Postscript

Arrived home around 5:30pm Sunday late afternoon. One horrific accident backed us up on Interstate 85 for about 30 minutes extra otherwise would have matched our 5 hour or so door to door for the trip down to Charlotte. Dylan read graphic novels most of the way home and humored me and played disk jockey (Journey, The Who, Beatles, Cheap Trick, Van Halen etc.) you get the picture. I rate this trip a 10 for 10 and I never was required to remove my shoes or belt. Huzaaaaaah.

It's Ooooooooooover!

Dylan has re-surfaced and re-named Sunday of Herocon "Deal Day". (Note: I think this may have something to do with the vendors trying to pay for their respective trips.) He's come up within budget (has a $1 left) and beaming from ear to ear. Next question: Let's giddly on go? Yes! Off to the Burg. Crowds have died down but the convention floor is relatively full. Our assessment: a successful 30th year anniversary for Charlotte Herocon.

Opening Bell

11am on the dot and the longer than expected line is crawling in the turnstiles. This looks to be about Friday sized but definitely nowhere near Saturdday sized. Still, a lot of comic book customers with happy faces.

Herocon Charlotte - Day 3

3 day passes entitle the holders to early entry so here we are at 10:30am or so. Saturday's crowd was mega; today, meh. Although, I noticed a nice long line Sunday one day pass holders around the corner from the in-house Convention Center Starbucks anxiously awaiting the magic 11am hour for "common" entry. Dylan, in full Animal Man regalia is already downstairs "shopping" for last minute bargains. We agreed (at the ATM) on a daily spending limit (very low for Sunday) and even he says Noon or so may be his limit. He told me last night he was exhausted from all the posing. Go figure. Apparently he was interviewed for a documentary they're putting together. Fingers crossed he doesn't end up on the cutting room floor. It looks like the Cos players hit the Friday and Saturday sessions but are staying away in droves on Sunday - must be a religious edict or some such. No, nope, I'm wrong - Cat Woman just walked by all slinky plastic and skin - thank goodness this was "good" Cat Woman (under size 50) vs. bad Cat Woman whom we experienced numerous times yesterday and Friday (ugh). As it approaches 11am (the Sunday opening hour) a steady stream of participants (mostly in civies) is approaching the turnstiles.

Home Suite Marriott

Even the most dedicated "cos player" runs out of steam (albeit way after Dad does). About 3:30p today (we arrived at 9:30a this morning) Dylan decides he's had enough for one day. The crowds really got big this afternoon. The lunch line was 30 mins. and the lines for artists were running about an hour for most popular guys and gals (even the greedy Neal Adams @ $5 a signature had a line - go figure). We walked back a few blocks to our hotel and decided to sort the booty (like Halloween - yes). I downloaded some pictures to send and may rest the retinas before selecting the dinner venue. Nothing too exciting to report from this afternoon - just a pleasant, fun filled PM at the Con.

Stan Lee - We don't need no stinkin' badges!

So the "big kahuna" is sitting behind a screen with a line 5 miles long of folks waiting patiently for him to sign something (one thing). There are a couple of larger "handlers" blocking the view of the hoi polloi (means "the great unwashed" in Greek) - that's us in this case. I say BFD. We got two nice snapshots of him with our telephoto lense and a nice short video as well. I was told by one of the handlers that the autograph line sold out for today (God knows how many people but it went on forever) and that, tentatively, they're selling tickets for a line tomorrow morning. Dylan was not interested. He really is a DC only guy at heart - Stan: Marvel only. Dylan's standing in line for another pizza lunch as I write this.

Lunch? Order Out.

I'm thinking I'll just stay in my chair and, when Dylan comes by, order out. What a concept. And, by the way, most of these folks could miss a meal, or two, or three etc., etc., etc.

Cos Play Cluster Sighting

My straegic vantage point is paying dividents again. I just witnessed a Cos Play Cluster right in front of me. Dylan dropped by to breath while he continued his shopping spree. Lucky for me he brought his money. So far only a minor hit. He coninues his breathless quest for ??????

Randy Newman: Part 2

"The Biggest Loser" - aptly named TV show. ALL contestants have been issued FREE PASSES to Herocon in Charlotte. Really.

Don't Panic - Changed Design for Easier Reading

Decide the green wasn't cutting it for the breaking news here. Had to revert to newspaper black and white. Comment via text if it bugs you.

Breaking News: New Therapy Discovered for Crowd Haters

Seriously folks: If your child has problems with large crowds, take him or her to a massive sub-terranean convention center with no windows, pack it with "unusual" people in costume, add an endless stream of artists, comic books for sale and plastic figures and.......voila`, syndrome erased. No, really.

Crowds Surging - May Sell Chair

Wall-to-wall people in every aisle. Mark Welch was spot on; biggest Herocon yet. I'm consideing a live online auction to sell off my one and only chair next to the refreshment stand.

Randy Newman re-write: Fat People Got......

Seriously, for every great costume are 5 corpulent sightings. I'm not talking overweight. Oh no, I'm talking morbidly obese. And, as a bonus, in a tight fitting costume. Yuck!

Stan Lee - Longest Line Yet for an Octogenarian

Unbelieveable - the line is to the moon to just "see" Stan Lee - no coversation, no signed sketch, nada! It's good to be Stan. Hope he doesn't croak at the table; would make a "bad ending". Ha, Ha.

Keyboard Salesman for Hire

Honestly, if I had a backpack full of these keyboards for the iPad (by Logitech) I could have sold a couple of dozen by now. With all this great art surrounding me the artists are all interested in the keyboard for my pad. Go figure.

Crowds, Crowds, Crowds

Today is like a triple exposure of yesterday but over-populated with older, non-costumed white guys looking to get things signed so they can go home and sell them to un-suspecting collectors I imagine. I did run into the Dean and a Professor at the Savannagh College of Art and Design (Atlanta Campus). Couple of great guys and working commercial artists (really talented). They offer a BFA in Sequential Art (that's comics to the uninitiated). Tution and fees: $35k per year plus room and board (yes they have dorms etc.). They have 300 students enrolled at the Savannagh campus and about 90 at the Atlanta campus. Check ou the school at www.scad.edu. Meanwhile, the Prince SHOPS!!!

Starbucks in the Hotel - Sweeeeet

In order to get a teen to shower at a hotel so as to be one of the few with clean bodies at this soiree someone has to trot down to Starbucks (in the lobby) for hot chocolate and croissonts (sp?). Then, off to another day at the Con. Have to get in early for more signatures (approved strategy).

Mimosa Cafe (in the WFB Building) - Sumptuous

We decided to reprise last summer's super dinner at the Mimosa Cafe a few blocks away (actually between the Con and the hotel). Indoor and outdoor (to humid) dining with a touch of Southern cooking and mostly a continental menu. Dylan had Lobster Mac 'N Cheese while I enjoyed fresh brook Trout after a really interesting beet salad with fennel and goat cheese. Topped it off with a couple of glasses of William Hill Chardonnay - exquisite. Great restaurant, great service, sleek decor and really interesting preparations. Rates a return. Now early to bed and Starbucks in the AM in the hotel, then autogaphs and shopping and some Cos play in the late afternoon. ZZZZZZzzzzzz

Marriott Never Looked So Good

Beat the sprinkles back to the room on the 11th floor overooking.....nothing really. However it is clean and the bed (s) thank God are very, very comfortable. Dylan and I are texting and I'm blogging as well. It sounds like a test lab for ring tones and text tones in hear. There's a McCormick and Schmick's across the street, Ruth's Chris, Morton's and the aforementioned Mimosa Grill (more the California style with a southern twist to the menu). The Prince has surveyed today's video and snaps and directed the camera man to dig deeper tomorrow for more footage. Yikes, how much of this does one need for his next epic. PS - In line today he was exchanging YouTube channels with another fellow. Now I think I'm starting to understand how some of this drivel (ooooops I mean "art") goes viral. Just kidding.

Note to Susan re: Put-in-Bay

Appears the resort up north must be closed this summer; entire contingent is here in force searching for the pool. Just sayin'.

LIke Groundhog Day

The same cast of characters (emphasis) continues to pass me by (I have one of the only seats on the floor of the Con). However, the cast comes in different body styles each time they pass. Not all body styles are Corvettes and Porsche's however - many Edsels in the crowd and worse....

Closing @ 7pm

I was thinking maybe 5pm since we got up at 4:30am today but NO, NO, NO. It's freakin' 7pm close and I think I may need a rope to haul him out.

He's the Energizer Bunny. Me? Not so much.

OK now I admit it. I'm running out of steam and Mr. needs his 10 hours of sleep is still chugging around Con looking for photo ops. and deals on figs. and oomics. We've come away relatively unscathed today but this still leaves and open Sat. and Sun. Dylan is waiting for 5pm today when the "cos play" (that's costumed) activity warms up. I have plenty of memory capacity left on the camera and have a feeling I'll need it. Many, many compliments on his "Kid Flash" outfit so good for the confidence. Also, fair to say the two of us look relatively "normal" (whatever that is?). I starting to wonder myself. Mimosa Cafe for dinner sometime tonight (we ate there last year). They serve good food and excellent chardonnay by the glass. Yes!

And this is the Southern Baptist version.....

I can only imagine the San Diego version of this event might just be too scary.....for anyone! Also, it should be noted that many, many of these people obviously have circus mirrors at home (nuf said). Dylan successfully secured a George Perez autograph on one of his comics and got a 10 second coversation with the master. I needed to attach a rope to him so he could wolf down his luncheon gourmet pizza before jumping back into the fray for a little late afternoon shopping.......

Lunch @ the Con like the Airport on Acid!

Even the freakiest folks get hungry. The YouTube video Dylan will produce should be a major hit. I'm in charge of candid videography and stills. He, of course, is directing. Finished a tasty hot paninni (sp?) sandwich while waiting for the Prince to obtain more autographs. His entire backpack (unknown to me prior to this trip) is crammed full of graphic novels and comics that he has marked for signatures. This, apparently, according to my observation, is "normal Con" behavior. OK.......

Return to the Floor

1:00pm call to the convention floor to return to the loooooonng line to get George Perez to actually sign some of our personal copies. This will occupy a good deal of the afternoon. I'm hoping for some chairs......

Charlotte Moment?

Walking from the hotel (a few blocks) to the convention center a policeman on foot told Dylan he needed to remove his "Kid Flash" mask. What's up with that? Guess it scared him. Didn't seem to apply the same logic to the homeless guy a block away who was lighting up a left handed cigarette. Apparent the foot patrolment missed the memo that Herocon was in town.

George Perez Panel Discussion

The creators of the "New Teen Titans" - who knew? they had a new group of Titans. Seriously though, an in depth adventure into the creative minds of the folks that have breathed life back into DC (according to them). Probably 200 or so folks listeningly intently. Dylan (as Kid Flash) is listening intently while filming the panel discussion. The best part of the panel discussion for your narrator is the appearance of seats; non-existent in the convention hall even adjacent the snack area (where coffee sells for $2.25 when there's a Starbucks just upstairs - what's up with that?).

Eagle Landed - 10am Charlotte, NC

Flawless 5 hour drive with just two brief pit stops; no construction, no Einsteins, just a lot of trees and flat pavement. Dylan briefed me on today's celebrities, we listend to the Stones (Start Me Up) of course and then I sufferred through the "new" Rush album - all of it. I knew there would be days like this.

24 Hours to LIft Off

We leave tomorrow morning at O-Dark-Thirty. Dylan is consumed wth last minute costume preparations while I am trying to come up with ideas to keep me amused for 3 days at a comic book store. Maybe Sheldon and Raj will show up with Lenoard and Penny?