From: [sg 94 ace 9] at [dunx1.ocs.drexel.edu] (Johanna Draper)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
Subject: CON: Lieber's Con Report
Date: 6 Jul 1995 10:17:55 -0400

(Steve Lieber asked me to post this, since his server is down. --Johanna)

The Chicago Con was held again this year in Rosemont, IL on June 30th
thru July 2nd. I'd made reservations at the Holiday Inn, one of the 4
"official" con hotels. It was the cheapest, at $69/ night but the
service was so-so, the message clerk rude and the rooms downright
ugly-- at $79 the Sofitel would've been a much better choice and next
year that's where I plan to stay.

I arrived the evening of Thursday the 29th, and seeing that not much
was happening at my hotel, went next door to the Radisson to find out
what was up. I ran into Caliber honcho Gary Reed and a number of the
gifted creators he publishes: Chuck Yeates, Vince Locke, Guy Davis and
Mark Rickets. They were low key, talking shop and going through a
hilarious bundle of ephemera belonging to Mark. Chuck had a thick
binder with copies of his latest project, which looks to be the best
thing he's ever done. A stop by the Hyatt brought me to the table of
the Toronto mini-comix contingient- Franz DeLeon, Stephen Geigen-Miller
among them. We discussed the possibility of repeating the blasphemous
grotesqueries of last year's Mid Ohio Con party in November again this
year. Looks like it's a go.  Later, back at the Radisson, I ran into
the insanely talented Eddy Newell, who brought me up to date on his
personal and professional life. It never ceases to amaze me how someone
as easy going as Eddy can pour so much emotional intensity into his
work, but there it is.

The next day started early- I arrived at the opening of the con, where
my inker on Hawkman, Curt Shoultz, had already set up. Curt is one of
the nicest guys on Earth, and really loves the medium of comics. To
celebrate the centenial of the comic strip, he produced an intriguing,
unfolding comic strip/poster (the "Radical Dreamer" format) to give
away at the con.  He and his wife Heather came down together from
Manitoba and while Curt manned the table, Heather had her mission--
"find old DC Comics with goofy covers." Boy, did she ever succeed.

Our table was near the CBLDF's "Soak a pro to fight censorship" booth,
which was loud, but often a lot of fun to watch.  It might be taken as
emblematic of the state of the industry that while last year's most
visible set-up was a virtual reality arena, this year's was a Flush
Tank.

Friday night it was dinner with some Caliber folks,(Jim and Joe Pruett
among others) and finally hooking up with my hotel roommate, Jeff
(Solitaire and JLA annual) Parker. Jeff wowed 'em later that evening
with his imitation of Mama Cass's last meal and impressed us all with a
preview of his new, creator owned series "Volt 2000." Jeff just rules,
and I can't wait for the world to see the level of work of which he's
capable. After that it was the Friends of Lulu party, where I hung out
a while, enjoying myself tremendously.  I became an honorary smoker
hanging out outside the party with Paul "Zeus" Grant, Berni Wrightson
and Joy M-D and other nicotine fiends.

>From there, Jeff and I somehow hooked up with Johanna Draper, Mikes
Kelly and Chary, Chris Tower and Sidne. We wound up back at the Holiday
Inn, where the 50's bar was playing 70's music. We cut the rug up for a
while, I put on my now legendary display of nutcase dancefloor
activity. Mike Chary was fearless, Mike Kelly amused, Johanna graceful
and confident. The rest of the crowd was an all ages affair, with an
edge towards the over 40's They had no idea what to make of us, and
Jeff Parker's sketchbook set off one schmuck's masculinity alert.
"Hey!- You drawin' my girl?" Jeff calmed the guy down, but then had to
deal with exchanges like. "What do you do for a living?" "I'm a
cartoonist" "No, I mean for a -living-"

Saturday and Sunday at the con were uneventful. I only met a few more
RACers, Glenn and Todd among 'em, but I wound up doing several dozen of
the free quickie sketches for little kids.

I didn't make it to a single panel while I was there, and spent maybe
10 minutes in the dealers' room. I did get to meet and buy comics from
some really terrific Indy and Small Press folks- Troy Hickman, (Whose 3
part "Tales of the Pathetic Club" is a really engaging read.) Mark
Paulik and Paul Sizer, creators of Chiasimus' Q-LOC, Robert Lewis, Matt
Feazell, Sean Bieri (who has made the move from xerox to "real"
printing with his fun full size comic "Five Duck Rush,") Chad Woody,
who draws really, really well, E. A. LaCombe, from whom I actually
bought an original (and anyone who knows what a cheap putz I am knows
how remarkable that is.) At the Slave Labor booth I met Zander
(blanking on his surname here) the creator of "The Replacement God."
the first issue of which just came out and impressed the hell out of
me.

No dancing Saturday night. Just sushi and robogolf and laughs and a few
quiet hours. All in all a terrific con experience, and one I hope to
repeat.