collectables. They also sold paraphernalia including figurines, games, and costumes.

There were other attractions such as the video game companies which occupied almost half the floor. I didn’t really spend much time in that area. There were also celebrities from the television and film industries. Although I didn’t see him, Joss Whedon was there. I did see Lou Ferrigno and Marina Sirtis who were there to sign autographs.

Other then meeting your comic and occasional film idols, the draw was the community. As with any gathering of fans, you had a great sense of fellowship despite the thousands of people on hand. You could stop anyone and strike up a conversation and have a common background from which to proceed.

That wasn’t the case for me. To be honest, I’ve never been a very big comic book fan. I’ve read a few in my time and enjoyed them. My friends often will recommend something I should read and I do and I enjoy it. But, I never seem to go and seek out new material on my own. I could name maybe four or five comic artists or authors and that’s it. More exposure than many, much less than the real fans.

So why did I go? Three reasons really. First, Jim invited me. Second, Having never been to such a convention I thought it would be fun. And third, and most importantly, for the fans. And what I mean by that is the fans who like to go dressed in costume.

It’s not like you think. These people aren’t crazy. These people are showing their devotion to their favorite pastime. They are sharing their favorite fantasies with the other attendees. There is a knowledge of what they are doing and that it’s silly and funny at times. Ultimately, they are doing it because it’s fun.

I thought it would be a great photographic opportunity to go and get some shots of people in costume and I wasn’t mistaken. There was everything from the serious, to the ridiculous, to the sexy. You can see the photos I took at the convention and see what I mean. Enjoy.