New Comics Day flew out our resident Rex Graine of comic book journalism, nilskidoo, to cover the San Diego Comic Con as only he can. This article comprises his many text messages, tweets, and voice mail from throughout the first day of the greatest show on Earth, SDCC.
10:00. Knowing that Marvel and DC leave their big news for the end of the weekend, and suffering from a tremendous personal fear of crowds, I opt to check out their booths first. Didio confirms the Vulgate Apocrypha is coming along smashingly, with Grant Morrison and Jim Lee having completed their parts. As expected though, Liefeld will now be sharing finishing duties on the Third Testament to the Holy Bible with the newly reformed Extremists of Marat Mychaels, Dan Fraga, Jeff Matsuda, Chuck Jones, Anthony Winn, Cedric Nocon, Chris Alexander, Roger Cruz, Chap Yaep, David Brewer, Mark Pacella, Mark Pajarillo, Pat Lee, Sam Liu, John Stinsman, Karl Altstaetter, Stephen Platt, PEDI, Richard Horie, Danny Miki, Norm Rapmund, Marlo Alquiza, Jonathan Sibal, Paul Scott, Tim Townsend, Vince Russell, Lary Stucker, Dan Panosian, Art Thibert, Byron Talman, Brian Murray, Donald Skinner, Ron Rife, Paul Mounts, Kiko Taganashi, Christian Lichtner, and Erik Larsen.
10:59. After meeting a Mary Marvel cosplayer in the ladies restroom, I missed the panel on Bendis‘ new Night Nurse series, but scoring Travis Charest on a monthly again will be huge news, I’m sure.
11:11. Bigger news is the revelation that Stan Lee has somehow sold all rights to the X-men to Jim Silvestri. This will obviously amount to litigious scandal dwarfing entirely the Siegel and Shuster heirs vs DC and the McFarlane vs Gaiman cases combined. Who knew William Kunstler and Stan Lee had been penpals for so many years? And still, is this the final sign that Stan Lee is entering full-on dementia?
12:15. The Lego Micronauts are pretty badass. Great to see the full license back where it belongs with the House of Ideas, but especially crazy if the rumors of Jim Shooter writing the book turn out to be true.
13:06. Just overheard Keith Giffen on his cellphone, saying his pitch for a relaunch of the Heckler has been approved. Unable to hide my erection, I run outside for a smoke. Outside, I run into the one-eyed Andrew Vachss, who lets slip that he has a Daredevil GN in the works. Holy moley.
15:07. Apparently the Mary Marvel was 17, so I call it quits for the day. At the hotel bar I meet a well on his way, veteran Marvel production staffer who confirms my theories of Marvel having a long-standing practice that continuity need not apply to Wolverine, with guest appearances everywhere being openly prodded since some point in the 80s. After two or five Irish carbombs I accuse him of Marvel condescending diversity by slowly transforming Wolverine and certain other freaks into tall, handsome leading men. He tells me Gruenwald would’ve rolled over in his grave too. I ask him why Quesada would ban cigarettes from Marvel comics when guns kill more people, so why not no more guns? He says something about the lingering stench of Defalco’s cigars still at the bullpen. We trade business cards and I head back to my room.
19:57. Someone set off the fire alarm at the hotel. The Mary Marvel cosplayer is there with the rest of us in the parking lot, in her bra and panties, flanked on either side by a couple of DC’s star writers. Both wearing Spider-man underwear. Lots of awkward small talk.
21:33. Having painstakingly wiped out my room’s mini-bar while studying the programs for tomorrow, I order a pizza. It’s gonna be a long weekend.
