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Confessions Of An Image Fanboy by Jesse James

Published Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:30:53 -0600

Last updated Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:45:49 -0600

Jesse James, very excitedly, writes for Bleeding Cool;

As a young twelve year old boy thirty years ago I went into my first con in San Diego and remember it like it was yesterday. I walked in yelling "WOW" and left yelling "WOW". Since then I have now been to over three hundred conventions and walk out saying that was "COOL" but NEVER the overall Sensation of that Con back in 1982. To me it was a celebration and is cemented into my culture and love for the comic book world.

However, another celebration was happening this weekend in Oakland, California and I had too go see it no matter what. It was a celebration of those young and talented creators traveling down a path that had been tried so many times with 100's failing before them. They threw down the gauntlet and said, lets make a impact like no others and pioneered a new path into comic book history. On that mystical day the heavens opened up their doors and the Comic Book Universe welcomed Image Comics. The Lines were long. The cheers were loud on that day, but NO ONE could imagine this past weekend at Image Expo 2012.

When Jimmy Jay told me about this con I was really not as excited to tell the truth. I thought "Oh, another con, how good could it be?" But as the guest list grew and grew I knew something special was coming. I was actually planning on going to London for the convention there. Then I got a message from Layman saying Guillory and himself were going to the Image con instead so I changed up and said "why not give it a go?" I know now it wasn't the idea of going, it would have been the idea of NOT going that would have been a nightmare in the making.

As usual, it's that moment when you first walk through the doors, the MOMENT of CHAOS that drives a knife through a comic fan's heart not knowing which direction is the best direction. So you take that chance and you push forward through the crowds and ready your camera for the sights and sounds of your friends all hurdled into one room for that one chance to see someone you admire more then your stocks and bonds or 401k's. But this time, its different there are no Stormtroopers, No WTF is that guy suppose to be, there is no Movie Star being escorted in by a huge security force.

COULD IT BE! SAY IT ISNT SO!!! My LORD, its what I have been seeking for thirty years. The HOLY COMIC Book Con GRAIL it was a COMIC BOOK CONVENTION. "COMICS COMICS COMICS" I yell out in my mind (at least I hope I was yelling it out in my mind and not out loud) I feel my body go numb. I'm a CCNM (Comic Convention Nerd Maniac) I'm not trainded for this. I'm trained to dodge light sabres and understanding the Klingon language.

I see Jimmy Jay and I cant stop telling him each time how excited I'm and I need to interview him for Bleeding Cool. However, I'm having a… how do you say it? Having a "FREAKING BLAST". It's like your first Pizza in Italy, Being at the Superbowl and not thinking why you paid $3000 for a ticket for neither team you liked (yes that's me I'm a idiot sometimes.) It's like learning how to say "Thanos" correctly in a group without them saying "How did you pronounce that"? If I was a puppy my tail would have waggled off from the JOY!

I run into Mcfarlane right off the bat and marvel (lets go with amazed) at his calmness and his humbleness around fans and his "Lets do this" phrase that would start any dead battery. I then go over and see Liefeld he has a smooth demeanor to himself you don't mind waiting in line and you try to get as close as possible to listen to what he is saying to the fanboys in front of him. When I brought my book up from 1998 (RE-GEX #1) he says "Cool" and starts going through the book himself and you can see the memories flying thru his head and him probably thinking "this guy brought me this comic to sign?"….LOL I'm sure he enjoyed it. We had a AWESOME talk and I walked away saying "did that just happen?" It was a memory that I will never forget.

I then see Guillory and Layman of Chew and they have a long line of giddy fans waiting to talk to them. This is a table that brings two Eisners and a Harvey and a future show with Showtime. However, the two guys behind the table are something more then just a team they are friends and their fans are their friends. They do what most don't do, their fans come first its about the fans and the fans know it, as they shake hands and take pictures with this duo. They buy a variant that is reduced in price so that the real fans can get the comic at a great bargain. These two know how to make each each fan walking away saying "YES!!! THAT FREAKING ROCKED!" I spend most my day with the two and have a FANTASTIC interview with Guillory coming up and Layman during the week. I cant imagine a world without CHEW.

Then there is one guy I admire tremendously and that is Kirkman. It's not just because he is one of the best. It's that he amazes me. He walks around the con with a pen in his hand saying almost "you got something to sign, let's do this!" Though when he sits to sign his lines are tremendous. However you don't sit in line counting the time. You think of the moment you can plop your comics down and say whatever you want to him. Its your MOMENT and he is there to share it with you.

There are so many more I can write about, but there are so many Image contributors. I will save it for another time. I want to sit down with Ottley my next time I see him at a Con. I would like to get a great one-on-one with him for the fans of Bleeding Cool. I cant wait for Sea Bear/Grizzly Shark #2 to come out.

Image Expo also highlighted other Publishers like Aspen, Big Dog Ink, IDW and Archaia. The artist alley was rocking as well and some of my Favorite Local Arizonians were there Big Chris Art and Shelby Roberston including two of my Published Favorites Nei Ruffino and Brian Buccellato both from the Great State of Cali.

Hero Initiative was there and I got a AWESOME Hulk sketch from Matt Wagner. CBLDF was there in full force. The Kirby Museum was there as well. I have a great interview with them to share and a its MUST for the Comic book community to make the Kirby Museum happen.

Congrats to Jimmy Jay and his wonderful staff for putting on a FANTASTIC EVENT! To IMAGE Comics and all those who where there at the beginning and those who will be there forever "You have given us your time, so we will always Remember WE spent our time with you, to celebrate your 20th Birthday Party!"

Overall, I dont think my 30 years memories of SDCC 1982 will ever have to worry about becoming #2 as my favorite con of all time. This EXPO however definitely is my 2nd Best Con of all time and I will always have a lasting IMAGE of enjoying my weekend with those that Said "Let's Do This!"

– Six Shooter Jesse James

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