On the Baltimore Comic-Con

Yesterday I was at the Baltimore Comic-Con.

Work was offering free passes earlier in the week, and having never been to a comic convention I decided I’d go.

I took the subway into downtown. Trying to navigate the stops by memory was a bad thing — I should have checked the map — as I got off one stop too late. I wanted Lexington Market, not Charles Center, so instead of hoofing it five blocks to the convention center, I hoofed closer to twelve. (I also chose the wrong side of Charles Center to exit on. Go me.)

But hey, it was a nice day. Hot. But nice.

Big hall. Lots of creators. Lots of dealers. It was… interesting.

Though I’d printed off a panel schedule, I didn’t attend any — I’d foolishly forgotten to wear a watch, so I had no idea of time.

I ran into Glenn Hauman of ComicMix. We chatted for a couple of minutes. He kept fiddling with his computer — he was probably downloading porn.

I bought an autographed Grendel: Devil by the Deed from the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund table. Autographed! By Matt Wagner! Happy happy happy!

I also bought a Christmas present.

One table was a small publisher who put out a comic called Dracula vs. King Arthur. I’d heard of this. I wasn’t paying any attention as I walked by, and the guy behind the table said something that I’d heard out of the corner of my ear and caught my attention. We got to talking King Arthur — that’s always good. I’m reminded of that scene in The Simpsons, I’m thinking of the episode with Mel Gibson:

Homer: You had me at “Hello.”
Mel: I didn’t say “Hello.”

Anyway. He didn’t even have to make a sales pitch. And he threw in a one-shot his company had done — For Life — which was slight but a nice read.

I also met Dr. Arnold Blumberg, who’s one of the moderators of the Outpost Gallifrey Doctor Who forum, if memory serves. He’s also sold a story to Big Finish for one of their upcoming Doctor Who anthologies.

I stayed a couple of hours. I didn’t have anything to get signed, really. It was an interesting experience. Especially to see up-close a lot of names I’ve known for twenty-plus years.