Seeing my early years friend from Detroit, Tim Gasco, was a big pleasure indeed. A dinner and some drinks along with sharing Tim's lodgings for the two convention nights was an added treat. Tim brought his son Derek along from Michigan and spent some time also showing him around NY. He's written about the trip at his blog, Tim's Blogfest, where he also tells of his life and times, traveling around the continental divide, servicing medical equipment wheresoever it's needed. Thanks for the good times and memories, Tim.

I also had the pleasure of spending time with my host, Brendan McGinley, publisher of Bankshot Comics' DOSE, and other publications, for whom I've produced a 4 page preview of Party Girl. Now, I'm not much of the salesman, but sitting next to Brendan at his table compelled me to attempt to hunt down passers-by in order to interest them in Dose #1, with which he also gave away a free mainstream comic book, and a free sketch to boot. Brendan is a talented artist and his sketches, along with DOSE, were delightful enough to make people stop, look and even invest in supporting his enterprise. DOSE is a funny intellectual satire publication, which I'm certain will offer pleasurable reading for its purchasers. Thanks for making the trip possible, Brendan, and for the good acquaintance that made the convention fun and successful.

It was also good to meet my online artist friend, Steven Bove, producer of ROCK OPERA and THE COMICS CARTOONIST'S WORKBOOK, which can be seen at the link at the bottom of the article linked to his name above. Steven's been a good friend and supporter of this site for some time but the convention intensity didn't allow us enough time to spend together. When he invited me to join him in saying hello to Neal Adams, also at the convention, mainly promoting Growing Earth Theory, I told him that I'd already done that, only to find Neal in a pensive state, not in the mood for cordialities. So I suggested he try alone to soothe whatever it was that was irking Neal Adams, because I also wasn't in the mood for such shenanigans at this con. Steven's been around the comics industry for a while, and has also written a thoughtful memoir of this convention experience. His report can be found at Daniel Best's blog, 20th Century Danny Boy.

Daniel Best, comics historian of Partners for Life: Andru/Esposito, among other important projects, was also scheduled to attend the convention with his wife Lyndal, but last minute complications prevented their trip. This was a disappointment but Daniel promises it won't be long before our paths finally meet, which I do greatly look forward to. Among Daniel's preoccupations these days, aside from the very informative, researched and opinionated content at his blog, and the excellent work he does, maintaining the creator profile site, Adelaide Comics and Books, is a new venture connecting creators with a rising comics publisher, First Salvo Productions. This is a worthy effort to keep an eye on, and perusing their site is highly recommended. Among the creators gracing their pages is my good online friend and colleague, Norman Breyfogle, whom I also had the pleasure of meeting for the first time at the con. Daniels efforts include the promise of new work for Salvo emerging from under the hands of Alan Weiss.

Seeing Pauline and Alan Weiss again was a peak of the event. Our friendship goes way back and my daughter Michelle (who's visiting here in Israel right now) remains in close contact with the pleasureful and prolific pair. We had a couple of dinners together, also in the company of Rich Buckler, Norm Breyfogle and Dave Simons, surfing between comics industry talk and philosophical debates of the variety that are the repertoire of a poetic and concerned bunch, such as these forays are known to inspire amongst us. Missing from this festivity was our pal Alan Kupperberg who also attended the con but felt a little under the weather for such a romp. here's hoping that he's over it by now, and wishing Alan K. the best of health and good spirits ahead. Another long time friend and colleague from the 70's, Bob Mcleod, sat across our table in Artist's Alley, sporting a bundle of SuperHrero ABC's, a delightful children's book he's illustrated, which I brought a copy of to my own little ones, still learning English from afar.

Sitting next to Bob were none other than Elayne and Robin Riggs. The talented inker and liberal pontificator dynamic duo, who kept our area quite lively throughout, while Elayne even took some photos of proceedings she instigated, mistaking me for a fantasy warrior version of a would-be Santa Clause. Click on each of the images below to go to their publication by Elayne at Pen-Elayne and ComicMix.

Comics art collector and well known supporter of comics creators, Wilbur King, was also at the con. Will owns a fine and vast collection or original art from across the creator community. Amongst his collection are some of my originals, which he previews at this link, ComcArtFans.com. I remember him well from the 1970's and am always delighted to see him at every such opportunity, if not only for the warm and mild demeanor which always leaves a fine and memorable taste long after the con. My convention sketching proficiency has admittedly not been at its best in recent years, perhaps also because I've been using the computer instead of pencils and paper for drawing tools for so long. But Will remains persistent in getting as much conventional drawing from me as he can, and compensates generously for the effort. Though I believe he receives a much better product from others, as the sketch by Alan Weiss to the right, done for Will also at the con, attests.. I remain one of the humble admirers of Wilbur King, always in gratitude for the fine and pleasant spirit he evokes around him, and for the love of the craft and the people behind it, which he exudes with all his being.

Clifford Meth popped in briefly to say hello and discuss a project we've been batting around a bit lately. Carmine Infantino mentioned that he's kept abreast of some of my art and web activity of late.. and Jim Steranko was as dashingly charismatic as ever. Had a good chat with Mark Evanier about his roots and the likelihood that long lost relatives of his had set up a merchandising outlet not far from me in Israel. Exchanged a few words with Sergio Aragones about his delightful forays into NY back in the 1970's.. and finally had a chance to meet the incomparable Rich Johnston, all the way in for the con from England.

Cosmic connections began to make their presence known when a long lost Lebanese relative came by to say hello. Anwar has been an ardent comics fan since childhood, and followed my career, knowing of the family ties. I spent the evening after the con at their New Jersey family restaurant, JOEYNESS.. managed by his head chef brother, Joey, and his kindly homeland mother, Samira, my own mother's half-sister, enjoying the family get together, over one of the more delicious Mid-East cuisine Falafel and Tabouli plates I've had the pleasure of tasting. Thanks for coming by Anwar, and it's certainly nice to have finally met this part of the family.

But cosmic connections, being cosmical as they are, had another surprise awaiting at the end of the con. As I stepped out for a cigarette at the last few moments before folding shop, a feisty woman grabbed my arm screaming my name out loud. I haven't seen Elizabeth since the summer of 1981 when I left NY for the Mid-East. Truth to tell, she was one of the last people I saw in NY before I left. Elizabeth and I met at a night club that summer, and her having a thing for the arts in general, helped us off to a fun few months of wandering the city, enjoying the more carefree existence that those youthful days held. She's been working in the entertainment world since, and attended the con as a representative of some of the TV and film guests appearing there.

Elizabeth joined Pauline, Alan, Norm and I for that evening at the Village COWGIRL Bar and Grill, one of Alan's favorite watering holes, and rightly so. It was quite the chance to see Elizabeth again. She's been hot on the heels of catching up on my activities... and already pitching in by utilizing her vast connections in the entertainment world to help spread the word about the messages our site complex carries. The photo at right was taken after a recent trip Liz made to Tel Aviv with a band she represents. Good to have you back aboard showing everyone what a small world ours really is, my good lady!

I likely missed a few people who should have been mentioned, but such is the way of convention reports. Advance apologies hereby given. However, as Michael Carbenaro, con organizer, told me on the last day, this was the absolute best Big Apple Convention turn out ever, and one the most successful that he's held. A notion very strongly seconded here.

Nice to have been a marginal part of it.