By Friday everyone was in the San Diego swing by now. Steven 'Ribs' Weissman, Johnny Ryan and Ron Regé, Jr. were ready to WOW everyone! The Kim Thompson Tribute panel was held that day and the room was packed. Thank you to everyone who came out, Eric Reynold's panoramic photo below.
Here a librarian freaks out over Ghosts and Ruins by Ben Catmull, which she had preordered for her library! The whimsy and humor surprised her but in a good way.
LA cartoonist Joseph Remnant stopped by to finally buy the Jack Davis collection. He even dressed to match.
Leader of the new cult The Cartoon Utopia and Lavender Diamond rockstar Ron Rege, Jr. joins the Fantagraphics' signing table for the first time! And to the left is No Straight Lines editor and contributors Justin Hall and Dylan Edwards to the left.
Then a fucking WIZARD showed up, guys. And a practical one too, his golden cape hid his backpack but was slit so he had easy access.
And then a WORD wizard showed up! The Advocate's Jacob Anderson-Minshall leans in for a photo with Dylan and Justin.
More friends stop by like Scott McCloud (again!) here with Jacq, Steven and Johnny.
Cartoonist Alex Neal visits with Weissman while Johnny Ryan chats up Robert Williams!
Flippin' through some Weissman originals.
Former Comics Alliance, current Image content manager/editor David Brothers shows off his dollar bin find! That lady 'needs a real man'.
Next up, Tony Millionaire blew in from LA to sign his new book Green Eggs and Maakies with Cathy Malkasian and Paul Hornschemeier.
Tony had a artifact someone had MADE for him from his books. SUPERFAN, he might be right behind you, Tonyyyyy.
We shared some pipes and drapes space with NBM publishing who, for some reason, put their porn RIGHT next to our signing section. Pensive and apprehensive Paul ponders porn.
Chris Sims, senior writer at Comics Alliance, came by to stroke his favorite kind of Fantagraphics' books: our gorgeous, classic reprints like Floyd Gottfredson's Mickey Mouse and Peanuts!
And then came the wave of people crazy for Charles Forsman's new book The End of the Fucking World! Cartoonist Matt Forsythe hefts the book:
Center for Cartoon Studies alum, Forsman friend AND comics consultant, Adam Staffaroni flips through TEOTFW.
Finally, Top Cow editor Bryan Rountree professed his love for Fantagraphics' books with both Good Dog by Graham Chaffee and TEOTFW.
She-Hulk flips through (but doesn't flip the table) Today is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life by Ulli Lust next to Eisner-award winning journalist, Tom Spurgeon of the Comics Reporter.
Speaking of Eisners, here are some shots of our cartoonists on the BIG SCREEN. Spain Rodriguez and Trina Robbins were both inducted in the Hall of Fame and Ellen Forney presented an award along with Becky Cloonan. The Complete Pogo Vol. 2 'Bona Fide Balderdash' won an Eisner!
Then Michael Kupperman's 'Moon 69' comic from Tales Designed to Thrizzle won an Eisner award for Best Short Story! Eric read his hilarious acceptance speech that framed Eric for Kupperman's 'death.'
The Eisner next to some totally legit beers…
Out in the post-Eisner party, the comiXology boys Tony, Matt and Anshu celebrate LIFE and Fantagraphics' digital comics.
A few more photos tomorrow (I KNOW you need MORE). Then our eyes are on Autoptic, SPX and BEYOND.