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Chicago Dreaming – Packing For Wizard World

On Thursday I fly out to the Wizard World Chicago Comic Con.

I say, Chicago, it's actually the bit of Chicago that's just next to the airport. Even closer than San Diego Comic Con is to its airport. I'd walk it as well, except that they've laid on buses for us.

So unless I fly over it, I ain't seeing Chicago properly. Instead I'll be ferried from building to building, like a visiting dignitary. Which, you know, isn't bad.

That's right, Wizard World are flying me in and putting me up to cover the Wizard World Chicago Comic-Con. As a result, I will be condemned and my writing dismissed as being sullied, bought, a walking advertorial.

Chicago Comic Con is a very different beast to San Diego and New York. Big name publishers are not to be seen, Avatar rules the roost with Top Shelf and Antarctic Press, and has done a remarkable job of developing a strong Chicago fanbase as a result. Indeed it's no secret that Chicago sales for Avatar titles are disproportionately high, a fact they put down to using the Chicago Comic Con to recruit and keep readers at this show of late, without competition from the bigger boys.

But Wizard World still do a decent line in comic book creators on their Artist Alleys, and I'm hoping to get enough material from their likes to fill a couple of weeks worth of Bleeding Cool. Including the likes of Brian Azzarello, J. Scott Campbell, Geof Darrow, Michael Golden, David Mack, Joe Madureira, Mike McKone, Bill Sienkiewicz, Jill Thompson, Ethan Van Sciver, Ashley Woods and a shedload more. This is not a place where publishers make announcements – and websites are set up with embargoed announcements in readiness – but it is a place where creators talk, publicly and privately. And hopefully one or two will be talking to me. You know, if I haven't completely offended them of late. If I have then it'll have to be in the bar, later. I think a rate of one mojito per offence is the going currency right now.

I'm also not sure where I'll be. I seem to be listed as having a massive table to myself, number 127 but that's actually the Avatar booth it seems. Either way I'll be doing an awful lot of walking the floor, trying to avoid the Final Five.

Because, yes there are Star Trek Captains and Vampires and World Wrestlers and Cylons and Batmen and all that. Which isn't really my comfort zone. But I've never been to a comic con I haven't enjoyed. Because the best bit about the comic convention?

All the other people that go as well.

If you see me and want to say hi, say hi. Never think "oh he doesn't want to be bothered." I do! I do want to be bothered!

Make it so.

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