These two photos were taken in San Francisco, just hours apart. They were taken at the Herbst Pavilion, which once was part of the Fort Mason Arts and Cultural Center, a former military base converted to facilities for the public. I believe they were taken in October 2014, the last time Comic-Con—my employer at the... Continue Reading →
I spent an enjoyable couple of hours yesterday (Saturday, August 13th) on Zoom, one of those technological “marvels”—along with Slack—that helped convince me to retire. While I vowed to never go on Zoom again for any kind of work-related reason, I was very happy to join my fellow Pittsburgh Comix Club members to reminisce about... Continue Reading →
When I started my new position of Director of Print and Publications at San Diego Comic-Con in 2007, one of the things that fell into my lap was the event’s annual Souvenir Book. I had been a fan of the book for many years, and at one of my very last visits to Comic-Con as... Continue Reading →
So much to watch, so little time, but I’m doing the best I can. Oh, wait. I’M RETIRED. I can watch whatever I want, whenever I want, and here’s what I’ve been watching this summer … Endeavour (8 seasons, 33 episodes)Normally when a friend raves about a TV series, I listen and nod politely with... Continue Reading →
This view of San Diego was taken from the starboard side of the Silvergate ferry boat on the first day of Comic-Con, July 20, 2022. I was taking the ferry over to the Convention Center for Preview Night and was immediately smitten with this big sky view of the San Diego skyline. I really enjoyed... Continue Reading →
Just a few books this month as—even as “just” an attendee—Comic-Con took up an inordinate amount of my time and mental energy, along with reading a dense but fascinating history of underground comix. Appropriately enough for the month of Comic-Con, all my reading was comics-oriented. Dirty Pictures: How an Underground Network of Nerds, Feminists, Misfits,... Continue Reading →
This photo is from one of my first trips to California. Once upon a time, all of the Los Angeles area was dotted with outdoor newsstands. Some were big, like World News in Hollywood (which was partially indoors), and some were smaller affairs. There were a lot more magazines back then, and visiting these newsstands—often... Continue Reading →
Comic-Con 2022 is now one for the history books and it was a show that had a major personal effect on me. It was the first San Diego Comic-Con I went to as an attendee in 25 years (if you’ve been following along, you know I worked for the organization from 2000-2021), and this event... Continue Reading →
It's Comic-Con time! I hope you're able to attend this first, full-blown Comic-Con in three years and if you see me walking around aimlessly (or with aim in mind), please stop and say hello. I know it will be difficult to figure out who is who since we'll all be wearing masks, but here's a... Continue Reading →
Hey! Look at me ... or rather, listen to me! I'm featured on another podcast, which premiered on Tuesday, July 19. The podcast is called The Musical Innertube, and no, you're safe ... I won't be singing. I was interviewed a few weeks back by Don Rooney and John Timpane, "who talk with people you'd... Continue Reading →
When I worked for Comic-Con, I would regularly post this little graphic I made from a photo I took behind the San Diego Convention Center. This year will mark the first time I've gone to a "real" Comic-Con International: San Diego (its proper name) as an attendee since 1997, 25 years ago. I'm looking forward... Continue Reading →
In the winter of 2005, my boss (Fae Desmond, the executive director of Comic-Con) and I went to San Francisco for a site check for Comic-Con’s sister shows, WonderCon and APE, the Alternative Press Expo. We were looking at various hotels, in addition to stopping in at Moscone Center for a pre-WonderCon meeting. When not... Continue Reading →
This photo is from a trip to San Francisco and was taken near the Golden Gate Bridge, on a site that offered a huge vista of that magnificent structure (ironically not shown here). Those pay binocular thingies that you find in tourist areas always fascinate me and they always signify travel to me. I have... Continue Reading →
You probably won’t find them on Amazon or in your local indie bookstore or comic book shop, but the entire Innocent Bystander oeuvre is still available … only from me! For complete information, just click on the BUY MY BOOKS! link in the menu on the black bar at the top of this page! There's... Continue Reading →
COMIC-CON RESOURCES I’ve written a lot about my career at Comic-Con (and the event itself) on this here blog, so for those of you who know nothing about it, here’s a list of resources, all of which were created by me during my time overseeing Comic-Con’s publications and website. The 2019 Souvenir Book celebrated the... Continue Reading →
innocent bystander 
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