Once upon a time, I collected Funko POPS! ... still do, kinda, although I'm a lot more specialized now, concentrating mainly on Marvel Comics, MCU, and Marvel Disney+ characters. And once upon a time, i took those Funko POPS! out of the box (GASP!) and made little Photoshop graphics out of them and posted them... Continue Reading →
One of the best examples of neon in Coronado is this amazing sign on the Villa Capri Motel, opposite the legendary Hotel del Coronado on Orange Avenue. I'm told they don't light it up at night anymore, so I feel lucky to have gotten this shot a few years back, taken—I think—when I walked up... Continue Reading →
A bit more reading this month, once again offset by a stack of graphic novels and comics-related books, but book-ended by a crime thriller by a new (to me) author and the yearly offering from a favorite writer. Missing, Presumed ... by Susie SteinerA vibrant, beautiful young woman from the British upper class goes missing... Continue Reading →
"You and I travel to the beat of a different drum," the song goes and I'm always reminded of it when I see this photo I took near the Crissy Field area along the bay in San Francisco quite a few years back. I suppose "You've Got to Dance Like Nobody's Watching" would be an... Continue Reading →
Soon after I edited and designed my first major book for Comic-Con, the 2007 Souvenir Book (click here for details), I was contacted by Andrea Fernandes, the business development sales manager of Chronicle Books’ Custom Division. a San Francisco-based publisher that specialized in pop culture and well, just plain ol’ culture-in-general books. “We want to... Continue Reading →
I hope to travel again soon. That sounds a bit more wistful than it should, but travel these days is no fun, not—at least—like it used to be (or used to SEEM to be). There are too many variables: weather, lack of or strikes by airline employees (the latter in other countries right now), unruly... Continue Reading →
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 →
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