New York Comic Con, the show so nice I'm blogging it twice

So here’s my specific show fun. Paul Storrie, talented writer guy and good friend, drove from Michigan to Zahlerdu and we drove out together, and shared a room. This made so many things so much nicer. I didn’t have to fly and could bring more stuff easily, and could split driving costs with Paul. The Ohio-to-New York drive is one have done so many times that, should I ever have kids, they will be able to find their way there just by genetic imprinting. So why did I make it so many times? I went to art school just outside of NYC in Dover, New Jersey, at the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art.

I haven’t driven to The City So Nice They Named It Twice since my 2002 taping of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” And I haven’t been to my old stomping grounds at Kubert since even before then. So, having enough time, I stopped at the Kubert School.

Or what was left of it.

The Kubert School is undergoing some renovations. Minor ones, that involved tearing the entire building apart. One does question why they waited until the school year to start these, but I know that regardless, these renovations were desperately needed. The school was old, and a little decrepit. The rooms were freezing cold during the winter, except the life drawing rooms, which were kept in the “bake” mode so that the barely-clothed models could be comfortable.

I can already see new windows on the school, so that’s a step in the right direction.

Kubert’s a special time in my life. The memories of that time will be with me forever, and I met some of my best friends there. The place itself, though, was boot camps for artists, and often just as pleasant. Sometimes I don’t know how I made it through, but I’m glad I did. I wouldn’t be able to do half the things I can do now, both in art and in life, if I hadn’t gone there.

Since I registered too late for Artists Alley space, I was homeless at the show. Fortunately my friend and client, Paul Merolle, who owns Toon Tumblers was exhibiting at the show. You’ve seen me post pictures of these glasses, which I consider my good china here at the house. I love these things.

I helped Paul set up and run his booth, along with his sister and a friend of Paul’s. Paul has over thirty different glass designs, and had an incredible volume of product with him. As you can see in the pictures, there were several towers of glass cases that took up most of the booth. I was frequently behind the booth, looking for a buried case of Punisher glasses or somesuch. It was thick at times, but it was a lot of fun.

Plus, it gave me a base of operations. I managed to run into a bunch of people that were just wandering by, and that presence helped me a lot. I managed to talk to a producer at Comedy Central (I am SO trying to get Colbert to appear in “Love and Capes #5”), my account rep at Diamond, a couple of clients and advertisers for LnC, and all sorts of people. Too many to mention here.

Paul also bought lunch every day, and he knew some good places in town. There was an Italian Deli that made some great pizza and sandwiches.

And, while I’m on the subject of New York, I dont know how they do it, there’s something about a New York bagel. Don’t know what, but man, they’re good.

Back to the show in a minute.

Paul and I stayed at the Hotel Pennyslvania. It was nice in the lobby, and a bit spartan on the inside. It not a fancy place, to be sure, but they gave us a decent room for an incredible price, so I can’t complain too much...

...except, of course, for their lack of internet in the rooms. They had WebTV, but no way to get your own computer online. There was a phone, but neither Paul or I could get our computers on line through dialup.

This is why I want an iPhone.

You see, I am Thom Zahler Art Studios. There’s no one to handle things while I’m gone. Staying in touch is a necessity. And, well, let’s say that I have one client that can be high-maintenance.

I can get e-mail on my phone, but it’s limited and generally a pain. I checked my e-mail and saw that the aforementioned client had e-mailed saying they needed something new at the last minute. Sure, I saw it coming, but it didn’t make it better. It was something I only needed an internet connection to fix, but I did need an internet connection.

So where could I get an internet connection? Then I remembered: The Apple Store. New York has an Apple Store that is open twenty-four-freakin’-hours-a-day!

(I told the GF about this. “It’s open 24 hours! Do you know how many times I’ve needed an Airport Extreme at 3am?” “No how many?” “None! But if I did, I could go there.” Sometimes it’s a wonder she sticks with me.)

So Paul and I trekked down Fifth Avenue almost to Central Park, where the Apple Store resides. I gotta say, it’s pretty impressive as stores go. And, I was able to get my client taken care of. To show you how advertising work compares to some comics, those e-mails I sent probably paid for my trip.

And next is the wrap up of my New York Comicon experience. Here, my ego gets even bigger thans to some well-meaning people, and Paul and I drive through the Casket of Ancient Blizzards. Curse you Walt Simonson...!