From: Matt Maxwell <[m--xw--l] at [ucsd.edu]>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
Subject: SDCC - Now it can be told
Date: 24 Aug 1993 22:22:40 GMT

The story so big that it took five days to tell...

Well, folks, it looks like i managed to make zero contact with any fellow
r.a.c.mites at the con this year.  Somehow not surprising since they managed
to fit the population of the state of Rhode Island in the convention center.
Though, i did see a few squiddie shirts floating around, but most of them 
were swept along by the human tide far before i could reach them.

Well the word this year is _big_.  Big booths, big guns, big costumes, big
breasts, just plain big.  Is there anyone out there who can get the damn
DC theme music out of their head yet?  I can't.  Stuart Moore told me that
he was basically being driven insane by the 4.5 minute tape loop which
continuously played within the confines of the Vegasesque DC area.  Add to
that a twelve by twelve foot video screen and you have a good recipe for
audiovisual overload.

Then of course you stumble helplessly into the hall and get swept into
the Marvel area.  Screaming, desperately clutching the last vestiges
of your sanity, you escape, and find only that you are surrounded by 
the Malibu comics booth and the heavily guarded security region that
was Image comics.  I never go in.  I didn't really want to, for that matter,
though i would have liked to say hello to Sam Kieth.

The Artist's Alley was the place to be this year.  Minimal crowds, except
by some of the minor Image creators, and where Jill Thompson was sitting
(knee-deep in Sandfans).  I will admit, however, to having put down a
considerable chunk of money for a JT sketch of little Dream, little Death,
Sam, and a hydrocephalic Max playing in the sandbox at the beginning of
time.  Worth the price of admission alone.  Glad i got it when i did, too,
as she says she isn't doing sketches next year.  As always, the guys with
no lines in front of them were the most interesting to talk to.

Spent far too much time at the Alan Spiegel Fine Arts table, poring over
the really beautiful art there.  Surprisingly uncrowded as well.  I guess
that the price tags were scaring off potential buyers.  Though you could
by an original cover of Sandman for as low as $200.  Next year.

I also managed not to make it to any panels this year, though i was up
for the opening of the Robert Williams exhibit.  I loved it, though
it isn't for everyone.  'Those who love action maybe...' to quote Tom Waits.
What was most time consuming, however, was trying to get people to look
at scripts and proposals.  I'd have had better luck getting Neil Gaiman
to sign my copy of _Season of Mists_ then getting anyone to give any of
my proposals fore than a two second glance to make sure that it was written
in English.  I tell ya, artists have it easy.  They get fifteen minutes
of criticism before they get shot down.  Writers get nothing but a mail
bomb some six weeks later.

What else?  Saw the demos for 'Sam and Max Hit the Road' at Lucasfilm.
It looks _very_ good.  Apparently Steve Prucell was along since the
origin of the project.  It shows.  Snagged a bunch of S&M stickers as
well.  Tried to get the copy of 'Sam and Max Go to the Moon' put out
by Epic in 1992, but couldn't talk them out of it.  Oh, well.  I've
just got to figure how to emulate a PC on my Mac before Christmas.

Heard nothing about Zero Hour, but then i wasn't looking out for it.

That's about it.  

I'm ready for next year.          (not.)

Anon,

Matt
-------------------
Matt Maxwell
[m--xw--l] at [ucsd.edu]

"He took personality tests
 and stapled them to his lower lip" -- Stan Ridgway