The main artist attraction this year was Kevin Eastman, so you know I bought the Ninja Turtles VIP package to get guaranteed direct access to his signings and his exclusive goodie bag.
Got seven signatures, obviously had to get'em on his latest creations of Last Ronin and The Lost Years. Pretty awesomely that 25th Anniversary Hardcover was in the VIP exclusive gift bag, so fricking cool. Miraculously found that TMNT #4 2nd Printing cover the day before for a great price.
Was such an honor to meet the legendary Larry Hama, creator of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, and all the heroes and villains as we know them today. Along with signatures on various comics he did, and my Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow Pops, also got a commission sketch of Cobra Commander. The table next to him was 80's Marvel comic writer Steven Grant, so got both their signatures on a collection of Punisher: Suicide Run he was selling on the table, and later went back to him when I found a Punisher #1.
Actually didn't buy too many comics or even any toys at this convention, other then that New 52 Deathstroke Funko Pop, all my money went to signatures, sketches, and art prints. Some very cool #1s, and some variants covers, did manage to check off twenty-four Ultimate X-Men issues off my need list. Specifically got that Cable textless variant cover by Tyler Kirkham at the convention to get signed by him.
Extraordinary comic artist Adam Kubert was added to the guest list just a couple weeks before the convention, and I knew I wouldn't be leaving that weekend without a commissioned sketch from him. When I went to go pick up the sketch the next day Logan was only in pencil, that is when he added the black ink and red paint, was phenomenal to see it finished by his hand right in front of me.
Another amazing highlight was meeting Charles Martinet, the voice of Super Mario in video games since 1994. Instead of getting his signature for myself, I took this opportunity to make a unique one-of-a kind birthday present for a very special little boy who's birthday it was that very day, and got him personalized birthday wishes on a art print.
One of the artist I brought a stack of comics to get signed by was long-time Marvel artist Mark Bagley, another legend I had to have a commissioned sketch from. Cable was pre-sketched on the canvas cover, not a paid commission, that got my eye as the artist Dietrich Smith was putting it out as I walked by. Cable being my favorite Marvel X-Men character, I had to get it and have it signed by him, and talked to him for a bit about how he was an apprentice of Rob Liefield at the early days of Image Comics.
More art prints to find wall space in my house for. Deadpool from Myrat Michaels, Snake Eyes from Larry Hama, Ninja Turtles from Kevin Eastman. Spider-Man from Mark Bagley, Green Lantern from Jim Starlin, and Weapon X from Adam Kubert.
