RobbieTheGeek.Com

The second day of the 2008 NY ComicCon was by far the best day for this geek. I started off arriving around 11AM and not really sure where the rooms where the panels were located. I strolled following the cryptic signs and the small amounts of people heading back to the panels area. I went from room to room checking what was there because I had already reviewed the schedule and wasn't too excited about the choices I read on the schedule before I arrived.

I ended up squeezing into the "Lee on Lee" panel, where I was pleasantly surprised, not originally looking forward to this panel. Stan Lee was so amusing, quick witted and the epitome of "old school" charm. Then it was off to Spotlight on Mike Mignola, but I was lucky enough to pop in the room before the previous panel ended and listen to Orson Scott Card talk a little of the process to migrate Ender & Company from the printed word to the work of graphic novels. Mike Mignola reminded me of every teacher I have liked in college he made his way to the front, sat down and asked, "So I guess we should start?", then let us know he had nothing prepared and turned the session over to the audience for questions. What followed was 45-50 minutes of the most genuine answers, and amusing banter that I was to be privy to for the entire weekend. Thanks Mike for a great panel, he may have turned it over to us but he did so as a puppet master turns the movements over to his doll he was always in the driver's seat.

Next was off to get in line for the Hell Boy 2 / Wanted panel, and that didn't go so well. I sat and ate some quick lunch, and watched the line for the Lucasfilm panel in the Theater grow steadily for the next 45mins, and never go inside. Now the Hell Boy 2 panel can't even line up cause Lucasfilm's debacle hasn't even started filing into the Theater. Met up with Jon at this time, since we were both looking forward to the Cast & Crew from Hellboy 2 and eventually gave up and headed to the funniest, most irreverent panel I would be subjected to all weekend, Spotlight on Grant Morrison. This was unbelievable, it was like a rock star was arriving, the Comic Con staff barking at folks, there was a film crew from MTV, and more photographers then I saw in the previous 2 panels combined. The introduction set the stage with quotes and art from Grant himself, taken out of context, and put together as though we were in a Grant Morrison 101 class, and the lecturer wanted to make sure that we knew our subject before he even opened his mouth. Lights go up, and we are introduced to Grant after the MC and presentation end almost 15mins into the session. Then as Mike Mignola, had earlier he opened the floor to the audience. There were questions from all sides, on all kinds of different matters, after a question about comic book movies where Grant said they all have something to bring to the table, a shout rang out from the audience, "Batman & Robin". To paraphrase the response, Grant didn't miss a beat and said the colors in that movie are amazing, you just have to turn off your brain and appreciate the neon, ultraviolet world, it is the movie to make if Batman was gay. I was floored and started specifically seeking out all the Grant Morrison penned stories the next day.