my goal was CGC SS books

I wasn't even planning on going this year. I had no luck getting tickets every time they went up for sale, but then in June I got the "raffle" email. If you are a registered comic con patron you probably already know what I'm talking about.

For all of those that don't. Comic con opened up all remaining tickets that were not sold, or cancelled, or for whatever reason made available again. You had to actually enter the raffle to be eligible to try and buy tickets and only if your name was picked were you allowed to go to a website at a certain date and time and buy whatever was available when your number was called from the waiting room.

Long story short - I ended up with 4 day tickets about three weeks before comic con with no plans made whatsoever beforehand.

So in three weeks I scrounged up enough money to go, booked the plane tickets, found a place to stay, got vacation from work, and made it happen.

Needless to say I sold a lot on ebay to afford the trip and I even borrowed some money to make it a real vacation for myself.

I went with one intention in mind. I needed some signatures for some books.

I can't say what books yet, until I get them back from CGC... in about three months, so more on those in about two more months...

I have read some of the chats about all the signatures fiasco and as I can see both points of view pro and con, I am only going to go with my opinions.

I understand the limiting of signatures from the DC booths and the placement of wristband guidelines, but I walked into the DC booth on thursday to find this out, so all of my signing would have to be put off until the following days.

I have met Jim Lee countless times, but I am one of those who he still wouldn't know by name when he sees me and I'm okay with that. I would have included his signature on a couple of books, and even though his star shines brighter every year, he was not actually my number one goal.

No wristbands on thursday because I didn't know about that yet. I was able to get the Capullo wristband on friday and again all the Lee signing wristbands were already passed out, so I thought I'll try again tomorrow...

Friday was my day with CGC SS witnesses and staff. I want to commend all the guys and ladies that worked the CGC booth all through the con. They were the nicest and friendliest people I met all the whole time I was there. Not only were they willing to follow me and wait with me the whole time I stood in lines, but then they talked to me as well. I felt like I was more than a paycheck to them and again would like to say thank you.

I decided after getting all that I needed on friday, that I would actually be okay with not getting anything else signed, so I didn't need any more wristbands or waiting in line for wristbands.

I was able to enjoy my time and did a lot of sightseeing outside the convention as well as plenty of walking around the con. I went to some panels and even though I wanted to go to some of the big Hall H ones, I opted out of them due to the ridiculousness of the lines there. Really you had to camp out in those lines almost overnight just to try and get into the really good panels. I wasn't that brave. Maybe next year.

I will post part two when I get my books back in a couple months.

All in all I had a great time. Met some of my favorite artists, showed them the pieces that I own of their work, hung out with friends, and had an all around fun time. Quite the surprise since I hadn't been to one in ten years.

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